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Trading Online Voucher: Ireland's €2,500 website grant

A plain-English guide for Irish cafés, trades and shops who want to get online without paying the full bill out of pocket.

What is the Trading Online Voucher?

The Trading Online Voucher (TOV) is a grant run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) across Ireland, supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It helps small businesses build a real online presence — typically a new website, online booking, or e-commerce shop.

The scheme pays up to €2,500, covering 50% of eligible costs. You spend the money, submit the invoices, and the LEO refunds half.

Who qualifies?

• Trading for at least 6 months
• 10 or fewer employees
• Turnover under €2 million
• Registered and located in Ireland
• Limited or no existing online trading presence

Most local cafés, salons, gyms, tradespeople, retailers and B&Bs fit comfortably inside these limits.

What you can spend it on

• A new website or major upgrade to an existing one
• Online booking, ordering or e-commerce features
• App development
• SEO setup (once-off, not ongoing retainers)
• Digital marketing strategy and consultation
• Subscriptions to relevant online platforms (capped)

It does not cover ongoing hosting, ongoing ads, in-house staff costs, or hardware.

How to apply, step by step

1. Find your Local Enterprise Office — search "LEO" plus your county (e.g. LEO Dublin City, LEO Cork North & West).
2. Attend the LEO's free Trading Online webinar. This is mandatory before you can apply.
3. Get two or three quotes from web designers for the work you want done.
4. Fill in the TOV application form on your LEO's website and upload the quotes.
5. Wait for written approval. Do not start the work before approval — costs incurred beforehand aren't eligible.
6. Once approved, complete the project, pay the invoices in full, then submit invoices and proof of payment to claim your 50% refund.

Practical tips

• Approval typically takes a few weeks — plan ahead if you have a launch date.
• Make sure quotes are itemised. LEOs ask for a clear breakdown of what's included.
• The refund lands after the project is done and paid — budget for the full cost up front.
• Ask your designer if they've worked on TOV-funded projects before. They'll know the documentation routine.

Using the voucher with Rhys.ie

Most of my builds for Irish local businesses sit in the €500–€1,500 range, which fits well inside the TOV's €2,500 ceiling. I'm happy to provide a detailed itemised quote you can submit with your application — and to wait for written approval before starting any work.

Get a quote for your TOV application →

This guide is general information, not official advice. Always confirm current rules and rates with your Local Enterprise Office before applying.