Trading Online Voucher scheme: a practical guide

Updated 3 November 2026 · 4 min read

The Trading Online Voucher helps small Irish businesses build or improve how they trade online. It is one of the most useful supports available to a micro-business, and one of the most misunderstood.

The scheme is run by the network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), one for each local authority area. You apply to the LEO where your business is based, and each LEO runs its own application rounds and information sessions, so dates and some details vary from county to county.

What the voucher is worth

The voucher covers up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of €2,500, excluding VAT. You pay the rest. In other words, a project costing €5,000 plus VAT could receive €2,500; a project costing €3,000 plus VAT would receive €1,500.

The money is paid after the work is done: you pay your suppliers in full, then claim the voucher amount back from the LEO with your invoices and proof of payment. Plan your cash flow for that gap.

Who qualifies?

LEO eligibility criteria commonly include:

• Up to 10 employees.
• Turnover of less than €2 million.
• Trading for at least six months.
• Located in the area of the LEO you apply to.
• A limited online trading presence. The voucher is aimed at businesses taking a real step forward online, not at those already selling extensively online.

Sole traders, partnerships and limited companies can all apply. Some types of organisation, such as charities, not-for-profits and semi-state companies, are generally not eligible. A business can receive the voucher a limited number of times, so check whether a second voucher is available to you if you have had one before.

What it can pay for

The focus is on helping you trade online: selling, taking bookings or payments, and reaching customers. Typical eligible costs include:

• Building a new website with e-commerce, or upgrading an existing one.
• Online payment, booking or ordering systems.
• Developing an app or a customer-facing online platform.
• Search engine optimisation and digital marketing strategy.
• Online advertising, usually as part of a wider project and often subject to limits.
• Training or consultancy linked to the project.
• Professional photography or content for the online shop, in some LEO areas.

What it generally does not cover

• Hardware such as computers, tablets and phones.
• Ongoing running costs: subscriptions, hosting and maintenance beyond the project.
• Work that has already started or been paid for before approval.
• Staff wages, VAT and anything not set out in your approved application.

The rule that catches people most often is the second-to-last one. Do not start the work or pay deposits until you have written approval. Costs incurred before approval are normally ineligible.

How to apply

1. Attend an information session. Most LEOs require you to attend an information session or webinar before you can apply. These are listed on your LEO's website.
2. Plan your project. Decide what you want to achieve online and how you will measure it: online sales, bookings, enquiries.
3. Get quotes. LEOs usually ask for quotes from suppliers for the work. Make sure each quote sets out clearly what will be delivered.
4. Apply. Complete your LEO's application form, explaining your business, your current online presence, the project and the expected results.
5. Wait for approval. Approval is not automatic, even if you meet the criteria. Applications are assessed and funding is limited.
6. Deliver the project. Once approved, there is normally a deadline for completing the work and claiming, often around six months. Keep to the approved project.
7. Claim. Submit invoices, proof of payment and any report the LEO asks for, such as how the project has affected your business.

Writing a stronger application

Assessors want to see that the money will make a real difference to how you trade. A few things help:

• Be specific. "Add online booking for classes so customers can book and pay without phoning" is better than "improve the website".
• Show the business case. Explain who buys from you, how they find you now and what will change.
• Think beyond the build. A new website does nothing if nobody finds it. Include how you will get visitors: a Google Business Profile, search optimisation, an email list.
• Own your assets. Make sure the website, domain name and content will belong to your business, with logins in your name, whoever builds it.

Choosing a supplier

The voucher pays for the work, so the supplier matters. Ask for examples of similar projects, check who will host and maintain the site afterwards and what that will cost, and make sure you will be able to edit the content yourself. Confirm that the quote covers everything in your application, because changes after approval can cause problems at the claim stage.

After the voucher

The voucher covers a one-off project, while the running costs and the work of marketing carry on. Build those into your plans from the start. Our guide to setting a digital marketing budget covers the ongoing side.