Microenterprise Exemption
Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees AND annual turnover or balance sheet ≤ €2M) that provide services are exempt from the EAA's accessibility requirements. The exemption does NOT extend to microenterprises that place products on the market — those must still comply.
Very small service providers (under 10 staff and €2M) are largely exempt from the EU Accessibility Act — though it still applies if they make physical products.
Defined in Article 4(5) of the EAA, referencing Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC for the microenterprise definition. The exemption does not relieve operators of any obligations under other EU law (e.g., the Web Accessibility Directive for public-sector bodies, or sector-specific rules in banking and transport).
Why this matters
Frequently misread. The exemption is service-side only. A 6-person SaaS company selling a B2C service to EU consumers may be exempt; a 6-person company manufacturing self-service terminals is not. Member States may also require microenterprises to notify authorities.