All you need to know about grants for website creation and digital transformation

Are you the owner of a small or medium-sized business (SME) and would you like to set up a transactional website and thus increase your sales and your visibility on the web? Do you want to implement new digital marketing strategies within your SME?

Did you know that for several years the Government of Canada has been offering grants to help SMEs carry out a digital transformation? Indeed, the Government of Canada has implemented the Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) which aims to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt and leverage digital technologies to drive their growth and competitiveness. Wondering if you are eligible for a grant for creation of your website? Here’s everything you need to know about the digital grants offered by CDAP.

All you need to know about the CDAP grant

Grants for the creation of websites offered by the Government of Canada constitute valuable assistance for businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to develop their online presence. Through its subsidies, CDAP aims to encourage economic growth, foster innovation and support the competitiveness of Quebec and Canadian businesses on the global market. This program is administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in collaboration with regional and local partners.

CDAP in detail

The primary goal of the Canadian Digital Adoption Program is to help businesses integrate digital technologies into their daily operations, which often includes creating or improving their online presence through a design grant website, the development of mobile applications, the implementation of e-commerce systems, or the use of business management software such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management), inventory management, monitoring of sales, prospects and customer portfolios, etc.

The different types of grants offered by CDAP

Grow Your Business Online Grant

It offers you financing for the implementation of an e-commerce project with a maximum value of $2,400. SMEs can only benefit from this program once.

This grant helps SMEs enhance the online experience of their customers, increase their sales through e-commerce, equip themselves with security software and communicate effectively with their customers by improving their marketing activities using social media.

Eligibility criteria

• Have at least one employee or have had at least $30,000 in annual income during the last fiscal year.
• Be a registered or incorporated cooperative or for-profit business.
• Sell goods and services directly to consumers (B2C).
• Be accessible to or provide services to clients in person or online.
• Commit to maintaining the digital adoption strategy for at least six months after the intervention.
• Consent to participate in follow-up surveys and to have the company name published as a recipient of funding.

Eligible expenses

They must be directly linked to the sale of goods and services online.

• The creation of a new e-commerce website.
• Adding features to your existing site such as online reservation tools, online ordering systems, electronic payment, implementing a system to analyze your performance, etc.
• Installing an e-commerce platform like Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, etc. (including subscription fees and costs).
• Hiring a consultant who can help you develop digital marketing strategies for your online store (e.g. social media advertising ).
• The creation of customer databases.
• Adding e-commerce software to track and manage inventory and sales, to launch customer canvassing initiatives, to offer discounts, to maintain a loyalty program or to strengthen cybersecurity.
• Search engine optimization (SEO).
• To cover up to 20% of the total cost of software and hardware.

How to obtain the grant for the creation of a website or digital marketing?

If you meet the criteria listed above and would like to benefit from the CDAP grant for creating your website, online store or improving your digital marketing strategy, you can simply complete the interest form available here.

What are the delays for receiving the grant amount?

If your application is accepted, you will receive a grant agreement to sign. It is important to know that eligible expenses approved as part of your application must be made after signing the grant agreement. You have 3 months following the signing of the agreement to carry out the planned activities and send supporting documents to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. After sending these documents, you should receive the transfer of funds corresponding to the amount of the DCAP grant within 15 business days.

Boost Your Business Technology Grant

This grant was aim to help SME owners begin digital transformation and improve their business technologies through a tailor-made plan. It offered financing of up to $15,000 to develop a digital adoption plan, up to $100,000 in interest-free loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) for the implementation of your plan and up to $7,300 to hire a qualified young person to implement the technologies that can propel your business forward.

The program, which was to be offered until February 2025, however ended on February 19, 2024 due to high demand. However, if you have a valid grant agreement, it is still possible to complete the final steps to obtain your grant. You can see all the details on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website, on the Improve Your Business Technologies grant page.

A personalized service for obtaining your grant and implementing your Web strategy

Would you like to benefit from a grant to improve your website or a grant to set up your online store? Would you like to obtain a grant to enable your business to take a digital shift? Would you like to obtain information regarding state assistance for creating an online commerce website? Do not hesitate to contact one of BJMédia’s web marketing advisors. He will be happy to help you and advise you on various website grants.