Scheme Overview
The Trading Online Voucher scheme is funding by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) is aimed at established microbusinesses, including sole traders, with little of no trading online capability, operating in sectors where the market has not already compelled them to develop this capability.
The scheme offers a grant of up to €2,500 (subject to match funding) to help micro-enterprises (10 employees of less) to develop their ecommerce capability, and in turn reap the positive enterprise impacts of trading online.
The application process for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme is a competitive process.
Applications made on behalf of clients by third parties will not be accepted.
We will not be accepting applications in hard copy or via email.
Only applications made online via the "Apply Now" link below will be accepted and provided the half-day Information Seminar has been completed.
Terms:
- Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (excluding VAT), whichever is the lesser
- It is a mandatory requirement of this scheme that prospective applicants participate in an information session. Applicants for a second voucher are required to participate in an information session. All applicants must have attended an information session in the last 9 months
- Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense. Any receipts submitted that predate application approval will be deemed ineligible
- 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)
- There are categories of business excluded from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme as defined by their NACE Code. A number of sectors are identified by their NACE Codes in which exclusions apply in terms of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. The NACE Code for a business can be checked via CRO Registration. Full list of business excluded can be found HERE
(Please Note: The above terms are subject to change at short notice)
Eligible Businesses
The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:
- Limited or no trading online presence
- 10 or less employees
- Turnover of less than €2m
- Applicant business must be trading for at least 6 months*
- Business must be located in the area covered by the LEO to whom they make their application i.e. LEO’s cannot accept applications from businesses located outside their jurisdiction. If you would like to check if your business address is based in our South Dublin LEO administrative area, please click here for the online South Dublin area map.
- Previous voucher recipients may apply for a second voucher
*applicant businesses must provide clear proof trading for minimum of 6 months to their Local Enterprise Office prior to applying
Ineligible Projects
The Following projects are considered ineligible:
- 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 supports 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 i.e deadweight
- Categories of business excluded from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme as defined by their NACE Code. A number of sectors are identified by their NACE codes in which exclusions apply in terms of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. The NACE code for a business can be checked by CRO Registration. Follow list of excluded business categories can be found HERE
Please Note:
Applications made on behalf of clients by third parties will not be accepted. We will not be accepting applications in hard copy or via email.
Eligible Grant Expenditure
Once a business meets the terms and eligibility criteria referenced above the following are considered eligible grant expenditure:
- IT Consultation
- Development or upgrade of e-commerce website
- Implementing online payments or booking systems
- Purchase of Internet related software
- Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages)
- Development of a digital marketing strategy
- Implementing a digital marketing strategy
- Training/Skills development specifically to establish and manage online trading activity
- 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). i.e 30% of web development costs
- Professional Photography costs (this purchase cannot make up any more than 80% of other approved voucher costs) i.e 80% of web development costs
If you are approved for the purchase of online advertising and professional photography the combination cannot make up any more than 80% of other approved voucher costs (30% online advertising & 50% Professional Photography)
Ineligible Grant Expenditure
- Development of brochure websites*
- Purchase of non-internet related software
- Anything other than online trading related activity
*A brochure website is a digital version of a printed brochure. They show the products or services your company provides. However, unlike an e-commerce website, they do not sell the product or service online or have an interactive booking function. With a brochure website, the goods and services are only displayed, so customers will have to contact the company to place an order.
Please see our FAQ document,available HERE, for further information.
How To Apply
- In order to apply for a Trading Online Voucher, you must first attend a half-day Information Seminar on how to use and get the best value for money from the voucher
- After attending the information session you should complete and submit the application form through submit.com.
