AGENCY GUIDE TO VPATS AND AUDITS How to sell accessibility services that win deals
Accessibility services like VPATs and audits aren’t just compliance checks — they’re business-critical documents that help your clients win contracts. For your agency, they unlock new, high-margin revenue with minimal lift.
Why it matters for your agency
Ready for your clients to see you as more than a vendor?
Position yourself as the trusted digital advisor who solves real business problems — funding, compliance, and growth.
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Win more deals
Many proposals are disqualified without VPATs or audits
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Grow your margins
Accessibility services aren’t an “extra”, they’re compliance deliverables that can increase project value
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Stand out
Deliver what most agencies can’t: official compliance documents that solve real business problems.
What to sell & when VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates)
A VPAT is a formal Section 508 compliance document that outlines how accessible a digital product is. It is required for U.S. government agencies, federally funded organizations, and service providers to those organizations. Procurement teams often disqualify bids without a VPAT. When completed, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).
When clients need it:
- Bidding on government contracts (federal/state/local)
- Maintaining or renewing funding
- When a client asks for “proof of accessibility compliance”
Key selling points:
- Without a VPAT, client proposals won’t make it past procurement
- It’s proof of compliance that protects funding and opens doors to bigger contracts
Accessibility audits
A line-by-line manual review of code and design against WCAG standards. Conducted by experts using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and assistive tech. Audits validate compliance, identify risks, and provide actionable fixes. They’re the foundation for a strong VPAT and prevent costly legal or reputational risks.
When clients need it:
- Preparing for a VPAT or compliance check
- Before launching new websites or digital services
- When a client has in-house dev teams ready to remediate issues
Key selling points:
- Gives you the roadmap — exactly what to fix and how
- This is your due diligence that makes your VPAT airtight and procurement-ready
- Audits let you control the narrative: you show issues have been found and addressed.
Ready to make accessibility your growth strategy?