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  • What is Stream 1: Grow Your Business Online micro-grant?

    Grow Your Business Online is a grant available to businesses under the Canada Digital Adoption Program. As a consumer-facing small business, you can receive help adopting new e-commerce tools or giving your existing e-commerce presence a boost. 

    Through the Grow Your Business Online grant, businesses can access: 

    • A network of E-commerce Advisors to help assess your needs and discover new opportunities 
    • Microgrants of up to $2,400 to cover the cost of adopting new digital technologies 

    Stream 1 is administered by different organizations in every province. 

  • What is the definition of a consumer-facing business?

    A consumer-facing business is a business that sells directly to customers (B2C). Businesses can be a bricks and mortar business, or an online business. 

  • What types of businesses are eligible for the Grow Your Business Online grant?

    Applications can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria: 

    • Is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives) 
    • Is a registered or incorporated business 
    • Is a consumer-facing business 
    • Can be accessed by consumers or provides in-person services to consumers 
    • Has at least one employee (other than the business owner) 
    • Must commit to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months after participating in the program 
    • Must consent to participating in follow-up surveys, sharing information with the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada) and having the name of the business published as a recipient of funding. 
  • What businesses are NOT eligible for the Grow Your Business Online grant?

    The following types of small businesses are ineligible: 

    • Corporate chains, franchises or registered charities 
    • Representatives of multi-level marketing companies 
    • Real estate brokerages 
    • Non-profit organizations 
  • Can new businesses apply for the Grow Your Business Online grant?

    Yes. As long as your business is registered or incorporated, and you meet the other eligibility requirements, new businesses are welcome to apply. 

  • Is there a minimum revenue requirement for businesses to be eligible?

    No. 

  • I’m a sole proprietor and don’t have employees. Can I apply?

    Yes. To be eligible for the grant, your business must have at least one employee (other than the owner) OR had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year.

  • What proof is required to demonstrate my business has an employee?

    Businesses should have a government document that confirms the payment of Payroll Source Deductions paid. The employee must have been working at the business for at least three months. 

  • Am I eligible to apply for the Grow Your Business Online grant if my business is already receiving funding through other grant streams?

    Yes. Businesses will be required to declare that funding received from other programs is not being used to pay the same expense twice. 

  • What types of investments can the grant be used for?

    The goal of the grant is to enable businesses to serve existing customers more effectively and to attract new customers in the digital marketplace. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, the following: 

    1. Costs related to the implementation of a digital e-commerce plan (e.g., online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments); 
    2. Costs related to website search optimization; 
    3. Costs related to the installation of an e-commerce platform (including subscription fees/costs); 
    4. Costs of back-office solutions to support an e-commerce strategy; 
    • Costs of social media advertising; 

      Note: plan cannot be strictly social media advertising, it needs to be tied to overall e-commerce implementation plan, and not a standalone item, and,       
    • Hardware/Software is eligible up to a total of 20% of the total grant value (e.g., if that grant is $2,400 hardware/software is eligible up to $480)

      All hardware and software requests must be clearly backed up by how the request directly ties to selling products and/or services online 

    • Costs related to the creation of customer databases. 

    If you are unsure whether your investment is eligible for the Grow Your Business Online grant, please contact us. 

  • Will the grant be paid upfront, or will it be a reimbursement?

    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. 

  • How can I be confident my expenses will be approved for reimbursement before I spend the funds?

    As part of your grant application, you will be asked to submit a spending plan. Spending plans will be pre-approved. 

  • How do I submit my reimbursement claim to receive the grant funds?

    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. 

  • Does the $2,400 grant include reimbursement of taxes paid (e.g. GST or PST)?

    No. Tax charges will not be reimbursed. Grant payments will be issued based on the cost of the expense before taxes. 

  • Can I submit more than one expense to access the full $2,400 maximum?

    Yes. You may submit more than one expense and receipt; however, you may only submit one claim package. Multiple claim packages will not be accepted. The grant will reimburse a maximum of $2,400 before taxes. 

  • Can someone else submit a grant application on behalf of my business (e.g., a third-party consultant or vendor)?

    No. Grant applications must be submitted by the business owner. Grant intake forms and applications submitted by third parties will be denied.