WITHDRAWAL BUTTON · § 356a BGB
The withdrawal button has been mandatory since 19 June 2026.
Every online shop, app and service that sells to consumers with a right of withdrawal now needs an electronic withdrawal function. We build it into your site the compliant way — clean, two-step, at a fixed price.
No grace period · Live in a few days · Fixed price from €249
- 19 Jun 2026
- mandatory — no grace period
- up to 12 m + 14 d
- extended withdrawal period if missing
- from €249
- fixed price
AM I AFFECTED?
Do I even need the button?
The duty only covers B2C contracts with a right of withdrawal that are concluded online — but regardless of company size. Small businesses and clubs are not exempt either.
✓Yes, affected
- Online shop — your own store or a marketplace seller
- Digital products & services: courses, coaching, e-books, SaaS, streaming
- Subscriptions & booking platforms
- Financial services online (newly covered)
- A club selling tickets, merch or paid services online
—Probably not
- Pure B2B — no consumer right of withdrawal
- Contracts concluded only in-store, by phone or by email
- Only offers without a right of withdrawal: custom-made goods, perishables, unsealed hygiene items/media, fixed-date leisure services
Mixed range? As soon as even part of your offering carries a right of withdrawal, you need the button. When in doubt, we tell you in 10 minutes whether you are affected — free and without obligation.
HOW IT HAS TO WORK
Two clicks, precisely prescribed
A clearly legible, prominent button labelled “withdraw from contract”. It must be permanently available throughout the entire withdrawal period and reachable from every subpage — not behind a login, not hidden by cookie banners, on desktop and mobile.
The click does not yet trigger a withdrawal — it opens a short form. Only the necessary data is collected: name, contract details and an email for confirmation — nothing else, no mandatory reason field. A separate “confirm withdrawal” button completes the process.
Acknowledgement — automatic
You must promptly send the customer an acknowledgement on a durable medium (usually email) — including the content of the declaration plus the date and time it was sent. We store the send timestamp server-side so the deadline is provably met.
What matters: withdrawing must not be harder than buying. No tricks, no retention offers, no unnecessary login or captcha. We build it exactly that way.
Legal basis: Directive (EU) 2023/2673 · Art. 11a CRD (2011/83/EU) · § 356a BGB · in force since 19 June 2026.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT IS MISSING
This is the real risk — and this is not
Extended withdrawal period — up to 12 months + 14 days
If the button is missing or defective, customers can withdraw long after delivery. This is the most dangerous consequence commercially.
Cease-and-desist letters
The duty counts as a market-conduct rule — competitors and consumer associations can issue warnings. As with the 2022 cancellation button, a wave of warnings is to be expected.
Fines? Hardly relevant for small traders in practice
The often-cited €50,000 (or 4% of annual turnover) only applies to widespread, cross-border infringements under coordinated EU enforcement — not to a single small shop. We say it honestly: your real risks are the extended deadline and warnings.
That is exactly why a clean build pays off now — cheaper than any warning and any late withdrawal.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Everything the function needs — built in
- ✓Prominent “withdraw from contract” button, reachable on every page
- ✓Responsive on desktop, mobile and app — never hidden by pop-ups
- ✓Two-step withdrawal form without forced login and without captcha
- ✓Data minimisation: only name, contract/order number, email — no reason field
- ✓A separate “confirm withdrawal” button — the exact prescribed label
- ✓Automatic acknowledgement by email with content, date and time
- ✓Server-side timestamp for deadline compliance & proof
- ✓No dark patterns — withdrawing as easy as buying
- ✓Low-barrier accessibility (keyboard, screen reader/ARIA, contrast) — recommended
- ✓Placement of your withdrawal policy & privacy notes in the right spot
We implement the technical function and place your texts — we do not provide legal advice. You obtain your terms/withdrawal policy from your lawyer or a service such as IT-Recht-Kanzlei or Händlerbund.
FOR ANY SYSTEM
Whatever your site runs on
We build the withdrawal function into nearly any common environment — as a clean integration, not a foreign object.
Custom or bespoke shops are our specialty — here we bring the function cleanly and natively into your code.
FIXED PRICES
Compliant at a fixed price — no timesheet
A clearly scoped package, a fixed price, fast delivery. You know exactly what it costs up front.
Quick check
We check whether and how you are affected — without obligation, in about 10 minutes.
- ✓Eligibility check
- ✓Concrete assessment
- ✓No risk
- ✓No obligation
Withdrawal page
The legally required withdrawal function, cleanly built into your existing site.
- ✓“Withdraw from contract” button
- ✓Two-step withdrawal form
- ✓Automatic confirmation email
- ✓Mobile optimised
Landing Page
A new, modern one-page website — compliant with the withdrawal button from day one.
- ✓Custom design
- ✓Mobile optimised
- ✓Withdrawal function included
- ✓Fast launch
High-End Website
A multi-page website with the works — including the withdrawal function and placed mandatory texts.
- ✓Multi-page website
- ✓Advanced features
- ✓Withdrawal function & mandatory texts
- ✓Low-barrier accessibility
Express in 48 h possible (surcharge) · Already received a warning? → Priority help
No VAT charged under § 19 UStG (small-business scheme). Hosting & domain as needed. We implement the technical function and place your texts — no legal advice.
HOW IT WORKS
Done in a few days
Quick check
You tell us what your site runs on and what you sell. We check whether and how you are affected — free.
Access & fixed price
You get a fixed price and a clear offer. After approval we receive the necessary access.
Build
We build the button, form, confirmation email and timestamp and test on desktop and mobile.
Handover
You get the finished, tested function — with brief documentation and optional maintenance if you like.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
What traders want to know now
Is this the same as the cancellation button?
No. The cancellation button (§ 312k BGB, since 2022) concerns ongoing contracts. The withdrawal button (§ 356a BGB, since 19 June 2026) concerns the right of withdrawal for consumer contracts concluded online. Two different duties.
Is there a grace period?
No. The duty applies without any grace period since 19 June 2026.
My shop is small / I am a small business — am I out?
No. There is no exemption by company size or turnover. The only thing that matters is whether you sell online to consumers with a right of withdrawal.
Isn’t a contact form or “cancel” enough?
No. The function must clearly read “withdraw from contract” and conclude in two steps with “confirm withdrawal”. Vague terms are not enough.
Do you also do the withdrawal policy / terms?
We build the technical function and place your texts. You obtain the legal texts themselves from your lawyer or a service such as IT-Recht-Kanzlei or Händlerbund — we do not provide legal advice.
Does the button have to be accessible?
Recommended, yes. Whether the German Accessibility Act mandatorily covers the withdrawal function is not finally settled; we build it low-barrier to be safe. Where the act applies to your service, accessibility is mandatory anyway.
How fast is it?
Standard systems often in a few days, express in 48 hours possible.
Get the withdrawal button built the compliant way
Tell us what your site runs on — we get back to you with a fixed price and a clear process. Already received a warning? Add “priority help” and we will prioritise.
This page is general information and not legal advice. As of 19 June 2026.
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