AODA Website Compliance and Accessibility Statement Service for Ontario Businesses: Providers and Costs

• AODA compliance report due 31 Dec 2026 for Ontario orgs with 20+ employees
• WCAG 2.0 AA applies to websites of orgs with 50+ employees
• AccessibilityStatement.org: signed compliance record from 890 CAD
• Competitor prices mostly on request; offerings and scope vary
• No provider files the report for you—self-certification is required
• Fines can reach 100,000 CAD/day for non-compliance

Updated 16 October 2026 · 8 sources checked

Providers compared

Prices as published on each provider's website on 16 October 2026, excluding VAT unless stated. Each row links to its source.

What the Law Requires (AODA, O. Reg. 191/11)

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and its Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (O. Reg. 191/11) set out clear legal duties for Ontario businesses and non-profits. If your organization has 20 or more employees in Ontario, you must file an accessibility compliance report every three years, with the next deadline on December 31, 2026. This requirement applies to both Ontario-based and foreign companies with Ontario staff. The report is self-certified by a senior officer and submitted through the Accessibility Compliance Reporting portal.

Organizations with 50 or more employees must ensure all public-facing websites and web content meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA, with exceptions for live captions and audio description. This covers not just the home page but all content published under your brand, including uploaded documents and forms. The law also requires an accessibility policy, a multi-year accessibility plan (for 50+), staff training, accessible feedback processes, and the provision of accessible formats on request. Fines for non-compliance can reach up to 100,000 CAD per day for corporations.

For organizations with 20-49 employees, the web standard does not apply, but policies, training, and a compliance report are still mandatory. Organizations with fewer than 20 employees do not need to file a report but must comply with customer service accessibility standards. Public sector organizations and those significantly refreshing their websites must also comply with these requirements.

Included / Not Included / Extra Fees Table

How to Choose an AODA Provider: Practical Steps and Comparison

Choosing the right AODA compliance provider is critical for both legal compliance and practical risk management. Begin by confirming your organization’s size and structure: count all full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees working in Ontario. If you cross the 20-employee threshold, you must file a compliance report; at 50+, the web accessibility standard applies. If you are a foreign company with Ontario staff, the law applies to your Ontario operations, not your global headcount.

When comparing providers, ask:

• Is the provider based in Ontario and able to sign records locally?
• Does the service include all required documentation (policy, plan, WCAG test, feedback process)?
• Are prices transparent and are there renewal or extra fees?
• Is remediation (fixing issues found) included, or is it a separate cost?
• Do they offer ongoing monitoring or just a one-time audit?
• Is staff training or accessible document remediation available?

AccessibilityStatement.org provides a fixed annual fee, a signed Ontario compliance record, and no per-page or per-retest charges. Other providers, such as The Story, AODA Training, and Webability, offer broader services like remediation, training, and ongoing monitoring, but most do not publish prices and may charge extra for these services.

Decision Matrix

Always request a written scope of work and clarify what is included before signing.

What the Price Really Includes: Service Scope and Deliverables

The scope of AODA compliance services varies widely. AccessibilityStatement.org’s 890 CAD annual fee covers a signed compliance record from an Ontario company, a WCAG 2.2 AA test (which exceeds the legal minimum), a policy, a multi-year plan, and six supporting documents. There is no per-page or per-retest charge, and the renewal price is the same as the first-year price. The service does not include filing the report itself, which must be done by your officer.

Other providers, such as The Story, AODA Training, and Webability, offer a range of services including accessibility audits, remediation (fixing issues), new accessible website builds, documentation, ongoing maintenance, team training, and PDF/document accessibility. However, their pricing is generally on request and may depend on the size and complexity of your website, the number of documents, and the level of ongoing support required.

AccessibilityWay offers a monthly subscription model at $39.00 CAD/month, including audits, daily scans, and multi-language accessibility, but it is unclear if this includes policy and plan drafting or only technical monitoring.

Always confirm:

• Whether remediation is included or quoted separately
• If document (PDF) accessibility is part of the package
• What level of post-audit support is provided
• Whether training is included for your team

Inclusions can make a significant difference in total cost and compliance readiness. Ask for a detailed breakdown before committing.

Hidden Costs and Exclusions: What to Watch Out For

Hidden costs are common in the AODA compliance space. While some providers advertise audits or testing, remediation (the process of fixing identified accessibility issues) is often a separate, sometimes substantial, expense. Ongoing monitoring, re-testing after changes, and accessible document remediation (such as making PDFs accessible) may also incur additional charges.

Providers generally do not file the AODA compliance report for you; this is always a self-certification by a senior officer of your organization. No provider can grant official government certification or guarantee that your organization is immune from enforcement. Liability for the accuracy of your declaration remains with your organization, not the provider who performed the audit or issued the statement.

Notice periods for renewals, per-request fees for additional support, and limits of liability are rarely stated upfront. For example, AccessibilityStatement.org is clear that it does not file your report and that the signed record is evidence to support your self-certification, not a government certificate. Other providers may not specify these boundaries, so always request written confirmation of what is—and is not—included.

Before engaging any provider, ask:

• Is remediation included in the quoted price?
• Are there extra charges for re-testing or ongoing monitoring?
• Is document accessibility (PDFs, forms) part of the service?
• What happens if you need support after the initial audit?
• What are the renewal terms and notice periods?

How Appointment Works: Step-by-Step Guidance and Checklist

Engaging an AODA compliance provider involves several practical steps. The process is similar across providers, but the details and deliverables may differ. Here is a typical workflow:

1. Count your Ontario employees: Include all full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff. Contractors and volunteers do not count. This determines your obligations under AODA.
2. Identify your public-facing websites and content: List all domains, subdomains, and web content (including PDFs and forms) that are accessible to the public and branded to your organization.
3. Gather existing accessibility documentation: Collect any current accessibility policies, multi-year plans, training records, and previous compliance reports.
4. Contact providers: Request quotes and detailed scopes of work from one or more providers. Clarify what is included (audit, remediation, documentation, ongoing support).
5. Schedule the audit: Provide access to your website and relevant documents for testing. Some providers may require administrative access or a staging environment.
6. Review findings and recommendations: The provider will deliver an audit report, policy drafts, and compliance documentation. For AccessibilityStatement.org, this includes a signed Ontario compliance record and six supporting documents.
7. Remediate issues: Address any accessibility barriers identified in the audit. This may require internal resources or additional services from the provider.
8. Receive final documentation: Once remediation is complete, obtain the signed compliance record or statement from your provider.
9. File your AODA compliance report: Your senior officer submits the report online via the Accessibility Compliance Reporting portal, using the documentation as evidence.

Checklist for Today

1. Count Ontario employees
2. Identify all public-facing web content
3. Gather existing policies and plans
4. Contact providers for quotes and scope
5. Schedule audit and remediation
6. Prepare for self-certification and reporting

Following these steps ensures you meet the legal requirements and have evidence ready if challenged.

Risks, Fines, and What Providers Usually Do Not Say

Non-compliance with AODA can result in significant financial and reputational risks. Corporations may face fines of up to 100,000 CAD per day for ongoing violations. Risks include regulatory investigations, customer complaints, and procurement challenges—many public and large private buyers now require evidence of accessibility compliance from suppliers.

Providers rarely highlight that:

• They do not file the AODA report for you; this is always your responsibility.
• They cannot issue government certification or guarantee immunity from enforcement.
• Remediation and ongoing monitoring are often extra, not included in the initial audit fee.
• Liability for false or incomplete filings remains with your organization, not the provider.
• Notice periods, limits of liability, and per-request fees are often not disclosed upfront.

AccessibilityStatement.org is explicit about these boundaries: it prepares and signs a compliance record but does not file your report or claim to offer government certification. The signed record is evidence to support your self-certification and to defend your position if challenged by regulators or customers.

To minimize risk:

• Maintain thorough documentation of your compliance efforts.
• Ensure all required policies, plans, and training records are up to date.
• Address accessibility barriers promptly and keep records of remediation actions.
• Be cautious of providers who promise more than the law allows.

Realistic Scenarios: What Applies and Simplest Route to Compliance

• US SaaS with 25 staff in Toronto: This company must file an AODA compliance report and ensure its public website meets WCAG 2.0 AA. The simplest route is to engage a provider for a WCAG audit and compliance record, remediate any issues, and have a senior officer file the self-certified report. The provider cannot file the report but can supply all supporting documentation.
• Chinese Amazon seller with no Ontario staff: If the seller operates only through Amazon and does not have a public website or employees in Ontario, there are no AODA obligations. No compliance report or accessibility statement is required unless a separate Ontario-targeted website is launched.
• UK online shop with 12 staff in Ontario: With fewer than 20 Ontario employees, this shop does not need to file a compliance report but must still meet customer service accessibility standards. If the business grows to 20 or more Ontario employees, the reporting obligation will apply.

These examples show how obligations depend on employee count, location, and whether you operate a public-facing website for Ontario customers. Always count employees carefully and review your web presence to determine your duties.