Applying for a Trading Online Voucher

• Applications will only be accepted via our online platform at the above link.  
• Applications will not be considered unless the applicant has attended a Trading Online Voucher seminar.  Applicants must apply for the voucher within nine months of attending the seminar.  To book a place on an upcoming seminar, click here.
• The application must be accompanied by three quotations for the work to be done.  
• Only complete applications will be processed.
• Please note that applicants must be registered and trading for at least 6 months.
• The supplier for the work must be tax registered in their jurisdiction of operation.  
• Not all businesses are eligible for the scheme, details of this can be found below.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure, whichever is the lesser.
• Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense.
• Purchase of professional photography services cannot make up more than 80% of all other approved voucher costs (excluding advertising) and can only be drawn down in one payment phase.
• Purchase of advertising services cannot make up any more than 30% of all other approved vourcher costs (excluding photography/videography) and can only be drawn down in one payment phase.
• Own labour is not an eligible expense.  Note that own labour includes work by spouses or children.
• Third party costs only will be considered.
• All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (eg, tax and business registration details).

The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:

• Limited online trading presence.
• Less than 10 employees.
• Turnover less than €2 million.
• Applicant business must be registered and trading for at least 6 months.

Ineligible Projects

• Ineligible categories of businesses.  For a list of these, click here.
• Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, not for profit organisations, trade associations and company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce are not eligible to participate in the scheme.
• 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 with employees in excess of 10 people.
• Projects deemed to be capable of proceeding in any event without scheme assistance, that is, deadweight.
• Projects essentially comprising importation and distribution.

What the vouchers cannot be used for:

• Development of brochure websites.
• Purchase of non-internet related software.
• Anything other than online trading related activity.

What the vouchers can be used for

• IT consultation.
• Development or upgrade of an e-commernce 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 multi-platform webpages).
• Implementing a digital marketing strategy, ie, 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.

Evaluation Process

• Client must attend pre-voucher application information seminar (see above and below for link).
• An evaluation committee will assess the applications and make recommendations for approval.
• A competitive process will be put in place to assist with the selection process.  Selection of successful applications will be based on the following criteria: (i) eligibility for scheme; (ii) value added potential; (iii) export potential; (iv) job creation potential; (v) financial sustainability.

COVID-19 and Trading Online Vouchers

These rules apply to TOV's until further notice: 

• The introduction of a second voucher of up to €2,500 for businesses that have already availed of a voucher under the scheme but who find themselves needing to upgrade their existing e-commerce capability.
• The drawdown of payments in respect of new vouchers in two instalments rather than in one instalment.
• Subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions are eligible expenditure under the scheme.

Voucher Administration

• Letter of offer sent to successful applicant.
• The voucher has a life of 6 months from the date of approval.

The Local Enterprise Office will require the following attached documentation to be completed and returned by you within 10 working days in order to set your business up on the County Council Finance system so that payment will be effected promptly on completion of your Trading Online Voucher work:

• Acceptance of the Trading Online Voucher.
• Completed County Council New Supplier Set Up and Amendment Form (this will be attached with your letter of offer – please read the accompanying note carefully).
• Evidence of tax compliance.
• Evidence of grantee business registration (if a sole trader/partnership – evidence of Business Name registration with the Companies Registration Office (CRO)/if a company, evidence of company registration from the CRO).

Acceptance and Claim

When making your claim, you will be sent an email from our online platform, Submit.com, with a link to allow you to upload the following required information:  

• Written correspondence from the grantee with the associated web address, confirmation that it is operational to trade online and the project is complete.
• Declaration from the grantee stating that the work has been completed, detailing anticipated benefits to the business.
• Declaration from the web developer (supplier) that the work has been completed and the website is fully operational and payment in full has been made by the grantee. 
• Evidence of tax compliance in respect of your business.
• Supplier invoice(s) for the work completed which must include supplier tax/vat registration number.  Please note that that the web developer (supplier) must be registered for tax purposes in the domain in which they/the business operates.  
• Bank statement(s) showing proof of payment to the supplier.  Please note the transaction reference must match the business name on the supplier invoice.
• Evidence of grantee business registration (if a sole trader/partnership – evidence of Business Name registration with the Companies Registration Office (CRO)/if a company, evidence of company registration from the CRO).

For Trading Online Voucher claims queries contact smoran@meathcoco.ie.