Website Grants
There are currently two website development grants available in Ireland:
1. The Local Enterprise Office - Online Trading Voucher
2. The Social Welfare TAT Grant.
If you're looking to create an online presence for your business but you're worried about the cost, these grants can be invaluable. With the Local Enterprise grant, you can get up to €2,500 while the TAT grant, though the BTWEA, allows for up to €500 towards costs.
Receiving state funding depends entirely on the quality of your application you present. Applications that propose the best business opportunities are obviously top of the list for funding. For businesses that are just starting up, creating employment in your local area is highly regarded for obvious reasons while Enterprise Ireland place high regard on businesses that will look to export its goods. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance however, is geared towards getting people back on their feet and into stable self employment.
Lets have a closer look at both..
LEO Online Trading Voucher
Grow your business with help from this Government grant scheme, designed to assist small businesses. It offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 along with training and advice to help your business trade online. Participating in this scheme can make the process of trading online much easier for you.
Pro Tip: You can get around the online trading requirements by offering your customers the option to pay for your services online!
Cutting the cost of developing your online trading capacity by up to 50% can make the investment very affordable for many small businesses out there. 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.
To qualify for the scheme, businesses must have:
1. No more than 10 employees;
2. Less than €2m in turnover;
3. Be trading for at least 6 months and
4. Be located in the region of the local enterprise office to whom they are applying.
Over 2,000 businesses, just like yours, have already benefitted from the scheme. Don’t get left behind. Your Local Enterprise Office can help and support you throughout the process. Voucher numbers are limited so contact us today for more information and application details.
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 Trading Online Voucher Scheme. Some of them are your competitors.
The first port of call for any small business thinking of developing their trading online capacity is to contact their Local LEO