GROW YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS GRANT
CANADA’S DIGITAL ADOPTION PROGRAM
COLLABORATE AND CREATE A TAILORED PLAN TO MAXIMIZE YOUR BUSINESS
INVEST IN YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS AND GET REIMBURSED UPTO $2400
WORK WITH AN E-COMMERCE ADVISOR
Discover the workings of the Grow Your Business Online Program
STEP 1
Confirm Your Eligibility
YOUR BUSINESS IS ELIGIBLE IF:
– Earn more than 30k revenue in a year OR have at least one employee other than the owner
– Don’t currently sell online or want to make improvements to an existing e-commerce site
– Have a business that is customer-facing
STEP 2
Connect With An Advisory Team.. Like Local Web
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR ECOMMERCE ADVISOR
STEP 3
Submit Your Plan to Get Reimbursed
Money spent on e-commerce improvements will be reimbursed upon review of receipts and/or invoice copies, with proof of payment.
IS YOUR BUSINESS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING?
ELIGIBLE
YOUR BUSINESS IS ELIGIBLE IF:
- Operate a registered for-profit business (social enterprises and cooperatives included) in British Columbia
- Earn more than 30k revenue in a year OR have at least one employee other than the owner
- Don’t currently sell online or want to make improvements to an existing e-commerce site
- Have a business that is customer-facing
NOT ELIGIBLE
THESE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE:
- Multi-level marketing companies or their representatives
- Brokerage firms, such as real estate agents, investment advisors, insurance agents, etc.
- Drop shippers
- Wholesale or manufacturing distributors
COSTS COVERED
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES EXPLAINED
HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR GRANT?
-
- To develop a new e-commerce website or add functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments)
- Redesign of an existing site is not eligible
- To install an e-commerce platform (including subscription fees/costs)
- To hire a consultant to help with digital marketing strategies for your e-commerce store that could include activities such as website search optimization and social media advertising.
- Your grant cannot be used solely for marketing or SEO purposes; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item
- To track and manage inventory and sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty program, or increase cyber security using e-commerce software
- To pay up to 20% of the total cost of hardware and software
Eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online.
- To develop a new e-commerce website or add functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments)
INELIGIBLE COSTS
- Internet connectivity
- Shipping of goods purchased through the e-commerce platform
- Purchases made prior to grant approval
- Renewal of digital services such as domain names or software subscriptions (including existing e-commerce subscriptions)
- Signage and printing
- Logo redesign and rebranding
- Owner’s salary or current employee salary for executing the project
- Purchase of land, buildings or vehicles
- Intangible assets such as goodwill, whether capitalized or expensed
- Depreciation or amortization expenses
- Interest on invested capital, bonds or debentures
- Bond discount
- Monthly mortgage, loan and/or rent payments
- Refinancing of an existing debt
- Losses on investments, bad debts and any other debts
- Fines or penalties
- Litigation
- Fees for administrators, including payments to any member or officer of the business’s board of directors
- Opportunity costs
- Hospitality and entertainment costs
- Franchise fees and/or franchise licence costs
- Lobbyist fees
- New capital expenditures
- Consulting fees for submission of CDAP application or any costs not related to the acquisition or set-up of technology solution
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
If you have any questions about these requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & DETAILS
Business Registration Information
- Federal Business Number
- GST/HST number
- Industry type and NAICS code
Details About Your Business
- A paragraph explaining how funds will be used toward eligible expenditures
- Number of years in business
(since business registration)
Required Documents
-
One of the following:
- Incorporation or registration documents
- Operating/business license
- Proof of business registration with a Band Council (Indigenous businesses only)
Attestations
-
One of the following:
- Attestation that the business has employed at least one employee (other than the owner) for at least three months prior to the application
OR
- Attestation of annual gross revenues exceeding $30,000 in the last 12 months of operations or since incorporation/registration (for businesses that have been in operation for under a year)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
MOST COMMON QUESTIONS
WHEN WILL MONEY SPENT BE REIMBURSED?
Money spent on e-commerce improvements will be reimbursed upon review of receipts and/or invoice copies, with proof of payment.
ARE THE GRANT FUNDS TAXABLE REVENUE?
Yes. The grant funds are taxable and should be reported on your corporate tax return.
THE INVOICES ARE NOT IN CANADIAN FUNDS, WHAT EXCHANGE RATE WILL BE USED TO REIMBURSE THESE?
Micro-grant disbursements require the receipt of both an invoice and proof of payment. The exchange rate can be based on the rate stated on the credit card statement or a copy of the canceled check.
CAN THE GRANT BE USED FOR MARKETING / SOCIAL MEDIA ONLY?
This grant can not be used solely for marketing purposes, as the purpose of this grant program is for small businesses to create new or improve existing e-commerce solutions.
IF I LOSE A RECEIPT FOR ANY OF MY ELIGIBLE EXPENSES, CAN I STILL SUBMIT IT AS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE?
No. All submitted expenses will require both proof of service completed and proof of payment.
WHEN DO I SUBMIT MY RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT?
All receipts must be submitted within 90 days from the project start date, receipts must be submitted together for a maximum amount up to $2400 and proof of payment must be provided for each receipt.
CAN THE GRANT BE USED TO PAY AN EMPLOYEE OR CONTRACTOR TO SUPPORT DIGITAL ADOPTION?
The micro-grant can be used to pay a contractor only if the contractor operates an independent business (registered and/or incorporated) that provides digital adoption services. The grant cannot be used to pay an employee’s salary.
CAN I SUBMIT RECEIPTS FOR EXPENSES THAT I INCURRED WHILE SETTING UP MY ONLINE SHOP PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT?
Costs can only be incurred from the date on which your application has been deemed eligible.
You can claim your micro-grant within three (3) months of your application being deemed eligible or meeting with the E-Commerce Advisor, whichever date is later. You must provide both your invoice and proof of payment within these three (3) months.
YOUR BUSINESS APPLICATION
CAN I APPLY FOR THIS FUNDING IF I HAVE AN AT-HOME BUSINESS?
If your business interacts directly with consumers or offers in-person services, it qualifies, provided it meets all other eligibility requirements.
WHAT IS A CONSUMER-FACING BUSINESS?
A consumer-facing business directly sells products or services to customers (B2C). These businesses may operate physically or online.
I’M A SOLE PROPRIETOR AND DON’T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES. CAN I APPLY?
If your business generated a minimum of $30,000 in revenue within the last 12 months or since its establishment/incorporation (for businesses operating for less than a year), you qualify for application
MY BUSINESS ADDRESS IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, BUT I LIVE IN B.C. CAN I STILL APPLY?
The program administered by Local Web Services is for businesses with a local B.C. address only. Please see https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/152.nsf/eng/00011.html for providers in other provinces.
CDAP STREAM GRANT
HOW LONG WILL THE CDAP GRANT PROGRAM BE AVAILABLE?
Funding will continue until 2025.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF MY BUSINESS AFTER THE PROGRAM?
Businesses are asked to participate in follow-up surveys, agree to having their business information shared with the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada), and agree to their business name being published as a recipient of funding.
HOW LONG IS THE COMMITMENT?
Businesses must agree to maintain their digital adoption strategy for 6 months post-intervention.
CDAP STREAM 1 AND STREAM 2 - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Stream 1 – the Grow Your Business Online program helps small businesses take advantage of e-commerce opportunities.
- Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies.
- Access to e-commerce advisors who will advise and help small businesses adopt e-commerce.
Learn more about the Grow Your Business Online program here.
Stream 2 – the Boost Your Business Technology grant helps small and medium-sized businesses with at least $500,000 of annual revenues, adopt new digital technologies.
- Use a free digital assessment tool to evaluate your own digital readiness
- The grant covers up to 90% of the eligible cost of retaining the services of a digital advisor, up to a maximum grant value of $15,000 per SME, to develop a digital adoption plan
- Businesses also have the opportunity to secure a 0% interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to facilitate the acquisition of new technology
Learn more about the Boost Your Business Technology grant here.
EXPENSES AND ELIGIBILITY
WHAT EXPENSES ARE ELIGIBLE?
Please review the full list of eligible and ineligible expenses in our Program Guide
I HAVE AN E-COMMERCE SITE. AM I STILL ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING TO ENHANCE IT?
If the proposal is for improvements and/or something new it may be eligible. However, a replacement of existing features would not be.
MY BUSINESS IS PART OF A FRANCHISE. AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT?
Corporate chains, franchises, or registered charities are not eligible.
I HAVE AN ONLINE SHOP BUT NEED TO ADD PRODUCT PICTURES. COULD I APPLY ALL THE ELIGIBLE FUNDING TOWARD A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER?
As the website already has a functioning online shop, expenses related to photography would not be eligible.
CAN THE GRANT BE USED FOR SEO / WEBSITE SEARCH OPTIMIZATION ONLY?
The following improvements are examples of eligible SEO costs:
- Keyword Research and Metadata Optimization
- SEO to enable mobile-Friendly Design
- Page Speed Optimization
- Linking – Creating a clearly defined system of internal links that directs both users and search engines through the small business’ content effectively.
FOR HOW LONG MUST MY EMPLOYEE HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED BY MY BUSINESS PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR THE GROW YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE GRANT?
Your employee must have been working at the business for at least 3 months.
WILL THE TAXES ON THE INVOICES BE REIMBURSED?
Micro-grants will be issued based on the cost of the expense(s) before taxes; tax charges will not be reimbursed.
ARE NON-PROFITS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM?
Only for-profit businesses (including for-profit social enterprises and cooperatives) are eligible for this funding.
IF MY BUSINESS IS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF BUSINESS AND IS ON TRACK TO EARN $30,000 IN REVENUE, WOULD I BE ELIGIBLE?
Your business has to attest that you had a gross revenue of at least $30,000 in the last 12 months of operations or since incorporation/registration. Therefore you would not be able to apply if you are “on track” to meet the threshold; you would have to wait until the threshold has been met.
GRANT FUNDING & REIMBURSMENT
WHEN WILL MONEY SPENT BE REIMBURSED?
Money spent on e-commerce improvements will be reimbursed upon review of receipts and/or invoice copies, with proof of payment.
ARE THE GRANT FUNDS TAXABLE REVENUE?
Yes. The grant funds are taxable and should be reported on your corporate tax return.
THE INVOICES ARE NOT IN CANADIAN FUNDS, WHAT EXCHANGE RATE WILL BE USED TO REIMBURSE THESE?
Micro-grant disbursements require the receipt of both an invoice and proof of payment. The exchange rate can be based on the rate stated on the credit card statement or a copy of the canceled check.
CAN THE GRANT BE USED FOR MARKETING / SOCIAL MEDIA ONLY?
This grant can not be used solely for marketing purposes, as the purpose of this grant program is for small businesses to create new or improve existing e-commerce solutions.
IF I LOSE A RECEIPT FOR ANY OF MY ELIGIBLE EXPENSES, CAN I STILL SUBMIT IT AS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE?
No. All submitted expenses will require both proof of service completed and proof of payment.
WHEN DO I SUBMIT MY RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT?
All receipts must be submitted within 90 days from the project start date, receipts must be submitted together for a maximum amount up to $2400 and proof of payment must be provided for each receipt.
CAN THE GRANT BE USED TO PAY AN EMPLOYEE OR CONTRACTOR TO SUPPORT DIGITAL ADOPTION?
The micro-grant can be used to pay a contractor only if the contractor operates an independent business (registered and/or incorporated) that provides digital adoption services. The grant cannot be used to pay an employee’s salary.
CAN I SUBMIT RECEIPTS FOR EXPENSES THAT I INCURRED WHILE SETTING UP MY ONLINE SHOP PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT?
Costs can only be incurred from the date on which your application has been deemed eligible.
You can claim your micro-grant within three (3) months of your application being deemed eligible or meeting with the E-Commerce Advisor, whichever date is later. You must provide both your invoice and proof of payment within these three (3) months.