Do I qualify for the TOV?
The Online Trading Vouchers scheme is explicitly aimed at small Irish businesses that want to improve their website/e-commerce/digital marketing presence. Businesses that apply for the grant need to meet the following criteria:
- Must be trading for at least 6 months
- No More Than 10 Employees
- Less Than €2m in Turnover
- Limited online trading presence i.e. no website or a website with very limited or no trading functionality
- Must be located in the catchment area of a LEO that is participating in this scheme. Click here to find a list of all Local Enterprise Offices.
Following Businesses are NOT eligeble for the trading voucher:
- Charities, commercial semi-state companies, trade associations, or company representative bodies (e.g. Chambers of Commerce)
- Not-for-profit or social entrepreneurship applicants operating under a commercial domain
- IT companies or agencies
- Conferences and seminars
- Projects that are not compliant with public policy
- Duplication of support for projects which would be eligible for assistance from other State Agencies of EU-funded operational programmes
- Companies with more than 10 employees
- Projects essentially comprising importation and distribution
You can find a more complete list of ineligible businesses here.
What can I use the Trading Online Voucher for?
You can use the Trading Online Voucher for one or more of the following:
- IT, digital marketing, or digital strategy consultation
- Development or upgrade of an ecommerce website
- Implementation of online payment facilities or booking systems
- Purchasing Internet-related software e.g. subscriptions to low-cost online retail platform solutions
- Purchasing online advertising (for up to 30% of the approved voucher amount and it can only be drawn down in one payment phase)
- Development of an app (or multi-platform webpages)
- Development of a digital marketing strategy
- Implementing a digital marketing strategy
- Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an online trading activity
What can I not use the Trading Online Voucher for?
You cannot use the Trading Online Voucher for:
- Developing a brochure website
- Purchasing a service that is not internet-related (i.e. anything other than online trading)
TOV Terms and Conditions
- The Trading Online Voucher Scheme has terms and conditions that you should be aware of. Most importantly, the maximum value for the voucher is €2,500 or 50% of the eligible expense (exclusive of VAT). And you must get your TOV application approved before you pay any developer or agency.
- The full terms and conditions of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme are:
- Vouchers will have a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (exclusive of VAT), whichever is the lesser
- Voucher approval must be gained before incurring any expense
- Own (internal) labour is not considered an eligible expense
- Only third-party costs will be considered
- All third-party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. tax and business registration details)
Did you know?
According to the Wicklow Local Enterprise Office of the 800 local businesses surveyed that received the Trading Online Voucher, it was found that:
- 60% of businesses started growing internationally, with customers outside of Ireland placing online orders.
- Total sales grew by an average of over 20%.
- Almost 9 in 10 businesses received an increased number of customer enquiries.
- 3 in 4 businesses said that the new sales generated were additional and had no disruptive effect on existing sales.
- Businesses were looking to hire new employees to keep up with the growing demand, with businesses looking to recruit on average 1.4 more employees.
- Almost 90% of businesses believe that their online sales will account for an increased percentage of their revenue in the next six months.
