- 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 currently operating;
- Is registered in B.C.;
- Employs less than 149 B.C. residents;
- Pays taxes in B.C.
- Maintains a
- Business number
- GST number
- PST and WorkSafeBC number (where applicable)
- Generated sales of more than $30,000 in the past year (in 2019, or in the year preceding the application)
- Has repeatable products (goods), or in the case of artists and jewellers, individual items that have slight differences (i.e. paintings or rings)
- Does not currently have an online store or has an online store that has no more than three of the five identified online store features
- Customer registration and information security features
- Shopping cart and order management capabilities
- Payment processing options including application of appropriate taxes and shipping costs at time of ordering
- Product catalogue, search and inventory status
- Website analytics and reporting capabilities
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Launch Online
Launch Online Grant Program
Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to British Columbia’s economy. As part of StrongerBC, B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan the Launch Online Grant program will invest up to $12 million to help small- and medium-size businesses throughout B.C. move their business model online.
On this page:
How the program works
The Launch Online Grant program provides funding to B.C.-based business to create an online shop and/or improve their e-commerce experience 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.
The program supports a rapid response for businesses and is accepting applications from businesses ready to start and finish their online shop within 12 weeks.
- Up-to 25% of funds will be reserved for Indigenous businesses and businesses operating outside of the lower mainland and greater Victoria.
- The funds must be used to hire B.C.-based company(ies) to do the online store development.
The program application has three steps
Step 1:
Develop a grant proposal that indicates how you plan to use the funds. Businesses need to show a cost estimate that includes how much funding you need and how the money will be spent.
Step 2:
Complete the online application demonstrating that you meet the eligibility criteria and submit your online shop proposal.
Step 3:
Applicants will be contacted within three weeks with the outcome of their application.
Application deadlines
Program application intake is open until the funds have been fully subscribed. Funding will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis to small- and medium-sized B.C. businesses.
For the projects to have an immediate benefit, the funds will be given as soon as a business has been approved for the program.
Determine your eligibility
Review the following criteria to determine if your business is eligible for the program.
Applicants must meet all of the following general eligibility criteria:
Eligible Expenses
Funding will help cover up to 75% of costs for expenses such as:
- Service provider costs:
- Platform and website development
- Copy and online content writing
- Developing an online inventory of goods and products
- Pictures (including hiring a photographer), stock photos or related graphics needed
- Digital customer costs:
- E-commerce platform subscription (up to 1 year)
- Online advertising (up to 1 year)
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Creating banners and other embedded advertising
- Staff training to manage the online shop, learn about digital marketing, etc.
Successful applicants must use one or more B.C.-based service provider(s) to build or improve their online store. The only non-B.C.-based eligible expenses include:
- Platform subscription costs
- Purchase of online photos and graphics
- Purchase of online promotional space such as Facebook ads
Mandatory online shop features
At the end of the 12-weeks your online shop will need to have:
- Customer registration and information security features
- Shopping cart and order management capabilities
- Payment processing options including taxes and shipping costs at time of ordering
- Product catalogue, search and inventory status
- Website analytics and reporting capabilities
Submit your application
Before applying
Please review the eligibility information on this page. If you have any questions, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page for support before submitting your application. Incomplete applications cannot be approved to receive a grant.
Prepare a proposal for how much grant funding you need and how you plan to use the funds, with estimates for the eligible expenses. The application form will contain a space for you to include your proposal (note the max size is 1,000 characters) and cost estimates.
You will be asked to provide:
- Current year balance or past fiscal year statement
- Business number
- PST and WorkSafeBC registrations, if applicable
- Income tax return:
- Notice of assessment (2019); or
- First section of T2 return or first section of owner’s tax return (form 5010-R) (2019 or 2020)
- B.C. business registration number and official registered name
Receive funding to build your online store
Successful applicants will receive funding within 2-3 weeks of approval and are required to develop or upgrade their online shop within 12 weeks of receiving the grant.
Application Process
- Before completing, please read the Launch Online Grant Program Guide
- Before submitting your application, please ensure that all required information is completed. Incomplete applications cannot be approved to receive a grant.
- Meeting the criteria does not guarantee that the application will be approved for funding.
- Upon review, additional information may be requested from the applicant.
- Only one application per business will be considered.
- Applications are evaluated within three weeks.
- By submitting this application, you allow the Program to share information with the B.C. Provincial Government.
- To foster information sharing, applicant information maybe 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
Submit Your Application
Contact Us
Please contact us directly to ask questions. We will respond within 3 business days.
844-487-1266
The Launch Online Grant Program is part of StrongerBC, B.C.'s economic recovery plan. The program is administered by Alacrity Canada. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.
Launch Online
Launch Online Grant Program
Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to British Columbia’s economy. As part of StrongerBC, B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan the Launch Online Grant program will invest up to $12 million to help small- and medium-size businesses throughout B.C. move their business model online.
On this page:
How the program works
The Launch Online Grant program provides funding to B.C.-based business to create an online shop and/or improve their e-commerce experience 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.
The program supports a rapid response for businesses and is accepting applications from businesses ready to start and finish their online shop within 12 weeks.
- Up-to 25% of funds will be reserved for Indigenous businesses and businesses operating outside of the lower mainland and greater Victoria.
- The funds must be used to hire B.C.-based company(ies) to do the online store development.
The program application has three steps
Step 1:
Develop a grant proposal that indicates how you plan to use the funds. Businesses need to show a cost estimate that includes how much funding you need and how the money will be spent.
Step 2:
Complete the online application demonstrating that you meet the eligibility criteria and submit your online shop proposal.
Step 3:
Applicants will be contacted within three weeks with the outcome of their application.
Application deadlines
Program application intake is open until the funds have been fully subscribed. Funding will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis to small- and medium-sized B.C. businesses.
For the projects to have an immediate benefit, the funds will be given as soon as a business has been approved for the program.
Determine your eligibility
Review the following criteria to determine if your business is eligible for the program.
Applicants must meet all of the following general eligibility criteria:
- 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 currently operating;
- Is registered in B.C.;
- Employs less than 149 B.C. residents;
- Pays taxes in B.C.
- Maintains a
- Business number
- GST number
- PST and WorkSafeBC number (where applicable)
- Generated sales of more than $30,000 in the past year (in 2019, or in the year preceding the application)
- Has repeatable products (goods), or in the case of artists and jewellers, individual items that have slight differences (i.e. paintings or rings)
- Does not currently have an online store or has an online store that has no more than three of the five identified online store features
- Customer registration and information security features
- Shopping cart and order management capabilities
- Payment processing options including application of appropriate taxes and shipping costs at time of ordering
- Product catalogue, search and inventory status
- Website analytics and reporting capabilities
Eligible Expenses
Funding will help cover up to 75% of costs for expenses such as:
- Service provider costs:
- Platform and website development
- Copy and online content writing
- Developing an online inventory of goods and products
- Pictures (including hiring a photographer), stock photos or related graphics needed
- Digital customer costs:
- E-commerce platform subscription (up to 1 year)
- Online advertising (up to 1 year)
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Creating banners and other embedded advertising
- Staff training to manage the online shop, learn about digital marketing, etc.
Successful applicants must use one or more B.C.-based service provider(s) to build or improve their online store. The only non-B.C.-based eligible expenses include:
- Platform subscription costs
- Purchase of online photos and graphics
- Purchase of online promotional space such as Facebook ads
Mandatory online shop features
At the end of the 12-weeks your online shop will need to have:
- Customer registration and information security features
- Shopping cart and order management capabilities
- Payment processing options including taxes and shipping costs at time of ordering
- Product catalogue, search and inventory status
- Website analytics and reporting capabilities
Submit your application
Before applying
Please review the eligibility information on this page. If you have any questions, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page for support before submitting your application. Incomplete applications cannot be approved to receive a grant.
Prepare a proposal for how much grant funding you need and how you plan to use the funds, with estimates for the eligible expenses. The application form will contain a space for you to include your proposal (note the max size is 1,000 characters) and cost estimates.
You will be asked to provide:
- Current year balance or past fiscal year statement
- Business number
- PST and WorkSafeBC registrations, if applicable
- Income tax return:
- Notice of assessment (2019); or
- First section of T2 return or first section of owner’s tax return (form 5010-R) (2019 or 2020)
- B.C. business registration number and official registered name
Receive funding to build your online store
Successful applicants will receive funding within 2-3 weeks of approval and are required to develop or upgrade their online shop within 12 weeks of receiving the grant.
Application Process
- Before completing, please read the Launch Online Grant Program Guide
- Before submitting your application, please ensure that all required information is completed. Incomplete applications cannot be approved to receive a grant.
- Meeting the criteria does not guarantee that the application will be approved for funding.
- Upon review, additional information may be requested from the applicant.
- Only one application per business will be considered.
- Applications are evaluated within three weeks.
- By submitting this application, you allow the Program to share information with the B.C. Provincial Government.
- To foster information sharing, applicant information maybe 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
Submit Your Application
Contact Us
Please contact us directly to ask questions. We will respond within 3 business days.
844-487-1266
The Launch Online Grant Program is part of StrongerBC, B.C.'s economic recovery plan. The program is administered by Alacrity Canada. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.