Guide to Trading Online Vouchers
1. Get in touch with your Local Enterprise Office
The first step is to contact your Local Enterprise Office and express your interest. They will be happy to speak to you and advise you on your eligibility for the scheme or otherwise. Just Google “Local Enterprise Office” and your area and contact them.
If you would like to view the eligibility criteria here click the button below
Contact your Local Enterprise Office
It is essential that you contact your Local Enterprise Office to discuss your proposal prior to application.
2. LEO will arrange a meeting with an Advisor
Before the Covid 19 situation you would have had to attend a seminar on Trading Olin Vouchers and how they can be used, however since social distancing is in place the Local Enterprise will arrange a one to one video or phone call for you with a mentor.
For anyone interested in this scheme they should avail of one of these free mentoring sessions for expert advice on how to make the most of the scheme on offer.
This session is designed to help you get an application ready for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme.
After this session you will have a clearer picture of what’s involved in running an eCommerce website, the practicalities, logistics and potential issues that may arise.
These mentoring sessions are provided free of charge and will last approximately 45 minutes.
Free Mentoring Session
A Free session with an expert, usually in the online marketing arena
3. Prepare your request for proposal
In order to get the best and most accurate quote you need to provide accurate and well though out information to the web developers you send your request for proposal to. You need to explain what your objectives for the website are, describe your products, how you hope to deliver them to your customers etc.
Getting this right, or as close to right from the start will allow you to get quotes that are comparing like with like.
It also help you think through the process and put you in the right space for getting the most out of your investment.
Your mentor provided to you by your LEO will help you with this. We have also put together some resources for you to check out. See them below.
Some resources to help get an accurate quote
Get 3 Quotes from Providers
You need to understand your objectives for business growth.
4. Fill in your application form
With the help of your mentor and the resources above outlining how to provide good information to your web provider you should have all you need to fill in the application form
- Make sure you read the terms and conditions;
- Complete and sign the application form and return to Local Enterprise Office
- Include copies of three quotations from providers.
Submit Your Application FOrm
It's a lengthy form, so have your homework done.
More Information
What are the eligibility criteria?
The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:
• Limited or no e-commerce presence;
• 10 or less employees;
• Turnover less than €2m;
• Applicant business must be trading for at least 6 months;
• Business must be located in the area covered by the LEO to whom they make their application i.e. LEOs cannot accept applications from businesses located outside their jurisdiction.
Previous voucher recipients may apply for a second voucher
*applicant business must provide clear proof of trading for a minimum of 6 months to their Local Enterprise Office
What can the vouchers be used for?
• IT consultation;
• Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website;
• Implementing Online payments or booking systems;
• Purchase of Internet related software;
• Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages);
• Development of a digital marketing strategy;
• Implementing a digital marketing strategy;
• Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an online trading activity.
• Subscriptions (excluding transaction costs) to low cost online retail platform solutions, which would allow applicants to quickly establish a retailing presence online.
• Purchase of online advertising (this purchase cannot make up any more than 30% of all other approved Voucher costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase);
• Purchase of Professional Photography (this expenditure cannot make up any more than 80%of all other approved voucher costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase)
What are the things the vouchers cannot be used for?
• Development of brochure websites*;
• Purchase of non-internet related software;
• Anything other than e-commerce trading related activity.
* A brochure website is digital version of a printed brochure. They show the products or services your company provides, however, unlike an e-commerce website, they do not sell the product or service online or have an interactive booking function. With a brochure website, the goods and services are only displayed, so customers will have to contact the company to place an order.
What else do I need to know about vouchers?
• Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense;
• Third party costs only will be considered. Own labour is not an eligible expense (labour of spouse
or children also considered own labour);
• Claims can be made in either one or two instalments, and only made in respect of actual
work completed (i.e. in respect of the components of the project works completed at the time the
claim is being made). Expenditure on the various project components can only be claimed once.
• All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. tax or business
registration details or proof that the supplier is a registered business in the territory in which the
supplier is located).
• Applications must be accompanied by written/ emailed quotes for project works from three suppliers.