If your business has little or no online presence, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme could be one of the most straightforward grants available to you right now.
Run through Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) across Ireland, the scheme provides financial support to help small businesses set up or improve how they trade online — from launching a new website to adding an online booking system or running paid digital advertising. If you qualify, the government covers up to 50% of the cost of your digital project, up to a maximum voucher value of €2,500.
This guide explains who qualifies, what the voucher can fund, and how the application process works.
What Is the Trading Online Voucher Scheme?
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is a government-backed initiative designed to help small businesses in Ireland develop or improve their online trading capacity. It is administered locally through your nearest LEO and is open to businesses with ten or fewer employees that currently have limited or no e-commerce activity.
The scheme covers up to 50% of eligible project costs, with the maximum voucher value set at €2,500. This means the total project value is typically up to €5,000 — the voucher covers half, and the business provides the other half as co-funding.
For a small retailer in Cork, a tradesperson in Galway, or a service provider in Dublin looking to take bookings online, the voucher can make a meaningful difference to what a digital upgrade costs in practice.
Who Is Eligible?
Before applying, your business needs to meet all of the following criteria:
- Ten or fewer employees
- Annual turnover under €2 million
- Trading for at least six months
- Limited or no existing e-commerce presence
- Based within the catchment area of a Local Enterprise Office
If you already have a well-developed online shop or are generating significant revenue through online sales, you may not qualify — the scheme is specifically aimed at businesses that are taking their first serious steps online, or making meaningful upgrades to an underdeveloped presence.
A second voucher is available to businesses that have already completed a first round and want to build further. However, you must have submitted your final claim for the first voucher before applying again.
What Can the Voucher Be Spent On?
This is where the scheme offers genuine flexibility. Eligible activities include:
- Website development or upgrade — building a new site or adding e-commerce functionality to an existing one
- Online payment and booking systems — allowing customers to pay or book directly through your site
- Digital marketing — including SEO, social media marketing, and the development of a digital marketing strategy (online advertising is covered up to 30% of approved voucher costs, paid in a single phase)
- Internet-related software — tools that directly support your online business operations
- App development or multiplatform web pages — expanding what your customers can do online
- IT consultancy — professional advice to help plan and implement your online trading activities
- Training — specific skills development related to running and managing an online presence
It is worth noting that the scheme is oriented towards activities that directly enable or improve online sales and customer transactions. General business software or anything unrelated to your online trading activity falls outside the scope of what can be funded.
What the Voucher Cannot Be Used For
- Static brochure websites that do not facilitate online sales or bookings
- Software or tools with no direct connection to online trading
- Physical goods, equipment, or offline services
If you are unsure whether a specific activity is eligible, your LEO can clarify this before you commit to a supplier.
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Overview
The application process involves a few stages, but none of them are particularly complex. Here is how it typically works.
1. Check Your Eligibility
Review the criteria above and be honest about your current online presence. If you are in doubt, contact your local LEO — they are generally very willing to have a preliminary conversation before you invest time in an application.
2. Contact Your Local Enterprise Office
Find the LEO that covers your area through the Local Enterprise Office website and express your interest in the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. Each county or region has its own LEO, and the process is managed locally.
3. Attend the Mandatory Training Session
Before your application can proceed, you must attend a training session provided by your LEO. These sessions typically cover topics such as website development, digital marketing, SEO, and social media for business. The training is practical and helps you develop the digital strategy you will need for your application.
4. Develop a Digital Strategy
Working from what you have learned, you put together a digital strategy that outlines what you plan to do with the voucher funding and how it will improve your online trading activity. This does not need to be a lengthy document — it needs to show clearly what you plan to achieve and how the investment will be used.
5. Submit Your Application
Your LEO will provide the application form. Submit it with any required supporting documentation, including evidence that your business has been trading for at least six months and a clear description of how the voucher will be used.
6. Await Approval
Your LEO reviews the application and will typically notify you of the outcome within a few weeks. Approval is not guaranteed, so it pays to put effort into the strategy document and make a clear case for how the project supports online trading growth.
7. Confirm Your Co-Funding
Once approved, you confirm that you can provide the 50% co-funding. This can be cash or an in-kind contribution, such as the value of your own time spent on the project.
8. Complete the Project
You can now begin working with your chosen supplier — whether that is a web design agency, a digital marketing consultant, or a software provider. Your LEO can offer guidance during this stage if needed.
9. Submit Your Final Claim
When the project is complete, you submit a final claim to your LEO with all invoices and receipts, along with evidence that the work has been carried out as planned.
Tips for Getting the Most From Your Voucher
- Choose a supplier with relevant experience. The voucher is only useful if the project delivers results. Look for agencies or consultants who have worked with Irish SMEs and can show you examples of relevant work.
- Prioritise activities with a clear return. If you are a local service business, a well-structured website with an online booking system is likely to generate more value than a social media campaign. Think about what your customers actually want to do when they find you online.
- Do not leave digital marketing training off the list. Many businesses use the voucher purely for website development but overlook the value of including training in how to manage their digital presence going forward. A website you cannot update or measure provides limited long-term value.
- Start simple and expand. If this is your first time trading online, focus the first voucher on getting a solid, functional base in place — a well-built website with clear calls to action and a payment or booking facility. The second voucher can be used to layer in additional features or marketing activity once you have learned what works.
Is the Trading Online Voucher Worth It?
For most eligible businesses, yes — with the caveat that the voucher is a contribution towards a project, not a full payment. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and be willing to commit the co-funding.
The scheme works best when a business treats it as the beginning of a longer investment in digital presence rather than a one-off fix. A small accommodation provider who uses the voucher to launch an online booking system will benefit more over time than a business that ticks a box and never updates its site again.
For more information and to check current scheme details and application availability in your area, visit the Local Enterprise Office website.
Take the Next Step
If you are considering applying for a Trading Online Voucher and want to ensure the project delivers real value, SEOWizard works with Irish SMEs on website design, SEO, and digital marketing — the kinds of projects the voucher is specifically designed to fund.
Get in touch with us to talk through what a voucher-funded project could look like for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Trading Online Voucher worth?
The voucher covers up to 50% of eligible project costs, with a maximum value of €2,500. This means your total approved project cost is typically up to €5,000, with the business providing the remaining 50% as co-funding.
Can I use the Trading Online Voucher to pay for SEO services?
Yes. The development and implementation of a digital marketing strategy — including search engine optimisation — is an eligible activity under the scheme. This makes it a practical option for businesses that want to improve how they are found online.
Can a business apply for the Trading Online Voucher more than once?
Yes, a second voucher is available. However, you must have completed your first project and submitted your final claim to your LEO before you can apply for a second round of funding.
Do I need to have a website already to apply?
No. The scheme is specifically designed for businesses with limited or no existing e-commerce presence. If you have no website or only a basic informational site with no online sales or booking functionality, you are likely to meet the eligibility criteria.
How long does the Trading Online Voucher application process take?
Timelines vary depending on your local LEO and current demand for the scheme. As a general guide, from initial enquiry to approval can take several weeks. It is worth contacting your LEO early to understand current availability and any upcoming training session dates in your area.
Source: Based on information from the Local Enterprise Office. For current scheme details and applications, visit www.localenterprise.ie
