Shopify has made it easier than ever to launch an online store — but many merchants unknowingly miss out on a significant portion of potential customers: people with disabilities.
By embracing digital accessibility, Shopify store owners can open their doors to millions more users, improve search engine rankings, and boost overall sales — all while future-proofing their business against compliance risks.
In this article, we’ll explore why accessibility is not just a legal checkbox, but a strategic growth lever for your Shopify store.
1. Accessibility Is a $1 Trillion Untapped Market
Globally, over 1 billion people experience some form of disability, according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S. alone, that’s nearly 1 in 4 adults.
Many of these users face barriers on typical eCommerce sites — poor color contrast, missing alt text on images, hard-to-navigate menus, or checkout flows that don’t work with assistive technology.
By making your Shopify store accessible, you:
Unlock new customers who can finally shop independently
Improve overall user experience for everyone
Enhance your brand reputation as inclusive and forward-thinking
Bottom line: Accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a $1 trillion market opportunity waiting to be tapped.
2. Accessibility Boosts SEO and Usability
Accessibility and SEO often go hand-in-hand. Search engines reward sites that are well-structured, have clear alt text, logical headings, and fast load times — all hallmarks of accessible design.
Benefits include:
Improved rankings and higher visibility
Increased organic traffic
Lower bounce rates and higher engagement
Better mobile usability
In other words, accessibility upgrades make your Shopify store easier for both humans and search engines to find and use.
3. Most Shopify Stores Aren’t Fully Accessible by Default
Shopify offers some built-in accessibility features, but out of the box, many themes and apps fall short on compliance with standards like WCAG 2.1 or legal frameworks such as the ADA and European Accessibility Act.
Common issues include:
Poor color contrast ratios
Missing alternative text on images
Non-keyboard-navigable menus
Unlabeled form fields and buttons
Inaccessible checkout processes
Ignoring these issues means you’re potentially excluding a large segment of customers — and exposing yourself to legal risks.
4. Accessibility Compliance Is Becoming a Legal Must-Have
Governments worldwide are tightening regulations around digital accessibility:
In the U.S., the ADA mandates that websites be accessible to people with disabilities, with increasing lawsuits against non-compliant sites.
In Europe, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires eCommerce stores to meet strict accessibility standards by June 2025.
Many countries have similar laws or guidelines based on WCAG.
Shopify merchants operating globally must take these requirements seriously or risk costly legal consequences.
5. How Reguweb Helps Shopify Stores Become Fully Accessible
At Reguweb, we specialize in making Shopify stores accessible and compliant without compromising design or functionality.
Our approach includes:
Comprehensive accessibility audits tailored for Shopify themes and apps
Fixing core accessibility issues (color, navigation, alt text, ARIA roles)
Ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.1 and local laws
Ongoing monitoring and support for updates and new content
By partnering with Reguweb, Shopify merchants can confidently open their stores to a wider audience while minimizing risk.
Don’t Leave Customers Behind: Make Accessibility Your Growth Strategy
Accessibility is no longer optional. For Shopify store owners who want to grow, improve SEO, and build a truly inclusive brand, it’s a must-have.
If you haven’t audited your store’s accessibility yet — or if you know you have gaps — now is the time to act.
Contact Reguweb today to schedule a Shopify accessibility audit and start unlocking this hidden growth opportunity. Request a complimentary consultation or start your free trial, and make digital accessibility your secret weapon to trigger your Shopify website’s growth.