Caorda will help you navigate BC’s Launch Online grant program.
- Do you run a small to medium-sized business and need help moving your store online, creating an online booking system, or improving your existing website?
- Do you sell products that could also be sold through an online eCommerce store, or are you a restaurant or artist?
- Do you provide services that could be booked online?
- Does your business operate in BC and did it generate at least $30,000 in sales in 2019?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you could qualify for up to $7,500 in grant funding from the BC Government’s Launch Online initiative. Caorda is a full-service agency and can help you navigate the application process and produce a beautiful, optimized website once you receive your grant approval.
How Does The Program Work?
This program provides funding assistance for businesses like yours to develop an online shop or an online booking system and/or improve your existing online operations to attract new local customers and expand to new markets. The grant will pay for up to 75% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $7,500 per business. That could be you!
Who qualifies for the grant?
There are some very specific criteria that you need to meet in order to be eligible to apply for this grant.
- The business is owned by a B.C. resident or residents;
- The business’s sole or primary operations are located in B.C.
- The business is registered in BC
- The business generated sales of more than $30,000 in the past year (in 2019, or in the year preceding the application)
- The business does not currently have an online store or has an online store with limited functionality
- The business does not currently have an online booking system or has an online booking system which requires optimization for online operations
There are a few more requirements that we’d love to help you understand. If you meet all the above and would like to learn more, please contact us right away. These grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Let’s Apply Today! Tell us a little about your company.
How Can Caorda Help You?
Caorda is a full web-service agency, delivering stunning graphic design, branding, digital marketing, and web development services across a broad range of clientele. If you are approved for the BC Launch Online Grant, you will need to complete your online development project within a tight, 12 week deadline. Not only will we help you manage the entire application process, our team of experts are ready to help you complete every step of your project, ensuring you successfully meet the deadline with a beautiful website that is ready to help your business thrive.
“This program will provide business owners with the ability to expand their online presence and create a customized e-commerce site that will give them the boost they need to keep moving forward.” – Launch Online website
What sort of services and products can this funding be used for?
Grant recipients can use the funding for a variety of online-related expenses, including pictures, creating an online inventory system, advertising costs, subscription costs of an e-commerce platform and training staff to manage the website. Here are a few more declarable expenses:
- Website and platform development
- Requirements and planning
- Inventory development
- Point of sale system integration and training
- Photography or stock imagery procurement
- eCommerce platform subscription fees (up to 1 year)
- Search Engine Optimization & marketing including advertising and banner creation for Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc…
What’s the Grant Approval Process?
The application process consists of 3 major steps. Caorda will take the guesswork out of the entire application process. Any missed or incorrect information may render the whole application process inadmissible and void the process.
Step 1:
The Proposal
Caorda will help you to develop a rock-solid grant proposal that details how you plan to use the funds. Submitting vague or incomplete info could result in a rejected application! This needs to be accomplished in relatively few words, so it’s important that we accomplish this perfectly using our proposal writing experience.
Step 2:
The Application
The Application consists of 33 questions and If you have all of your info prepared in advance, the application can be completed in under 20 minutes. Caorda will guide you through the process using information that we have already collected. We will help you determine whether your business meets the eligibility criteria and help you submit your proposal with the highest chance of success!
Step 3:
Grant Decision & Award
Once submitted, your application will be vetted and considered for the grant. The consideration process takes roughly three weeks at which point the grant committee will contact you with the decision on your application. We just site back and wait. Just kidding, we’re planning with you the whole time!
Successfully receiving your grant is just the beginning! Now you need a team of experts to quickly plan, develop and build your new solution. That’s where Caorda shines!
Information about Deadlines and Requirements
All projects are required to have a completion time-frame of 12 weeks. At the end of this 12 week period, Caorda will ensure your project produces the following criteria for your new or enhanced online shop:
- Customer registration and information security features
- Shopping cart and order management capabilities
- Payment processing options including taxes and shipping costs at the time of ordering
- Product catalogue, search and inventory status
- Website analytics and reporting capabilities
Or the criteria for your new or improved online booking system:
- Customer registration and information security features
- Schedule navigation and reservation management capabilities
- Payment processing options including taxes at time of ordering, if applicable
- Automated replies and reminders
- Website analytics and reporting capabilities
Important disclaimers
- Meeting the criteria does not guarantee approval into the grant program.
- By submitting this application, you allow the Program to share information with the B.C. Provincial Government.
- To foster information sharing, applicant information might be shared with other levels of government and funding programs.
- Personal information is collected for administration of the Launch Online Grant including for confirming residency, under the Personal Information Protection Act. If you have questions about the collection you may contact Alacrity Canada at 844-487-1266 or info@launchonline.ca