The "Trading Online Voucher Scheme" is an Irish government financial support of up to €2,500 in matching funds for small businesses to improve their online trading presence. It is available through your Local Enterprise Office. This presentation explains who is eligible and how to get the funding.

1. Trading Online Voucher Scheme

2. • Overview of the scheme
• What’s eligible & not eligible
• What the awarding bodies are looking for
• Tips for filling in the application form
What we’ll cover

4. Alastair McDermott
WebsiteDoctor.com
info@WebsiteDoctor.com
@WebsiteDoctor

5. The “Online Trading Voucher Scheme” is
financial support of up to €2,500
in matching funds available through
your Local Enterprise Office.

6. Online Trading Voucher Scheme aims:

7. Support small businesses
in online trading to:

8. Increase Business Growth

9. Increase Exports

10. Increase Jobs

11. What is the voucher

12. Up to €2,500
in matching funds

13. Matched at 50%
for almost all spend

14. Matched at 30% for
online advertising spend

15. Can be used to fund multiple
services simultaneously

16. Who is eligible?

17. Businesses with a limited
online trading presence

18. Less than €2 Million Turnover

19. Less than 10 employees

20. Trading for a minimum
of 12 months

21. You must be located in the
region of the LEO you apply to

22. Documented proof of the above

23. Who is not eligible for the
Trading Online Voucher Scheme?

24. Clubs
Charities
Not-for-profits
Associations
Semi-states
Conferences
Seminars
Some others
(see application form)

25. Duplicate support equivalent
to some EU funds

26. Over €2 Million turnover

27. Over 10 employees

28. Trading for less
than 12 months

29. If You Are Trading < 12 Months…

30. First, start the 12 month clock ticking
Easiest way is register a business
name with the CRO (€20)
If You Are Trading < 12 Months…

31. Most Local Enterprise Offices have a
smaller “LEO website grant” available
If You Are Trading < 12 Months…

32. The LEO website grant is usually:
• Directly from their own funding
• Completely discretionary
• Less paperwork
• Smaller amounts (around €300-600)
If You Are Trading < 12 Months…

33. Ask your LEO about this directly
If You Are Trading < 12 Months…

34. What can the Vouchers
be used for?

35. Digital marketing strategy

36. Development or upgrade of
an ecommerce website

37. Implementing online payments
or booking functions

38. Customer fulfilment systems

39. Internet related software

40. Development of an app or
mobile responsive website

41. Training

42. Online Advertising
(30% matched)

43. What the Vouchers
cannot be used for

44. Development of
brochure websites
(lead generation sites are fine)

45. Purchase of non-internet
related software

46. Anything other than online
trading related activities

47. Notable rules

48. You must attend an
informational seminar
(which covers the content you’re getting here)

49. Excludes VAT
(originally it did cover VAT)

50. You must provide documentation
proving eligibility

51. Application should include
3 quotes for each service
where possible

52. You must provide documentation
proving Supplier eligibility

53. Must be a registered business

54. Must be tax compliant in their area

55. Online Advertising
is matched at 30%

56. What LEO requires for drawdown

57. Original paid invoice(s) for
the work completed

58. Bank statements showing proof
of payment to the supplier

59. Tax Clearance verification
for your business

60. A copy of your CRO registration
or other proof that your business
has been trading for over 12 months

61. A summary of work done & anticipated
benefits to your business

62. Declaration of project
completion by suppliers

63. Suppliers details
(tax clearance information)

64. What should be included
in your application?

65. Business details:
• name
• location
• start date
• business description
• contact details

66. Tell them specifically how it will help
your business. Will it help you…
• handle sales automatically
• generate new leads
• deliver improved customer service, etc

67. Online competitor analysis
(show them you’ve looked)

68. What is your target market?

69. Explain how this project will help you
grow your revenue or increase
efficiencies in your business

70. Internal & External resources
you can dedicate to the project
• People
• Facilities
• Systems
• Processes
• Equipment
• Material

71. Existing digital assets in your
business that can help the project
• Photos
• Videos
• Animations
• Presentations
• Software
• Written content

72. Tips for filling in your application

73. Contact your Local Enterprise Office
to ask for the application form
Visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie if you
don’t know which is your LEO.

74. Complete all the required sections
Leave nothing completely empty

75. Contact your LEO for
anything you’re unclear about
Do not submit an
incomplete application

76. Make it easy for them to fund you:
include all paperwork and
information requested

77. Next: Planning Your Site

78. Q & A

79. WebsiteDoctor.com/FreeGuide
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