Is there a grant for an online store in Ireland?

On the LEO, Enterprise Ireland and LocalGov.ie pages we reviewed, there is no scheme named for setting up an online shop. The closest is the Grow Digital Voucher, which lists e-commerce software among eligible costs. It comes with conditions that rule out many new stores.

Grants / Is there a grant for an online store in Ireland?

The closest match: the Grow Digital Voucher

The Grow Digital Voucher pays 50% of eligible costs, from a minimum of €500 up to €5,000 per application. The LEO page lists e-commerce software, and online booking, payments or appointments, among eligible software. Website development is listed too, but only if it is a software subscription that is new to the business. The page also says bespoke website development is not supported.

  • You need to have completed a Digital for Business project in the previous two years.
  • The business must be established and trading for at least 6 months.
  • You cannot be a client of Enterprise Ireland or IDA.
  • The software must be new to the business, for a maximum of one year's subscription.
  • You must apply before you spend anything.

What that means for a new store

Because the voucher needs six months of trading and a finished Digital for Business project, a store that has not launched yet generally cannot use it. A business that already trades, for example from a shop or a marketplace, and is moving to its own online store, is the better fit.

Whether a Shopify subscription, or the set-up work around it, counts is a question for your LEO. The page lists e-commerce software, but it excludes custom work, so a bespoke build is unlikely to be covered. We cannot promise that our own build fees would qualify.

Other routes to ask about

  • LEO core grants (Priming, Expansion, Feasibility) exclude retail on the Dublin City eligibility page. A business that sells to customers abroad may count as an internationally traded business, so ask your LEO.
  • TAME (Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters) covers 50% of eligible costs up to €2,500 a year and lists export-related websites as a use, for manufacturing or internationally traded services.
  • Microfinance Ireland offers loans of €2,000 to €25,000 for small businesses, if a grant is not available.

The schemes at a glance

SchemeAmountWhat to know for this pageSource
Grow Digital Voucher
Voucher, Local Enterprise Office		50% of eligible costs, from a minimum of €500 up to €5,000 per application. A business can be approved for a maximum of two projects, up to €5,000 in total.The one scheme whose page lists e-commerce software. It needs six months of trading first, so most brand-new stores cannot use it yet.LEO: Grow Digital Voucher
Grow Digital self-assessment
Digital for Business
Advice and support, Local Enterprise Office		The page does not state an amount.The required first step before Grow Digital, and it has to be done within two years of applying.LEO: Digital for Business
Microfinance Ireland loan
Loan, Microfinance Ireland (via LEOs)		Loans from €2,000 to €25,000 over 1 to 5 years. A reduced rate of 5.5% APR applies if applied for through an LEO.A loan, not a grant: a fallback for the build or stock if no grant fits. It has to be repaid.LocalGov.ie: Microfinance Ireland loan

Steps, in order

  • Contact your LEO and ask what is open in your area.
  • Complete a Digital for Business project with the LEO.
  • Apply for the Grow Digital Voucher, and wait for approval.
  • Only then buy the software and training.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a grant for a Shopify store?

We found no scheme that names Shopify. The Grow Digital Voucher lists e-commerce software, with conditions: the software must be new to the business, bespoke development is excluded, and you apply first. Ask your LEO whether a platform subscription qualifies.

What happened to the Trading Online Voucher?

We could not find the Trading Online Voucher on the LEO pages we read in November 2026. The digital voucher those pages list is the Grow Digital Voucher. If another site still mentions the older scheme, check with your LEO.

Can I claim for something I have already bought?

The Grow Digital page says an application must be submitted before any project spending starts, and the LEO eligibility page says spending before the application form is not eligible.

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