IRISH BUSINESS GRANTS · 2026 GUIDE
Grow Digital Voucher: website grants in Ireland, explained
Up to €5,000 towards eligible new software, configuration and training. Understand where a website project fits before you spend.
Independent guidance for Irish small businesses.
50%
of approved eligible costs
€5,000
maximum cumulative grant
12 months
maximum subscription support
The Grow Digital Voucher can fund 50% of eligible costs, up to €5,000, for new software subscriptions and approved configuration and training. It has replaced the Trading Online Voucher. For businesses looking for a website grant in Ireland, the key distinction is simple: bespoke website builds are excluded.
This guide explains the practical steps, the costs you need to fund yourself and the questions to take to your Local Enterprise Office. Seller’s Bay provides website and e-commerce services; the LEO makes the grant decision.
On this page
- What is the Grow Digital Voucher?
- Grow Digital vs the Trading Online Voucher
- Grow Digital Voucher eligibility
- Start with Digital for Business
- What the voucher can and cannot cover
- A simple funding example
- Will it pay for a website or Shopify store?
- How to apply for the Grow Digital Voucher
- Deadlines and previous voucher recipients
- Your Local Enterprise Office: South East and Cork
- Plan beyond the first year
- Get a clear quote before you commit
- Frequently asked questions
What is the Grow Digital Voucher?
The Grow Digital Voucher is a Local Enterprise Office (LEO) grant for eligible small businesses investing in new digital software. It funds 50% of approved eligible costs, with a minimum grant of €500 and a maximum of €5,000.
You can receive support for up to two projects, but the combined grant cannot exceed €5,000. A second award depends on the progress identified in your Digital for Business report. The scheme was introduced in September 2024.
The key distinction for website projects: it can support a new, off-the-shelf software subscription and related configuration and training. It does not fund bespoke website development.
Read the official Grow Digital Voucher terms and discuss your proposed project with your own LEO before committing to any expenditure.
Grow Digital vs the Trading Online Voucher
The Trading Online Voucher closed to new applications at 5pm on 13 December 2024. Grow Digital replaced it, but the old website-grant rules do not carry over.
Trading Online Voucher · closed
- Up to €2,500, with 50% co-funding.
- Businesses with no more than 10 employees and turnover below €2 million.
- Supported eligible online-trading website development and upgrades.
- An information seminar was required.
Grow Digital Voucher · current
- Up to €5,000, with 50% co-funding.
- The published LEO criteria specify 1–50 paid employees and the small-enterprise financial limits.
- Supports new software subscriptions, configuration and training; excludes bespoke website development.
- A Digital for Business project must have been completed within the previous two years.
Grow Digital Voucher eligibility
The national LEO terms require an applicant to meet the following conditions. Meeting them allows you to apply; it does not guarantee funding.
Business size
1–50 paid employees, plus annual turnover or balance sheet total of €10 million or less under the scheme’s small-enterprise criteria. Partner and linked enterprises may need to be included in the calculation.
Trading and location
Established, registered and trading for at least six months, operating in the area covered by the LEO receiving the application.
A recent digital plan
A completed Digital for Business project within the previous two years. Your proposed investment should follow the recommendations in that report.
Financial and agency status
Solvent, with supporting financial statements and current Revenue tax clearance. You must not be a current Enterprise Ireland or IDA client.
Sole traders and partnerships: these legal structures are included in the scheme, alongside companies. The published paid-employment condition still needs to be satisfied. If you work alone or are unsure how an owner is counted, ask your LEO to confirm your position rather than assuming eligibility.
Certain trading charities and sporting bodies can also qualify under the tax conditions in the official terms. Exclusions include primary agriculture, fishery and aquaculture, coal and steel, gambling, adult entertainment, tobacco-related activities and unauthorised cannabis products. This is not an exhaustive list.
State aid: expect to declare relevant public support. Under the general EU de minimis rules, the ceiling is €300,000 per single undertaking, per Member State, over any three-year period. Your LEO will confirm which aid must be included and how linked businesses affect the declaration.
Start with Digital for Business
Digital for Business is a free LEO consultancy support, offering up to three days of advice. It reviews your existing systems, identifies gaps and opportunities, and helps you plan suitable digital improvements.
Completing this project is a prerequisite for Grow Digital. Keep the report: it should explain the business need behind the software you want to buy.
Prepare a practical wish list. Think about duplicated data entry, missed enquiries, booking administration, stock errors or slow invoicing. Start with the problem you need to solve, then choose the software.
For ideas, read how Irish businesses can grow online.
Illustration: a practical review of a business’s digital systems.
What the voucher can and cannot cover
Software must be new to your business, available off the shelf and funded for no more than one year. Buying more licences or users for software you already use does not qualify.
Can qualify · subject to LEO approval
- A new software subscription for up to 12 months.
- Setup, configuration or integration of the approved new software.
- Training to help your team use and maintain it.
Configuration and training together must be no more than 50% of the overall project cost.
Excluded under the published terms
- Bespoke website development.
- Custom or bespoke software.
- Systems for regulatory compliance.
- Additional licences for software already in use.
- Project commitments, orders, purchases, contracts or work started before the application is submitted.
The LEO’s software examples include e-commerce, CRM, online bookings and payments, order and stock management, field-service and workflow tools, e-invoicing, e-signatures, cyber security, analytics and AI, and 3D modelling/BIM. Standard office software must be new to the business; cloud accounting and payroll are listed where the business is moving to the cloud.
Budget separately for marketing. Advertising, SEO, photography, ongoing website management and general marketing campaigns are not listed as eligible Grow Digital cost categories. Do not assume the allowances from the old Trading Online Voucher apply.
A simple funding example
These illustrative figures show the calculation. They are not a Seller’s Bay quote or a grant approval.
€2,000
New annual software subscription
€2,000
Eligible configuration and training
€4,000
Total eligible project cost
Potential grant: €2,000. Configuration and training account for 50% of the project, so the example meets that cost limit. At a 50% grant rate, your net contribution would be €2,000 if all costs were approved.
Cash flow matters: plan to pay the full €4,000 before reimbursement, plus any VAT and non-eligible costs that apply. The figures above exclude VAT; ask your LEO how VAT is treated in your case. The annual subscription cost must be incurred before the grant is paid.
To reach the €5,000 grant ceiling at a 50% rate, you need €10,000 of approved eligible costs. A small software subscription does not automatically unlock the maximum grant.
Will it pay for a website or Shopify store?
The platform name alone does not decide eligibility. What matters is what you are buying, whether it is new to your business and whether your LEO approves the itemised costs.
A new subscription platform
A new Shopify or other off-the-shelf e-commerce subscription may fit the software category. Eligible configuration and staff training may also fit. This does not make every design, content or development charge in a store-building package eligible.
See our Shopify website design services.
A bespoke website build
A custom website build is excluded, whether it uses WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify or another platform. Treat bespoke design and development as a separate business investment.
Explore WooCommerce website design and website redesign.
Ask about mixed projects. New booking tools, stock-control apps or paid plugin subscriptions may need an individual assessment. Ask your LEO to confirm the eligible scope in writing. Separate software, configuration, training and any bespoke work on the quote; changing a label does not change the nature of the work.
Choose the platform that fits your business and long-term running costs. Our Shopify vs WooCommerce guide and website costs in Ireland guide can help you compare options.
How to apply for the Grow Digital Voucher
Apply before you commit. The national terms require submission before project expenditure, activity or commitments. Submission is not approval: the safest approach is to wait for written approval and read the offer conditions before ordering, signing, paying a deposit or starting work.
01 · Contact your LEO
Confirm business eligibility, available funding and the current application process with the office covering your business address.
02 · Complete the digital review
Complete Digital for Business and keep the report. Your Grow Digital application should follow its recommendations.
03 · Prepare an itemised project
Choose suitable new software and gather written quotes. Ask your LEO how many quotes are required and what financial and tax-clearance documents to include.
04 · Submit before committing
Do not order, sign, pay or begin beforehand. Submit the application and supporting documents through your LEO’s required process. Keep evidence of submission.
05 · Get written approval
Check the eligible items, approved amounts, start rules, completion deadline and claim requirements in the letter of offer. Ask before changing the project.
06 · Implement, pay and claim
Complete the approved work, pay the supplier and subscription costs, and submit the evidence your LEO requires. Keep invoices and proof of payment.
Application forms and supporting-document requirements can vary between offices. Ask for the current checklist, quote thresholds and expected decision time. Do not rely on another county’s form or an online form’s expiry date as a funding promise.
We can prepare an itemised quote for your LEO with software, configuration, training and any separate non-eligible work clearly identified.
Deadlines and previous voucher recipients
Is there a 2026 deadline?
As checked on 26 October 2026, the national Grow Digital terms do not state a single nationwide closing date. That is not a guarantee of local funding or a promise that applications remain open indefinitely.
Check your LEO’s current availability, decision schedule and any local cut-off date. If approved, your offer will set the project and claim deadlines.
Already received a Trading Online Voucher?
The published national Grow Digital eligibility criteria do not expressly exclude previous Trading Online Voucher recipients. However, they do not guarantee that a particular previous recipient or project will qualify.
Tell your LEO about the previous award and proposed new project. Existing subscriptions and extra licences do not meet the new-software requirement; avoid assuming the same cost can be funded twice.
Your Local Enterprise Office: South East and Cork
Apply to the office covering your business address. These contact details were checked against the official LEO contact pages on 26 October 2026. Cork has three LEOs; check the catchment before applying.
Waterford
051 849905
info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie
Wexford
053 919 6020
LEO.Info@wexfordcoco.ie
Kilkenny
056 775 2662
info@leo.kilkennycoco.ie
Tipperary
Clonmel: 052 616 6200
Nenagh: 0818 06 5000
leo@tipperarycoco.ie
Carlow
059 912 9783
enterprise@carlowcoco.ie
Cork City
021 496 1828
info@leo.corkcity.ie
Cork North & West
North: 022 43235
northcork@leo.corkcoco.ie
West: 023 883 4700
westcork@leo.corkcoco.ie
South Cork
021 428 5200
southcork@leo.corkcoco.ie
Plan beyond the first year
Allow for renewals
The voucher supports a maximum of one year’s software subscription. Budget for future renewals, transaction charges and any optional apps. Read our monthly website costs guide.
Give the system an owner
Decide who will maintain products, manage enquiries and keep workflows working. Ongoing e-commerce management and WordPress maintenance should be budgeted separately.
Plan customer acquisition
New software alone does not create demand. Treat Local SEO and lead generation as separate investments, with their own goals and budget.
Other supports: ask your LEO about training and mentoring. Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Voucher is a different programme for eligible limited companies working with public knowledge providers on innovation. Its standard voucher is worth up to €10,000; the co-funded option supports a project up to €20,000 with up to €10,000 of voucher support and a matching company contribution. It is not a general website grant: standard website development is among the examples that have not received support.
Get a clear quote before you commit
Tell us what your business needs to do better: take bookings, sell online, manage stock or follow up enquiries. We can help define the website or e-commerce work and prepare a written, itemised quote to discuss with your LEO.
We separate software subscriptions, configuration, training and any bespoke work so you can see the proposed scope. No Seller’s Bay package is automatically grant-eligible. Your business applies to its LEO, which decides eligibility and funding.
Apply before making commitments, and wait for written approval before proceeding. We can provide a quote; we cannot promise a grant.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Grow Digital Voucher?
It is a Local Enterprise Office grant covering 50% of approved eligible costs for new off-the-shelf software subscriptions, plus related configuration and training. Grants range from €500 to €5,000, with a cumulative limit of €5,000 across up to two projects.
Does the Grow Digital Voucher pay for a new website?
It can support a website-related software subscription that is new to your business, plus eligible configuration and training. It does not support bespoke website development. A website or Shopify package is not automatically eligible; your LEO must approve the itemised scope.
Who can apply?
The national terms specify small enterprises with 1–50 paid employees, trading for at least six months in their LEO area, with current tax clearance and evidence of solvency. Applicants must have completed Digital for Business within the previous two years and must not be current Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients. Financial limits, linked-enterprise rules and sector exclusions also apply.
Can a sole trader apply?
Sole traders are included in the eligible legal structures, subject to the other scheme conditions. If you work alone, ask your LEO how the published paid-employment requirement applies to you before assuming that you qualify.
What is Digital for Business?
It is a free LEO consultancy support offering up to three days of advice to review your systems and identify suitable digital improvements. A completed project within the previous two years is required before applying for the Grow Digital Voucher.
Can I spend before approval?
Do not commit to, order, pay for or start the project before submitting your application. Submission is not approval. The safest approach is to wait for written approval and check the offer conditions before making any commitment or payment.
How much can go on configuration and training?
Configuration and training combined can be no more than 50% of the overall project cost. The rest of the proposed expenditure must also meet the scheme rules and be approved by your LEO.
Can I receive more than one voucher?
Up to two Grow Digital projects can be approved, but the combined grant cannot exceed €5,000. A second award depends on demonstrated progress against the Digital for Business report.
Is there a 2026 closing date?
The national Grow Digital terms checked on 26 October 2026 do not state a single nationwide closing date. Ask your LEO about current funding, any local cut-off date and the completion and claim deadlines that would apply to your project.
Can Seller’s Bay apply for me or guarantee approval?
Your business applies to its Local Enterprise Office, which decides eligibility and the award. Seller’s Bay can provide an itemised quote and carry out agreed website or e-commerce work, but cannot guarantee that a grant will be approved.
Independent guide by Seller’s Bay, based on official public material checked on 26 October 2026. This is general information, not an approval or official government advice. Confirm the current rules and your project’s eligibility with your LEO before making commitments. Photos are AI-generated illustrations, not actual clients or LEO advisers.