A website can look polished and still be difficult for some people to use. Small issues such as faint text, unclear links or a form that cannot be completed with a keyboard can create real barriers for customers. Checking accessibility is not only a technical exercise: it is a practical way to make your business easier to reach and use.
This checklist is designed for UK small businesses. It will help you spot common problems, decide what to fix first and understand when to get professional support. It is a useful starting point, not a guarantee of legal compliance or a substitute for tailored advice.
What does website accessibility mean?
An accessible website can be understood and used by people with a wide range of disabilities and access needs. These may include visual, hearing, motor, cognitive or learning disabilities, as well as temporary or situational limitations. For example, someone may navigate without a mouse, enlarge text, use a screen reader or browse in a noisy environment.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide widely used guidance for making digital content more accessible. They are a practical benchmark, but passing an automated scan alone does not prove that a website works well for every visitor.
Accessibility checklist for your small business website
1. Check that you can use the site without a mouse
Put your mouse aside and move through your website using the Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space and arrow keys. You should be able to reach and operate navigation menus, buttons, links and forms. The current item should have a visible focus indicator, so keyboard users can tell where they are.
- Check that the keyboard order follows the page in a sensible sequence.
- Make sure menus do not open only when you hover with a mouse.
- Confirm that pop-ups and dialogs can be closed using the keyboard.
- Watch for keyboard traps, where a visitor cannot move away from an element.
2. Use clear headings and a sensible page structure
Headings help visitors scan content and allow screen-reader users to move between sections. Use a clear hierarchy: a page title as the main heading, followed by subheadings in a logical order. Avoid choosing a heading level only because it looks the right size; visual styling and document structure are separate things.
Keep paragraphs concise, explain specialist terms and break up long instructions into steps or lists. Descriptive page titles also help visitors understand where they are, especially when several browser tabs are open.
3. Make text easy to read
Small, tightly spaced text can be tiring or impossible to read. Use a legible font, comfortable text size and enough spacing between lines. Check that your layout still works when you zoom in to 200%, and that text does not disappear, overlap or require side-to-side scrolling for ordinary page content.
Contrast matters too. Text should stand out clearly from its background, including text in buttons, navigation and image overlays. Do not rely on colour alone to convey meaning: pair colour-coded status messages with words or symbols that explain them.
4. Write useful alternative text for images
Alternative text gives a text-based description of an image to people who cannot see it. For meaningful images, describe the information or purpose the image adds to the page. A photograph next to a profile, for example, may need only a brief description if it adds useful context.
Decorative images that do not add information can usually be marked as decorative in your content system, so assistive technology can skip them. Avoid stuffing alt text with keywords or writing a long description of every visual detail. If an image contains important text, include that information in nearby page text as well.
5. Make links and buttons understandable
Visitors should be able to tell what will happen when they follow a link or activate a button. Replace vague labels such as “click here” or repeated “read more” links with specific wording, such as “View our website repair service”. Make button labels describe an action, for example “Send enquiry”.
Check that links are visually distinguishable from surrounding text without relying on colour alone. Make interactive controls large and well-spaced enough to select comfortably, particularly on a phone.
6. Make forms straightforward to complete
Forms are often where accessibility problems cost a business an enquiry or booking. Give every field a clear, visible label; a placeholder inside a field is not a reliable replacement. Explain which fields are required and what format is expected for details such as a phone number.
- Make instructions available before a visitor starts entering information.
- Identify errors in text and explain how to correct them.
- Do not communicate errors using colour alone.
- After submission, show a clear confirmation or explain what went wrong.
- Test the whole process using only a keyboard.
7. Add captions and accessible alternatives to media
Videos with speech should have accurate captions, including relevant sounds where these help convey meaning. If a video communicates information that is not available elsewhere, provide an appropriate text alternative or transcript. Make sure audio or video does not start unexpectedly and make it difficult for visitors to control the page.
Think about motion and animation too. Rapid flashing can pose a risk to some people, while moving content can distract or cause discomfort. Avoid unnecessary motion and provide a way to pause content that moves automatically.
8. Check documents and third-party tools
Accessibility does not stop at your web pages. A downloadable PDF, booking system, map, chat widget or embedded video can introduce barriers. Use accessible HTML for information that people need to read regularly where possible. If you provide documents, check that they have selectable text, meaningful headings and a logical reading order.
Third-party services may have limitations you cannot fix yourself. Check their accessibility information, test the customer journey and consider whether an alternative way to get in touch or complete a task is available.
How to test your website in a practical way
Start with the pages that matter most to customers: your homepage, key service pages, contact form, booking or checkout journey, and any frequently used downloads. Automated accessibility checkers can flag issues such as missing labels or low contrast, but they cannot judge every context or replace real use.
Combine a scan with manual checks: navigate by keyboard, zoom in, read the page aloud or use a screen reader if you are able. Ask people with different access needs to try important tasks and tell you where they get stuck. Record issues, prioritise those that block a key task, and retest after changes.
What are UK businesses expected to consider?
In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 places duties on service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. How those duties apply to a particular business and website depends on the circumstances, so this checklist should not be treated as legal advice. Public-sector websites and apps have separate accessibility regulations and requirements; these do not apply in the same way to every private business.
Regardless of your organisation’s specific obligations, making essential information and services usable by more people is good practice. If you are unsure about your legal responsibilities, seek advice from a suitably qualified professional.
Make accessibility an ongoing habit
Accessibility is not a one-off tick-box exercise. New pages, plugins, images and design changes can introduce fresh barriers. Add a few checks to your normal publishing process: use meaningful headings, write useful link text, add appropriate image descriptions and test forms before they go live.
If your website needs a broader technical review, Clickboom Websites & Hosting can help you identify practical improvements. Explore our Website Health Check and Website Repairs & WordPress Fixes pages, or get in touch to discuss what is getting in the way. A clear, usable website makes it easier for more people to discover your business and take the next step.