The Trading Online Voucher Has Ended: What the Grow Digital Voucher Covers (2026)
By Diaz Xavier, Founder, Sevenoways
Quick answer: The Trading Online Voucher, which gave Irish small businesses up to €2,500 towards a website, closed to new applications in December 2024. It was replaced by the Grow Digital Voucher, run through your Local Enterprise Office. It covers 50% of eligible costs, from €500 up to €5,000, for businesses with up to 50 employees. The big change: it funds off-the-shelf software and its setup, not custom-built websites, and you must not buy or commit to anything before you apply.
What happened to the Trading Online Voucher?
For years the Trading Online Voucher was the go-to support for a small Irish business wanting its first proper website or online shop: up to €2,500, with the business paying the other half. Local Enterprise Offices announced it would close for applications in December 2024.
The Department of Enterprise confirmed in September 2024 that the new Grow Digital Voucher replaces the previous Trading Online Voucher. It opened on 4 September 2024. People still search for the old scheme every month, so if you have been told "just apply for the trading online voucher", that advice is out of date.
The two schemes side by side
| Trading Online Voucher (closed) | Grow Digital Voucher (current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum grant | €2,500 | €5,000 per application |
| Minimum grant | — | €500 |
| Co-funding | Business paid 50% | Business pays 50% |
| Business size | Small businesses | 1 to 50 paid employees |
| Main use | Websites and online selling | Off-the-shelf digital software and its setup |
| Before applying | Training and advice | A completed Digital for Business project |
| Status | Closed December 2024 | Open through Local Enterprise Offices |
Who qualifies for the Grow Digital Voucher?
According to the Local Enterprise Office eligibility page, your business needs to:
- Have between 1 and 50 paid employees, with turnover or balance sheet of €10 million or less
- Have been trading for at least six months, and operate within a Local Enterprise Office area
- Be solvent, with current tax clearance
- Not already be a client of Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland
- Have completed a Digital for Business project within the previous two years
Companies, sole traders, partnerships and charities with taxable trading activity can all apply. A handful of sectors are excluded, including primary agriculture, fisheries and gambling.
The Digital for Business project is the step most people miss. It is time with a digital consultant who looks at the systems you already use and recommends what to improve. The Grow Digital Voucher then helps pay for putting those recommendations in place. Ask your Local Enterprise Office about current availability and terms, because the detail of the consultancy can vary.
What the voucher will pay for
The Grow Digital Grant page lists two kinds of eligible cost:
- Software subscriptions. Off-the-shelf software that is new to your business, for up to one year. Examples given include e-commerce platforms, website development tools, CRM systems, booking systems, accounting software, cybersecurity tools and analytics.
- Training and IT configuration. Paying someone to set the software up and train your team. Combined, this cannot be more than 50% of the overall project cost.
You can receive up to two vouchers, with a combined maximum of €5,000. A second voucher depends on showing progress against your Digital for Business report.
What it will not pay for
This is where a lot of businesses get caught out:
- Custom or bespoke software development is not eligible. A website designed and built from scratch for you is generally treated as bespoke work, so do not assume a custom build qualifies. Confirm your specific project with your Local Enterprise Office before you rely on the grant.
- Anything you have already bought or committed to. The rules say you must not order, purchase, contract for or start any part of the project before submitting your application. Signing a quote first can make the whole project ineligible.
- Systems built only to meet regulatory requirements.
In practice, the voucher suits a business adopting a ready-made platform, such as an online booking system, a hosted e-commerce shop or a CRM, and paying for help setting it up.
Is the voucher worth waiting for?
Sometimes, and sometimes not. Be honest about the trade-off:
- It suits you if your digital plan is built around off-the-shelf tools, you can wait for the Digital for Business step and approval, and 50% of the cost is meaningful to your budget.
- It may not suit you if you need a custom website, you need it live quickly, or the project would fall mostly into set-up and training costs that the 50% cap limits.
A voucher that covers half of a tool you did not really need is not a saving. Start from what your business actually needs online, then check whether the scheme fits it, not the other way round. Our guides to what a website costs in Ireland and website builders versus professional web design can help you work out which route you are really on.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Trading Online Voucher still available in 2026?
No. The Trading Online Voucher closed to new applications in December 2024 and was replaced by the Grow Digital Voucher, which Local Enterprise Offices run today.
How much is the Grow Digital Voucher worth?
It covers 50% of eligible costs, with a minimum grant of €500 and a maximum of €5,000 per application. A business can receive up to two vouchers with a combined maximum of €5,000.
Can I use the Grow Digital Voucher to build a website?
It funds off-the-shelf software, including website development tools and e-commerce platforms, plus their setup. Custom or bespoke development is not eligible, so a website designed and built from scratch may not qualify. Check your project with your Local Enterprise Office before committing.
Do I need to do anything before applying?
Yes. You need a completed Digital for Business project within the previous two years, and you should discuss your plans with your Local Enterprise Office. Do not buy, order or sign up for anything before submitting your application.
Where do I apply?
Through your Local Enterprise Office. There is one for every local authority area in Ireland, including Local Enterprise Office Sligo.
Getting it right first time
The grant rules change more often than most business owners expect, so treat any guide, including this one, as a starting point and confirm the current terms with your Local Enterprise Office before you commit money.
If you are not sure whether your plans fit the Grow Digital Voucher, or whether paying for the right solution directly would get you further, book a free call. We will tell you honestly which route makes sense for your business, even when the answer is a tool you set up yourself.