The accessibility finding is generally manageable.
Carry audit, measures and responsibility into the data room and SPA. Timing, cost and ownership are key.
Due diligence
Accessibility Act in a webshop acquisition: EAA risk, remediation cost and SPA clauses
Accessibility Act in webshop acquisitions: review EAA risk, remediation cost, statement, warranties and SPA clauses.
Your law firm
BRANDAUER Rechtsanwälte
Salzburg law firm for corporate, company and transaction law
Every transaction is handled by a coordinated team of lawyers, legal staff and specialists. In company acquisition matters we look at structure, contract, tax and liability together.
12 August 2026 · Mag. Bernhard Brandauer, Rechtsanwalt
When buying a webshop or online service, accessibility is not just a design preference. The Austrian Accessibility Act and the European Accessibility Act can trigger remediation cost, information duties and contract risk.
This post is not a general EAA guide. It explains how buyers should review the accessibility position of an existing webshop in the data room, technical audit and SPA.
Classify EAA risk
Does the webshop need remediation before or after closing?
The questions help structure effort, warranty and agreement consequence.
Already know you want to get in touch? Go straight to the enquiry form.
Does the target sell to consumers through a webshop, app or online service?
Then accessibility belongs in the technical and legal deal check.
All paths at a glance
Overview of all answers.
The webshop needs clearer review before signing.
If audit or statement are missing, the buyer should review remediation cost, warranty, holdback or a condition or post-closing covenant.
Why accessibility can affect price
Why accessibility can affect price
When buying an e-commerce company, buyers usually review data, payment providers and platform contracts. Accessibility now also belongs in the review plan for digital offerings.
A webshop may be commercially attractive but technically need remediation. The issue is therefore compliance, budget, timeline, service providers and risk allocation in the SPA.
Connect technical audit and accessibility statement
Connect technical audit and accessibility statement
The review should cover storefront, checkout, account area, product information and mobile use. In software or SaaS businesses, roadmap, ticket backlog and vendor contracts also matter.
An accessibility statement is useful, but not a substitute for technical findings. The buyer should know whether it is current, complete and supported by testing.
Draft warranties, holdback and remediation
Draft warranties, holdback and remediation
The SPA warranty catalogue should not rely only on general legal compliance. If concrete deviations exist, the deal needs disclosure, cost budget, ownership and possibly a purchase price holdback.
After closing, technical teams need a clear priority list. Otherwise accessibility becomes a vague integration issue.
Review grid
Accessibility rules in a webshop deal
The overview links typical findings to agreement consequences.
| Point | Review | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Shop functions Are checkout, account and product information usable? | Audit and action list | |
| Statement Is the accessibility statement current? | Disclosure and update duty | |
| Remediation cost Are budget and service providers realistic? | Holdback or price adjustment | |
| Post-closing Who implements measures? | Covenant and responsibility |
The concrete drafting depends on the target, data room and negotiating position.
Practical point: A generic “shop is compliant” statement is too weak. Buyers should see concrete tests, deviations, measures and costs before signing the SPA.
Frequent questions
Frequent questions on accessibility in webshop acquisitions.
Does accessibility affect every webshop? +
The concrete duty depends on the offering and statutory scope. The deal should document the assessment.
Is an accessibility statement enough? +
No. It helps, but it does not replace a technical audit of the webshop and key user journeys.
Can a defect affect purchase price? +
Yes, if remediation cost, delay or legal risk is economically relevant, it belongs in price and contractual protection.
Going deeper
Further reading on webshop and SPA
Topics
Accessibility ActWebshopEAASPAAcquisition
Structuring a deal, reviewing a contract, securing the risks?
When buying a company, structure, review and contract decide. Call us directly or send an email, callback within one business day.
Contact
A direct line to the firm.
Address
BRANDAUER Rechtsanwälte GmbH Giselakai 51 5020 Salzburg
Phone
+43 662 6280000