Accessibility Testing as a Side Hustle

Accessibility testing is one of the most overlooked, high-value side hustles available right now. Every business with a website or mobile app is expected to make its content usable for people with disabilities. Many don’t realize they’re falling short—until a customer complains or legal risks appear. That’s where accessibility testers come in. If you’re detail-oriented, curious, and enjoy improving user experiences, this can become a meaningful and profitable skill.

What Is Accessibility Testing?

Accessibility testing evaluates whether websites, apps, and digital products are usable by people with:

Visual impairments
Hearing impairments
Motor limitations
Cognitive differences

The industry standard most businesses follow is World Wide Web Consortium guidelines called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

In simple terms, you check whether:

Text is readable
Buttons are accessible by keyboard
Images include descriptive alt text
Videos include captions
Color contrast is sufficient
Forms are usable without a mouse

You’re not just “testing.” You’re helping businesses include more people.

For more information, check out these pages and articles:

Why This Is a Growing Opportunity

Accessibility is no longer optional. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. and similar regulations globally mean companies can face legal issues if their sites are inaccessible.

At the same time:

E-commerce continues growing
More businesses move online
Mobile apps are everywhere

Most small businesses don’t have in-house accessibility experts. They need freelancers. That creates space for a side hustle.

Who Can Do Accessibility Testing?

You do not need to be a full-time developer.

Accessibility testers often include:

QA testers
Designers
Developers
Content creators
People with disabilities who use assistive tech
Detail-oriented beginners willing to learn

If you already work in tech or digital marketing, this can become a powerful add-on service.

Skills You’ll Need

You don’t need advanced coding skills, but you should understand:

Basic Website Structure

What headings (H1, H2, etc.) are
How forms and buttons work
How links function

WCAG Basics

Learn what accessibility success criteria look like:

Perceivable
Operable
Understandable
Robust

Assistive Tools

Familiarity with:

Screen readers
Keyboard navigation
Accessibility browser extensions

These skills can be learned online for free or at low cost.

Types of Accessibility Testing Services You Can Offer

You can start small and grow over time.

1. Basic Accessibility Audits: Run manual and automated checks on websites and deliver a report.
2. Mobile App Accessibility Reviews: Test navigation, button labeling, contrast, and usability.
3. Content Accessibility Reviews

Review blog posts and landing pages for:

Alt text
Readability
Clear headings

4. Ongoing Accessibility Monitoring: Offer monthly check-ins for businesses that update content frequently.

Tools You Can Use

Many tools are free or affordable:

Browser accessibility extensions
Contrast checkers
Screen readers (many are free)
Keyboard-only testing

As you grow, you may invest in premium auditing software—but you don’t need that on day one.

How Much Can You Charge?

Pricing depends on experience and scope.

Typical beginner pricing models:

Flat fee per website audit
Hourly rate for testing
Package pricing for small business sites

As you gain experience, you can charge more—especially if you provide detailed reports and clear recommendations. Accessibility expertise becomes more valuable over time.

How to Find Clients

Start where businesses already exist.

Freelance Platforms: Offer accessibility audits as a niche service.
Local Businesses: Many local companies have websites that haven’t been updated in years.
Agencies: Web design agencies often outsource accessibility reviews.
Your Own Network: Entrepreneurs, bloggers, and app developers frequently need help but don’t know where to start.

You can position yourself as:

“Accessibility testing for small businesses and growing brands.”

How Wakewall Can Support This Side Hustle

If you’re building an accessibility testing side hustle, organization is critical.

Using Wakewall, you can:

Set reminders for client deadlines
Track audit schedules
Create categories for different clients
Add notes to each project
Schedule follow-ups

Wakewall keeps your growing client list structured without juggling spreadsheets and scattered notes.

For client communication:

Set reminders for report delivery
Track invoice due dates
Schedule check-ins

Consistency builds reputation—and reminders protect your reputation.

How to Start (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Learn WCAG Basics: Study foundational accessibility principles.
Step 2: Practice on Real Websites: Test popular sites and identify issues.
Step 3: Create a Simple Audit Template

Include:

Summary
Issues found
Severity level
Suggested fixes

Step 4: Offer a Discounted First Service: Build testimonials and case studies.
Step 5: Raise Rates as Confidence Grows

Why This Side Hustle Has Meaning

Accessibility testing isn’t just technical—it’s impactful.

You’re helping:

People access information
Businesses avoid risk
Brands become more inclusive
The internet become more usable

It’s a side hustle that aligns with purpose.

Challenges to Be Aware Of

Like any side hustle, it has learning curves:

Understanding standards deeply takes time
Some clients may not prioritize fixes
Reports must be clear and professional

But once you gain experience, you’ll stand out in a growing field.

Long-Term Potential

Accessibility expertise can evolve into:

Consulting
Compliance advising
UX optimization
Agency partnerships
Full-time freelancing

Many companies now seek accessibility specialists permanently. Starting as a side hustle gives you low-risk entry into a high-demand niche.

Where to Apply to be a Accessibility Tester and Freelancer

If you want to become an Accessibility Tester (Web & App Accessibility) and work as a freelancer, you’re stepping into a field that’s growing fast — especially with stricter ADA and WCAG compliance requirements in the U.S.n Below are the best platforms, companies, and ways to apply, plus where freelancers are actually getting work.

Where to Apply to be a Accessibility Tester Freelancer

1️⃣ Upwork

Search: “accessibility testing,” “WCAG audit,” “ADA compliance testing”
Clients range from startups to agencies
Great for building a portfolio
Can charge hourly or per audit
Official site: Upwork

Tip: Position yourself as:

“WCAG 2.2 accessibility tester for websites and mobile apps”

2️⃣ Fiverr

Create a specific gig:
- “I will perform WCAG accessibility audit”
- “I will test your website for ADA compliance”
Works well for packaged services
Official site: Fiverr

3️⃣ Toptal

Higher barrier to entry
Better pay
Good if you have technical background
Official site: Toptal

4️⃣ PeoplePerHour

Good for UK-based accessibility work
Many WCAG compliance projects
Official site: Peopleperhour

🏢 Companies That Hire Accessibility Testers

1️⃣ Deque Systems

Creator of Axe accessibility tools
Frequently hires accessibility specialists
Remote-friendly
Official site: Deque systems

2️⃣ Level Access

Enterprise accessibility consulting
Contracts & full-time roles
Official site: Level Access

3️⃣ TPGi

Accessibility auditing & consulting
Often hires contract testers
Official site: TPGi

4️⃣ Applause

Crowdtesting platform
Pays per test cycle
Great entry-level starting point
Official Site: Applause

5️⃣ Testlio

Software QA company
Sometimes hires accessibility testers
Official site: Testlio

💼 Remote Job Boards

Search these for:

“Accessibility Tester”
“WCAG Specialist”
“ADA Compliance Auditor”

🔎 Best Sites:

Indeed
LinkedIn
We Work Remotely
FlexJobs

🎓 Certifications That Help You Get Hired

If you want higher-paying contracts:

IAAP CPACC Certification
Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS)

From:

International Association of Accessibility Professionals

These can significantly increase your rates.

🛠 Tools You Should Know

If you’re already learning Kotlin and Android (which you mentioned before), mobile accessibility testing could be your edge. Android accessibility testing is very in demand.

🚀 Best Path to Start (Step-by-Step)

Learn WCAG 2.2 basics
Practice auditing 3–5 websites
Create a small portfolio PDF
Apply to Applause + Upwork
Add IAAP certification later
Raise your rates after 3–5 projects

Final Thoughts

Accessibility testing is:

In demand
Learnable
Purpose-driven
Scalable

You don’t need to be an expert on day one. You just need curiosity, attention to detail, and a system to stay organized. With the right skills—and tools like Wakewall to manage your workflow—you can turn accessibility testing into a meaningful and profitable side hustle.

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