Many Irish business owners still search for the Trading Online Voucher, the Local Enterprise Office grant that paid up to €2,500 towards a website that sells or takes bookings online. This guide explains what has changed, which digital supports Local Enterprise Offices offer now, and what they mean if you are planning a new website.
Short answer: no, you cannot apply for the Trading Online Voucher in 2026. The scheme closed for applications at 5pm on Friday 13 December 2024, as announced by the Local Enterprise Offices.
What was the Trading Online Voucher?
The voucher helped small businesses start trading online. While it was open, it worked like this:
- it covered 50% of eligible costs, excluding VAT, up to a maximum of €2,500;
- it was for businesses with 10 employees or fewer, a turnover under €2 million and at least 6 months of trading;
- it paid for things like e-commerce websites, online booking and payment systems, digital marketing and training;
- a brochure website with no online sales or bookings did not qualify.
Older guides and some Local Enterprise Office pages still show these rules, which is why the scheme is still searched for. None of it applies to new applications today.
What digital grants are available for Irish businesses in 2026?
Local Enterprise Offices now offer two connected supports: Digital for Business and the Grow Digital Voucher.
Digital for Business
Digital for Business is a Local Enterprise Office programme where an expert digital consultant reviews how your business uses technology. The consultant looks at your current systems, finds gaps, and gives you advice and a plan for new or better digital tools. Gov.ie describes it as a free digital and AI readiness audit with a roadmap for your business.
It is for small businesses with 1 to 50 paid employees that have been trading for at least 6 months in the Local Enterprise Office’s area, are not clients of Enterprise Ireland or IDA, are solvent and have tax clearance.
Grow Digital Voucher
The Grow Digital Voucher is the grant that can follow. According to the Local Enterprise Offices:
- it covers 50% of eligible costs, from a minimum of €500 up to €5,000;
- a business can receive up to two vouchers, with €5,000 as the combined limit, and the second one needs evidence of progress;
- it is for businesses with 1 to 50 paid employees that have completed a Digital for Business project within the previous two years, plus the same trading, solvency and tax conditions as above;
- it pays for new, off-the-shelf software subscriptions for up to one year, such as e-commerce software, online booking and payments, CRM, cloud accounting, cyber security and analytics;
- expert set-up, integration and staff training can also be included, as long as together they are no more than 50% of the project cost;
- nothing spent before your application is received is eligible.
Does the Grow Digital Voucher pay for a new website?
This is the most important difference from the old voucher. The Local Enterprise Offices state clearly that the Grow Digital Voucher does not support bespoke website development, and custom software is not eligible either. A website only counts when it is a new software subscription that follows the same rules as other software.
So if you want a custom-designed website, for example a WordPress site built for your business, you should plan to pay for it yourself. The voucher may still help with new subscription software that you use alongside your website, such as an online booking or payment system, if your Local Enterprise Office agrees it is eligible. Always ask before you buy anything.
How to get started
- Contact your Local Enterprise Office. Go to localenterprise.ie, choose your area and fill in the expression of interest for Digital for Business and Grow Digital.
- Complete Digital for Business. This review is needed before you can apply for the Grow Digital Voucher.
- Choose the software your plan recommends and check that it is new to your business and sold as a subscription.
- Apply before you spend. Do not buy subscriptions or pay for set-up until your application has been received, and read your Local Enterprise Office’s terms.
Planning an e-commerce or booking website?
Whether or not you use a grant, a website that takes orders or bookings needs to be fast, easy to use on a phone and trusted by customers. Our guide to designing websites for e-commerce explains what helps customers complete an order, and you can see how we build e-commerce websites for Irish businesses.
If you are planning a new website, contact Premium Web Design or call us on +353 83 819 9935. We will give you a clear, itemised quote and an honest view of what you need.
Grant rules change. This article reflects the information published on localenterprise.ie and gov.ie on 23 October 2026. Always confirm the current terms with your Local Enterprise Office before you apply.