The Trading Online Voucher Scheme
E-commerce Funding to Increase Sales and Build Your Brand Online
- Note, as of 1st January 2021 the 90% Trading Online Voucher rate has changed to 50%. Trading Online Vouchers to the value of €2,500 (50% of eligible costs up to the maximum of €2,500) are now available.
The Trading Online Voucher is an initiative for small businesses (with 10 or fewer employees and less than €2m in revenue), that aims to enhance their online trading presence.
Vouchers to the value of €2,500 (50% of eligible costs up to the maximum of €2,500) are available through this programme.
The objective of the scheme is to help small businesses build their brand, grow their sales, exports and ultimately jobs.
How to apply? The first step in applying is attending a Trading Online Voucher Information Seminar, you can book here >>
Already availed of a voucher? Is your new website performing and are you setting and reaching your digital sales goals? Have you maximised your organic search potential? A 2nd TOV grant could be used to part-fund a digital marketing strategy to grow your online business. You can maximise this grant to increase traffic to your website and to ensure those leads convert to sales.
In addition, we have developed an initiative that will provide Kildare businesses with the opportunity to make the move to online sales in a free of charge, quick and user-friendly way. Our new online Kildare eCommerce platform, Shop County Kildare
Please Note:
As of 1st January 2021, the co-funding requirement to apply for a Trading Online Voucher is 50%
Only applications received in full with 3 quotations will be considered for approval.
Businesses who previously benefited from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme can now apply for a second voucher of up to €2,500.
Applications must be submitted within 9 months of completing the information seminar.
Funding is provided by the LEO of the area in which the business operates and provides employment - If the case is that the business is registered in Kildare, but operates in Dublin for example, the business will be funded by and must submit the application to Dublin.
Drawing down:
Applicants must now drawdown from the funding allocation within 6 months.
Eligibility Criteria
- Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense
- Own labour is not an eligible expense
- Third party costs only will be considered
- All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. Tax and Business Registration details).
Eligible Projects
- no more than 10 employees;
- less than €2m in turnover;
- be trading for at least 6 months and
- be located in Kildare
Ineligible Projects
- * Please see Description of NACE code categories under which some sub-categories are excluded from the TOVs here *
- Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, trade associations and company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce are not eligible to participate in the scheme
- "Not for profit" and social entrepreneurship applicants unless they operate in a commercial domain
- Professional services specialising in IT type services who are already capable of trading online using existing in-house systems
- Conferences and Seminars
- Projects which are contrary to public policy
- Duplication of support for projects which would be eligible for assistance from other State Agencies of EU funded Operational Programmes
- Projects deemed to be capable of proceeding in any event without scheme assistance i.e. deadweight
- Projects essentially comprising importation and distribution
What the vouchers can be used for
- IT consultation
- Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website
- Implementing Online payments or booking systems
- Purchase of internet-related software
- Purchase of online advertising (this purchase cannot make up any more than 30% of approved Voucher costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase)
- Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages)
- Implementing a digital marketing strategy i.e. Social media marketing
- Consultation with ICT experts for early stage adopters of online strategy
- Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an online trading activity
What the vouchers cannot be used for
- Development of brochure websites
- Purchase of non-internet related software
- Anything other than online trading related activity
Businesses that participated in the scheme reported that, on average they saw their sales increase by 20%, with an 80% jump in sales leads and 3 in 5 exporting for the first time.
For many businesses, the question is not whether to trade online, it’s how to start. At least 2,000 small businesses have found answers to that question and a helping hand to take that step through the TOV Scheme. Some of them are your competitors.
How To Apply
In order to apply for a Trading Online Voucher, it is necessary to first attend a TOV information seminar, which will provide all the details as to how to apply and also how to best use and gain value from the voucher to support your trading online proposition.
Information sessions cover various topics, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation. The information provided is impartial and will help you decide on what trading online options, are right for your business.
Book your place on our next Trading Online Voucher seminar here.
