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SélectionnerWith Canadian consumers moving online at a rapid pace, the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) can help get your business online, grow your e-commerce presence, or help digitalize your business’ operations.
The Grow Your Business Online program is designed to help small businesses take advantage of e-commerce opportunities and reach more customers online.
The Grow Your Business Online Grant is offered in British Columbia through Small Business BC and is currently open for applications from businesses that meet all the following criteria:
Your Business is Not Eligible if it is:
Applications for the Grow Your Business Online Program are now open. To submit your application through the Digital Main Street website, click the link below
Businesses eligible for the Grow Your Business Online Grant will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 before taxes to help with costs relating to adopting digital technologies.
The $2,400 micro-grant is a reimbursement-style grant so funding will be issued after your spending plan is confirmed, grant agreement is received, and eligible receipts/proof of payments are submitted and approved.
Eligible costs are those that relate to implementation of an e-commerce solution or the net new cost for improving an existing e-commerce plan, which include:
Please Note: all eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online (i.e. online reservations/ordering or chat bot function on website), and you will need to clearly outline this in your application.
Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to the following:
As part of the Grow Your Business Online Grant, each business has the opportunity to work with an E-commerce Advisor. These advisors work with businesses to provide hands-on guidance by reviewing digital assessments, consulting on grant spending plans, recommending digital marketing strategies, and helping to implement new technologies.
Are you interested in becoming an E-commerce Advisor? Applications are open for students or recent graduates to develop your skills and gain practical experience while helping small businesses reach their online potential.
Applications for the Grow Your Business Online Grant are submitted through our grant partner, Digital Main Street.
To ensure your business meets the eligibility requirements, please have the following information ready for the application:
Should you have questions, please contact Small Business BC’s Canada Digital Adoption Program team at:
[email protected]
Your proof of payment should include the following information:
Date
The dates(s) of the proof(s) of payment must not be earlier than your approved Spending Plan date.
Description of Products/Services Purchased
The proof of payment should clearly indicate the products/services purchased from the supplier. These listed items should be approved products and services under the Canada Digital Adoption Program (see Grant Expense Eligibility section of this page).
Total of the Products and Services
The total spent on approved products and services on the proof of payment may be greater than $2,400. However, reimbursement will only total up to $2,400.
Tax Charges
Tax Charges (GST/PST/HST) will NOT be reimbursed. Grant payments will be issued based on the cost of the expense before taxes.
Supplier’s Information
The proof of payment should clearly indicate the supplier’s:
Applicant’s Information
The proof of payment should clearly indicate the applicant’s:
Payment
Please note that receipts paid by cash are NOT an accepted payment method for this grant as verification of the payment cannot be substantiated. Also, no handwritten receipts will be accepted. The receipt must show a method of payment. Some forms of payment include:
Applications for the Grow Your Business Online Program are now open. To submit your application through the Digital Main Street website, click the link below
In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced the $4 billion Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to help get your business online, give your e-commerce presence a boost or help digitalize your business’s operations. CDAP provides funding and support to businesses, as well as training and work opportunities for young Canadians.
Small Business BC and Digital Main Street are partnering to bring CDAP to BC small and medium sized businesses.
Visit the Canada Digital Adoption Program website today to learn more.
The program offers two grants:
The Grow your Business Online program helps small businesses take advantage of e-commerce opportunities.
Learn more about the Grow Your Business Online program here.
The Boost Your Business Technology grant helps small and medium-sized businesses adopt new digital technologies.
Learn more about the Boost Your Business Technology grant here.
Yes, you can apply to both grants.
No, you can apply only once to Grow Your Business Online over the entire duration of the program. Moreover, your business can only receive the micro-grant once.
Once you’ve submitted your grant application, the CDAP team at Small Business BC will provide regular updates and communications about the status of your file. If you need to amend your application or have further questions, please contact the Canadian Digital Adoption Program team at Small Business BC at [email protected].
Yes. Small Business BC offers a wide range of education and resources to support your business. You can review some of our upcoming opportunities here: Increase Your Presence Online.
A consumer-facing business is one that sells products or services directly to end consumers. It may have a bricks-and-mortar presence as well as an online presence.
A business that sells to other businesses or engages in wholesale trade may be considered a consumer-facing business if it also sells directly to end consumers. For example, a painting supply store that sells paints to professional painters could be eligible for the program if they open an online store to sell paints directly to consumers. As another example, a farmer selling produce mainly to grocery stores could be eligible for the program if they started to sell directly to consumers through an online platform that enables consumers to order/reserve and prepay for products for pick up at a road side stand.
Businesses that are not considered consumer-facing are those that focus primarily on wholesale trade or sell only to other businesses. Businesses that engage in drop-shipping or online reselling are also not considered consumer-facing.
One (1) of the following:
We prefer that you provide a government document that confirms your business registration. If you provide only a GST/HST number, then this number must be verified via the GST/HST Registry.
Yes. Consumer facing businesses are those that provide the majority of their services directly to consumers. Most will have a bricks and mortar presence where consumers can access their goods and services. Some will also have a virtual ‘front door’ through their online presence which also provides services to consumers.
A business can go up to 5 outlets for the same business. These outlets have to be for a single, regional business and the organization does not offer opportunities for other people to buy franchises.
Yes, as long as each business is registered with its own business number.
A shareholder does not count as an employee. Businesses must have at least one employee on payroll. Business that don’t have any employees may also be eligible if they have made at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year.
Part time or fixed-term employees count as eligible employees, but freelance or contract (fee for service) employees do not.
No, there is no cap.
Your business has to attest that you had a gross revenue of at least $30,000 in the last 12 months of operations or since incorporation/registration. Therefore you would not be able to apply if you are “on track” to meet the threshold, you would have to wait until the threshold has been met.
Your employee must have been working at the business for at least three (3) months.
No. Your business must provide a copy of the invoices and proof of payment in order to receive a reimbursement of costs.
Your business must provide an invoice of the expense and proof of payment.
Your business must pay for the expense before claiming the micro-grant, and a copy of their invoice will be required to do so. The invoice must be dated after the signature of your grant agreement.
If the invoice is based on monthly payments, your business should make an advance payment for the full $2,400 before claiming the micro-grant. The invoice should show a credit balance.
The micro-grant is not inclusive of taxes. Micro-grants will be issued based on the cost of the expense(s) before taxes; refundable tax charges will not be reimbursed.
The grant will be provided as a reimbursement. Grant applicants will be required to submit an expense report, coinciding with their pre-approved spending plan and copies of any associated receipts and proof of payment documents.
Your grant reimbursement claim will be submitted through the application portal. You will receive information when you create an account and grant application, and instructions will be provided.
No, your business must have an e-commerce presence to be able to seek funds for digital marketing.
Your business can prepay the monthly subscription up to $2,400 and submit the invoice and proof of payment to claim the micro-grant.
The re-design of an existing site is not eligible. However, upgrading existing website for added functionality (new plugins or features) would be eligible.
The micro-grant can be used to pay a contractor only if the contractor operates an independent business (registered and/or incorporated) that provides digital-adoption services. The grant cannot be used to pay an employee’s salary.
The $2,400 micro-grant cannot go to consultants or agencies working on behalf of the ultimate SME recipients to help them apply for CDAP.
Your grant cannot be used solely for website search optimization or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item.
Hardware and accompanying non-ecommerce related software are eligible for up to 20% of total grant amount.
The maximum amount of the grant that can be allocated to hardware and related software is 20% of $2,400 or $480.
E-Commerce related software is eligible for 100% of grant amount and can include the following:
Please note all eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online (i.e. online reservations/ordering or chat bot function on website), and you will need to clearly outline this in your application.
Small Business BC is committed to protecting the privacy of people whose personal information is held by the organization through responsible information management practices. Any personal information provided to Small Business BC is collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Federal Privacy Act and Canada’s Anti Spam Legislation, Bill C 28.
We respectfully acknowledge our place of work is within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and that we serve the Peoples of the many Nations throughout British Columbia.