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UP TO $2,400 FUNDING
REACH MORE CUSTOMERS AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE
Generate more leads, build an effective sales pipeline, and drive long-term growth by leveraging federal funding through the CDAP Grow Your Business Online grant
The Canada Digital Adoption Program is scheduled to end on March 31, 2025.
The Grow Your Business online grant will no longer be accepting new applications as of September 30, 2024.
What is CDAP and how can it help my business?
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$2,400 for new technology
• Access to more than 11,000 e-commerce advisors
Eligibility
Eligible
To be eligible for Grow Your Business Online, applicants must:
✅ A for-profit small business
✅ Consumer-facing, either in person or online
✅ Employing at least one employee other than the owner, OR had at least
$30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
✅ Be a registered or incorporated business
Not Eligible
Those who are not eligible to apply include:
❌ Corporate chains, franchises, and registered charities
❌ Real estate brokerages and sales agents
❌ Representatives of multi-level marketing companies
❌ Businesses who do not sell directly to consumers
❌ Insurance brokers and agencies
❌ Mortgage brokers and agencies
❌ Not for profit organizations
What does the grant cover?
To be considered eligible, expenses must be clearly linked to the implementation of a new e-commerce store as outlined in your spending proposal.
Digital marketing
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
Implementation or improvement of digital e-commerce plan
This could entail the utilization or improvement of online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments, search engine optimization (SEO)
E-commerce software and support
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.
Hardware (up to 20%)
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.
Customer databases creation (CRM system)
This includes implementation and setup costs for a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
Development of new e-commerce website or upgrading an existing one
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.
What is your process?
This is a step-by-step guide on what to expect to get started with our services and receive your grant funding
from the CDAP program:
Step 1
Call Us
Begin your journey by scheduling a call with us, where we can explore your options together!
Step 2
Apply
Apply for the CDAP Grow Your Business Online program at the service provider for your province
Step 3
Confirm
Your CDAP program representative will meet with you to confirm your eligibility for the grant and provide you with a grant agreement to sign
Step 4
Review
Review this proposal, choose your desired services and sign to accept
Step 5
Submit
Submit this signed proposal to your CDAP program representative, along with a simple form called a spending plan to show how these services would support growing your business online
Step 6
Receive
Receive confirmation from your CDAP program funding manager that your spending plan has been approved and you are authorized to purchase the items in the plan
Step 7
Notify
Notify us that your spending plan has been approved and please forward us your approval email just to be sure (*Important* - Your CDAP program funding manager must provide purchase authorization before you
spend anything in order to be eligible for grant reimbursement)
Step 8
Invoice
We will send you an invoice for payment based on the services you chose in your signed proposal
Step 9
Receipt
Once paid, you will receive a receipt of payment that you will be able to forward to your CDAP program
representative in order to receive your grant payout
Step 10
Onboarding
You will also receive a client onboarding questionnaire - once you complete the questions, we will get started growing your business online!
Imagine your business with 3 powerful marketing tools
These are easy but powerful wins for your business - Feel Free to Give Them a Try!
Meet Your Favorite New Employee
Introducing our fully-trained AI Chatbot, your 24/7 solution! Never sleeps, never gets sick, never takes a vacation. With lightning-fast responses, it's always at your service, ready to engage with your customers instantly. Say goodbye to wait times and hello to efficient, round-the-clock support for your business!
73% of users
expect websites to feature chatbots for convenient interactions.
74% of internet users
prefer using chatbots for simple questions.
87.2% of consumers
rate their interactions with bots as either neutral or positive.
3X faster
Chatbots have remarkably accelerated response times, answering 3 times faster on average.
Never Lose Business To A Missed Call Again!
Turn missed calls into instant text conversations! Here's how it works: When a call goes unanswered, we'll send a text within seconds. When they reply, get notified on our mobile app to continue the chat!
No one wants to call businesses anymore. In 2024, it's like asking them to fax you!
63% of inbound calls
Go Unanswered Every Day??? How much business is that costing you?
65% of consumers
prefer doing business over the phone, whether it is texting, calling, and mobile shopping.
85% of people
whose calls were not answered will not call back.
Smaller businesses struggle to answer calls for reasons like not enough staff, getting calls after closing time, or not having the right tech. Missing calls can cost a business a lot – around $325 per customer on average globally.
Master Your Schedule with an
Easy Booking Calendar
Experience the convenience of Online Booking Calendar powerful features! Tailor your views to suit your needs, effortlessly schedule appointments, and enjoy seamless syncing across all your devices. Stay organized, save time, and never miss an important event again. Try Online Booking Calendar today and take control of your schedule!
Tailored Views
Customize your calendar to suit your needs - daily, weekly, or monthly views - for a personalized and efficient scheduling experience.
Effortless Scheduling
Easily schedule appointments and events with intuitive tools, saving you time and hassle. Set reminders to stay on track.
Sync Across Devices
Access your calendar from anywhere, anytime. Online Booking Calendar syncs seamlessly across all your devices, ensuring you're always up-to-date and organized.
Core Services - Grow Your Business Online
Ultimate Marketing Suite Implementation Package
Our all-inclusive package offers everything you need for your marketing your business and managing your online presence. We've packed immense value into this package and will set you up with a comprehensive marketing suite with all the features mentioned below for the price of your CDAP grant.
Services included:
1. Strategy discussion on how website platform implementation and integration with online marketing
channels can drive more sales of goods or services
2. Set up all in one inbox for tracking all lead activity - phone, SMS, Google My Business, paid ads, website
chat widget
3. Set up a centralized reputation management hub to manage, request and respond to all reviews through
Google and Facebook
4. Create a visual sales pipeline to track opportunities at every stage of the process as they move from cold
lead to paying client
5. Set up an automated missed call text back to respond to all missed calls since every missed call is a
sales opportunity
6. Create an online booking calendar for easy appointment booking and save hours of back and forth
emails, cancellations and rescheduling
7. Set up a chat widget on Wordpress website - capture more website visitors
8. Set up a trackable SMS-enabled phone number - track all points of contact with your leads and clients
and use 2-way SMS messaging to send and receive text messages with your clients
9. Set up social media posting planner so you can schedule and post to all of your social media accounts in
one place (Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Google Business Profile)
What To Expect
Kick-off Meetings and Ongoing Communication
Initial Project Kick-off Meeting
Technical Setup Meeting
Training and Onboarding Meeting
Two Week Check-In Meeting
Ongoing Communication
Adrian GJ Hodgson, CPA, CA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Frosty Squirrel CPA
The Digital Firm demonstrated a deep understanding of the accounting industry, its nuances, and the specific marketing needs of small accounting firms like Frosty Squirrel CPA. I must say that choosing The Digital Firm has proven to be one of the best decisions we have made for our business.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the program closing? (*update for April 2024*)
The Boost Your Business Technology Grant (the other CDAP grant stream for larger businesses) recently closed about a year earlier than expected due to higher than anticipated demand.
The Grow Your Business Online grant is the only CDAP grant stream that remains open, but the program has stopped accepting applications from Quebec and Yukon businesses. It is uncertain when other provinces might close as well, but they remain open for new grant applications for the time being.
What is CDAP?
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.
Can I apply multiple businesses for CDAP?
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.
How long does it take?
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.
How much does it cost?
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.
Can I work with any advisor that offers digital services?
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.
Can you apply on my behalf?
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.
Can I use the Grow Your Business Online grant for past purchases?
No. Only the expenses stated on the approved spending plan along with the proof of payment will be reimbursed.
Do contractors, freelancers, or business partners count as employees?
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.
Does the government check or audit funding?
Yes, ISED audits may occur periodically and grant recipients must comply with any audit requests.
Do you offer ongoing support?
Yes. We offer a wide menu of ongoing services and are happy to partner with your business long-term.
Get Your Grant!
Don't wait any longer, seize the opportunity and apply for CDAP today!
Grow your business online and make more sales.
Check if you're eligible, book a call with us and embark on your journey towards a growing business!
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