PREFERRED CDAP SEO AGENCY IN TORONTO
Access up to $2,400 in government funding, with Canada’s best Grow Your Business Online grant.
The Grow Your Business Online grant will no longer be accepting new applications as of September 30, 2024. Until then, contact us at Clickworthy Digital Marketing to submit an application.
Get up to $2,400 to grow your business online
Looking to implement e-commerce capabilities to remain competitive? Need to serve existing customers more effectively and attract new customers? With a micro-grant of up to $2,400, we can help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies.
The CDAP Grow Your Business Online grant helps SMEs:
- get online
- increase sales
- adopt security software
- connect with customers
- improve social media marketing
- improve user experience for online customers
What is the CDAP $2400 Grant?
The CDAP grant is composed of two streams, a microgrant which most companies with at least one employee are eligible for, and the larger Boost Your Business Technology grant with stricter eligibility criteria.
CDAP Grow Your Business Online: $2,400 microgrant to implement digital marketing initiatives
Grow Your Business Online
- $2,400 microgrant to reimburse for costs related to web design, SEO, site audits, Google Analytics consulting, Google Ads, social media, databases and more.
- Covers hiring Clickworthy Digital Marketing agency to plan and implement initiatives.
- Non e-commerce companies are eligible.
How it works
Step 1: Read the eligibility criteria to make sure the program is right for you.
Step 2: Connect with Clickworthy Digital Marketing
Step 3: Apply for the grant with help of Clickworthy Digital Marketing
Eligibility
Use the CDAP grant assessment tool to see if your business qualifies.
You can get funding through CDAP if your business:
- is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
- is registered or incorporated
- is consumer-facing (sells goods and services directly to end consumers)
- has at least one employee (other than the owner) OR had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
- commits to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months
- agrees to participate in follow-up surveys, share data about the experience, and have its name published as a grant recipient
Your business is not eligible if it is:
- a corporate chain, franchise or registered charity
- a representative of a multi-level marketing company
- a brokerage firm, such as real estate agents, investment advisors, insurance agents, etc.
- a business that is engaged in online reselling or drop-shipping reliant on third-party suppliers
- a wholesale or distribution business and manufacturer (unless you sell directly to consumers)
Costs Covered
How can you use your grant?
- To develop a new e-commerce website or add functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments, search engine optimization (SEO))
- Redesign of an existing site is not eligible
- To install an e-commerce platform (including subscription fees/costs)
- To hire a consultant to help with digital marketing strategies for your e-commerce store that could include activities such as social media advertising.
- Your grant cannot be used solely for digital marketing or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item
- To track and manage inventory and sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty program, or increase cyber security using e-commerce software
- To pay up to 20% of the total cost of hardware and software
Eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online. Taxes are exclusive and to be borne by the fund recipient.
How do You apply?
Applications are through the official Canada Digital Adoption Program website:
Clickworthy can work with you and assist you in preparing and submitting the application. We’ve been approved by the federal government in advising Canadian SMEs under the CDAP program.
For questions on eligibility and what you can spend the grant on, contact one of the grant administrators. Here are a few options in BC and Ontario:
CDAP FAQ
CDAP Grant Streams
No, you could have applied to both the grants but the Boost Your Technology Grant is no longer accepting applications now.
Small Business Eligibility
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:
- Master business license
- Article of incorporation
- GST return from CRA
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.
Micro-Grant
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.
Small Business Eligible Costs
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.
- An example of limited coverage for software would be any software that is bought with the equipment that is required to support an e-commerce strategy. For instance, if a small business buys a new e-commerce integrated point of sale (POS) system that costs $1,300, CDAP will cover 20% or $260.
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:
- Software to track and manage product inventory, as well as fulfill and ship orders,
- Software for product databases
- Software to track sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty programs
- Software to simplify marketing
- Cyber Security software or certifications
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.