Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy and the heart of our communities.
We know, because we’re one of them. Pixel has been approved by the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) as an authorized and certified vendor to help small businesses grow, thrive, and create jobs as they adapt to the ever-changing digital economy.
To stay competitive in the digital age, consumer-facing businesses must develop and implement e-commerce capabilities. As businesses become more adept at working with digital technologies, they can better serve their existing customers and attract new ones. Micro-grants of up to $2,400 are available to eligible businesses to help with the costs associated with adopting digital technologies.
Who is eligible for the Grow Your Business Online Grant
For-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and cooperatives)
Consumer-facing businesses
Registered or incorporated businesses
Businesses with a minimum of one employee
Businesses that can be accessed by customers or that provide in-person services to customers
What is covered by the Grow Your Business Online Grant
A new e-commerce website or added functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments)
Hiring a consultant (like us!) to execute digital marketing initiatives related to your e-commerce store
Tracking and managing inventory and sales, marketing to customers, offering discounts, maintaining a loyalty program, or increasing cyber security
Paying up to 20% of the total cost of hardware and software
There’s a bunch that’s not covered, so please see our FAQ below for more information
Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that are Canadian-owned and want to adopt new digital technologies can apply for the Boost Your Business Technology Grant. Interested businesses will have access to a marketplace of digital adoption experts (we’re one of them!) who will help develop a digital adoption plan tailored to their needs. We then help companies make the best of the digital economy by recommending digital pathways and strategies to increase their competitiveness.
The maximum grant value is $15,000 and the grant contributes up to 90% of the cost to retain our services to develop a digital adoption plan. Our Digital Adoption Plans cost $16,800 which means that your out-of-pocket expenses end up only being $1,800 (including GST).
Once the digital adoption plan is complete, the business can then take the completed document to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), which offers up to a $100,000, 0% no-fee loan that has a 5-year term with 12 months capital postponement.
Who is eligible for the Boost Your Business Technology Grant
Those incorporated federally or provincially, or be a Canadian resident sole proprietor
For-profit, privately owned businesses
Businesses with between 1 – 499 full-time equivalent employees
Businesses with at least $500,000 of annual revenues in one of the previous three tax years
What is covered by the Boost Your Business Technology Grant
The purpose of the Boost Your Business Technology Grant is to provide funds to cover the cost of developing a Digital Adoption Plan. This plan can serve many different purposes including:
Developing strategies to improve your information technology ecosystem and infrastructure.
Finding ways to optimize your existing business operations to reduce cost, drive efficiency, and increase effectiveness.
Learning how to create digital platforms to engage with new and existing customers in meaningful ways.
Strategizing ways to implement new business models and products.
How to access the Boost Your Business Technology Grant
Let us know you’re interested in the grant by using the form at the bottom of the page. We’ll help you along the journey.
Head over to the CDAP website and begin your application. It’s surprisingly painless to apply.
One of the first steps in the application process will be to complete a free Digital Needs Assessment (DNA) document. This will be an important tool in the development of your Digital Adoption plan.
Once you have been approved for the grant, which typically happens the same day you apply, head to the CDAP Digital Advisor Marketplace to let us know you are interested in working with us on your Digital Adoption Plan.
Over the next four weeks we’ll work with your team to:
Complete an analysis of your business, using research from interviews with you and your staff, as well as evaluating your DNA document.
Identify and prioritize potential digital solutions that will benefit your specific business.
Review your cyber-security measures.
Create an actionable implementation roadmap on how to move forward with these recommendations.
Once the Digital Adoption Plan is complete, you can submit the plan, along with our invoice, to the CDAP program which will then reimburse you for up to $15,000.
If you want our (or anyone's) help in implementing the actionable roadmap outlined in your Digital Adoption Plan, you submit the plan to the BDC for further financing and, if accepted, you can receive up to $100,000 as an interest-free loan.
What’s not covered by the Stream 1: Grow Your Business Online?
Internet connectivity
Shipping of goods purchased through the e-commerce platform
Purchases made prior to grant approval
Renewal of digital services such as domain names or software subscriptions (including existing e-commerce subscriptions)
Signage and printing
Logo redesign and rebranding
Owner's salary or current employee salary for executing the project
Purchase of land, buildings or vehicles
Intangible assets such as goodwill, whether capitalized or expensed
Depreciation or amortization expenses
Interest on invested capital, bonds or debentures
Bond discount
Monthly mortgage, loan and/or rent payments
Refinancing of an existing debt
Losses on investments, bad debts and any other debts
Fines or penalties
Litigation
Fees for administrators, including payments to any member or officer of the business’s board of directors
Opportunity costs
Hospitality and entertainment costs
Franchise fees and/or franchise licence costs
Lobbyist fees
New capital expenditures
Consulting fees for submission of CDAP application or any costs not related to the acquisition or set-up of technology solutions
What proof of expense is necessary from my business to claim the Stream 1: Grow Your Business Online Grant?
Your business must provide an invoice of the expense and proof of payment. Your business must pay for the expense before claiming the micro-grant, and a copy of their invoice will be required to do so. The invoice must be dated after the signature of your grant agreement.
Do you have more information on the BDC financing?
Eligible SMEs may apply for a loan of up to $100,000 with 0% interest from BDC.
Eligibility
Business revenues between $500,000 and below $5M: you can request a loan between $25,000 and $50,000
Business revenues $5M and more: you can request a loan between $25,000 and $100,000
Flexible Terms
5-year term with 12 months capital postponement (total of 6 years)
No fees
Convenient application deadline
You have 1 year from the completion of your approved digital adoption plan to make a loan request.