The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is a $4 billion program announced in the 2021 federal budget to help small and medium-sized businesses get online with new digital tools.
The Grow Your Business Online grant under
CDAP offers valuable benefits, including:
• Up to$2,400for new technology
• Access to more than11,000 e-commerce advisors
The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is a $4 billion program announced in the 2021 federal budget to help small and medium-sized businesses get online with new digital tools.
The Grow Your Business Online grant under CDAP offers valuable benefits, including:
• Up to$2,400for new technology
• Access to more than11,000 e-commerce advisors
Let's schedule a time to talk about how you can
access CDAP funding to grow your business.
Expenses considered eligible must be clearly linked to the implementation
of a new e-commerce store as outlined in your spending proposal.
Costs related to digital marketing including:
- Costs of social media marketing
- Hiring a consultant or agency to execute digital marketing initiatives related to your e-commerce store
Note: Your grant cannot be used solely for digital marketing and/or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item
This could entail the utilization or improvement of online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments, search engine optimization (SEO)
This may include the following software:
- Inventory tracking, order fulfillment, and shipping software
- Product database software
- Sales tracking, customer marketing, discount offering, and loyalty program maintenance software
- Simplified marketing software
- Cybersecurity software or certifications
The grant also covers software installation and subscription fees as well as the back-office solutions' costs supporting an e-commerce strategy.
Note: All software must directly contribute to online sales of goods and services.
The grant will cover 20% of the hardware costs necessary for implementing the e-commerce plan. Additionally, only 20% of the grant can be allocated for both hardware and non-e-commerce software.
This includes implementation and setup costs for a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
The grant covers the development of a new e-commerce website or the upgrade of an existing one, which may include installing new plugins, features, and tools.
Note: website redesign is not covered by the grant.
Owners or directors can apply for the Grow Your Business Online grant, as long as their business:
The Canada Digital Adoption Plan (CDAP) is a government initiative that is set to revolutionize the competitiveness of Canadian businesses, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by streamlining their integration of digital technologies.
Yes, as long as each of your businesses has its own unique business number. However, please remember that each business must meet the eligibility requirements on its own.
It really depends on which services you would like us to provide. Our core CRM implementation takes about a month, but something like SEO, which is about boosting your online presence, will likely need ongoing support. There are also quick campaigns, like paid ads, but overall, digital marketing solutions are something you do regularly, not just once. Strategies may need adjustments based on analytics, market changes, or shifts in business goals.
The price will vary based on the services you pick. You could spend less than $2,400, but we suggest making the most of the free government funding. You can certainly ask us to do more work than the grant covers, although the remainder will be out of pocket.
Under the Grow Your Business Online grant, you can choose any advisor you want, but we always recommend working with an advisor who knows about CDAP and how grant reimbursement works.
You need to apply for CDAP on your own, but don't worry – we'll be there to help you every step of the way. We'll answer all your questions about the program and make sure you have a good shot at getting your application approved.
No. Only the expenses stated on the approved spending plan along with the proof of payment will be reimbursed.
Contractors and freelancers with contracts (fee for service) do not count as employees based on the eligibility criteria. Business partners may count if they receive T4 earnings.
Yes, ISED audits may occur periodically and grant recipients must comply with any audit requests.
Yes. We offer a wide menu of ongoing services and are happy to partner with your business long-term.
Let's see how we can grow your business online with
new technology funded by the CDAP program!