CDAP offers two grants that will help you get online and use technology to build your business.
Boost Your Business Technology
Boost Your Business Technology grant gives you:
- up to $15,000 to develop a Digital Adoption Plan
- up to $100,000 in 0% interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement your plan
- up to $7,300 to hire a skilled youth to implement the technologies that can propel your business forward
How it works
Confirm Boost Your Business Technology grant is right for your business
Use the CDAP grant assessment tool to see if your business qualifies.
You can get funding through this grant if your business*:
- is Canadian-owned
- is a sole proprietor or a business incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province or territory
- is a for-profit
- has 1 to 499 employees
- has had at least $500,000 in annual revenue (but no more than $100M in 1 of the previous 3 tax years)
* Complete eligibility criteria can be found in the program guide.
Apply to this grant in 4 easy steps!
- Step 1: Create your account
- Step 2: Confirm your eligibility
- Step 3: Work with a digital advisor to develop your digital adoption plan
- Step 4: Submit your claim to receive your grant payment
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Create account
Create your CDAP account
Start your digital transformation journey with CDAP by creating a My Canada Business Account.
- Step 1: Create a CDAP Account using one of these three options:
- Option 1: Using your email address (recommended)
- Option 2: Using the GCKey Sign In feature
- Option 3: Using the Interac Sign In service
- Step 2: Verify your email
- Step 3: Verify your identity using one of these three options:
- Option 1: Verify your identify online (recommended)
- Option 2: In person visit to a Canada Post Outlet
- Option 3: Request an identity verification appoint with a CDAP officer
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Confirm eligibility
Eligibility Verification
With CDAP, you can confirm your business eligibility in real-time using your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Business credentials.
Please note: You will need to login to the CRA website with your business credentials. After you login, you will be redirected to the CDAP portal.
- Step 1: Provide consent to use your Canada Revenue Agency business information for eligibility verification
- Step 2: Login to the CRA website using My Business Account credentials
- Step 3: Eligibility confirmed — Congratulations!
- Step 4: Provide relevant business information to complete your application
- Step 5: Sign the CDAP grant agreement, provide banking information and acquire access to the Digital Advisor Marketplace
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Create a digital adoption plan
Work with a Digital Advisor to create a Digital Adoption Plan (DAP)
Immediately upon signing the CDAP grant agreement, your business will have direct access to our marketplace of digital advisors to help you develop a Digital Adoption Plan (DAP) tailored to your business needs. You can consult our Finding a digital advisor page to learn more about how to use the Digital Advisor Marketplace.
- Step 1: Browse the Digital Advisor Marketplace OR confirm your preferred digital advisor is registered on the DA Marketplace (if you already know who you want to work with)
- Step 2: Contact, interview and hire the Digital Advisor that best meets your needs
- Step 3: Work with your preferred Digital Advisor to develop a Digital Adoption Plan for your business
- Step 4: Finalize the elements of your Digital Adoption Plan and receive an invoice from your Digital Advisor for completed work
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Collect your grant
Submit your grant claim and collect your grant payment from CDAP
After finalizing your Digital Adoption Plan (DAP) with your preferred digital advisor, you can submit your claim for payment to CDAP. Visit our DAP Requirements page to ensure your DAP meets all the requirements.
When ready to submit, login to the CDAP Applicant Portal to:
- Step 1: Upload your Digital Adoption Plan
- Step 2: Upload the invoice you received from your Digital Advisor
- Step 3: Provide final cost (inclusive of taxes)
- Step 4: Provide the name of the Digital Advisor firm that helped you create your Digital Adoption Plan
- Step 5: After reviewing the information submitted and confirming they meet CDAP's requirements, the program will issue the grant payment within 30 days of receiving your claim
Please note that Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) conducts periodic audits of applicant funding to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in the program guide and grant agreement. In the event of an audit, you will be required to comply with any requests for additional information or documentation. Please work with your Digital Advisor to maintain records of your engagement.
Consult the program guide to learn more about how CDAP works and review the terms and conditions.
Additional benefits
Digital Needs Assessment (DNA)
Assess your current use of technology and identify your business needs.
Take advantage of an industry leading questionnaire to measure your business' current use of technology. Based on your input, you will receive a customized report that you can use to compare your business with others in the same industry, and get advice on how adopting new technology can help you boost your business.
BDC 0% interest loan
When you are ready to move forward with your digital adoption plan, apply for a 0% loan of up to $100,000 from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to implement the plan.
Eligibility
You're eligible to apply if you have completed a digital adoption plan:
- As part of CDAP and have received your grant payment OR
- Under another recognized digital adoption program and submitted it to CDAP
Note: Applicants must meet BDC's creditworthiness and eligibility criteria for the 0% interest loan. Completing your Digital Adoption Plan does not guarantee approval for the BDC Loan. Visit BDC's website for details.
Loan amount
- Business revenue of $500,000 to $5 million as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end : loans between $25,000 and $50,000
- Business revenues over $5 million as of the closing date of its last fiscal year-end: loans between $25,000 and $100,000
- While you may apply for a 0% loan for multiple businesses, note that you are limited to a maximum loan of $200,000 per borrowing group. Visit BDC's website for details.
What does it cover?
The BDC loan covers items directly related to the digital adoption plan. Some examples are:
- Acquiring IT equipment
- Installation of new technologies
- Updating and/or expanding IT equipment
- Training staff on onboarded technologies
- Materials and support services directly related to onboarding the technology
- Further advisory services on your digital adoption plan
Terms
- The loan has a 5-year term with 12-month capital postponement (total of 6 years)
- There are no fees
- You have 6 months from the completion of your approved plan to make a loan request
- You must meet BDC credit worthiness requirements
Visit the BDC website to learn more.
Funded Work Placement
You can receive up to $7,300 as a wage subsidy to hire a talented youth with the skills your business needs to achieve its digital adoption goals. You can apply for more than one wage subsidy to hire multiple youth.
This wage subsidy funding is administered by Magnet, Canada's only Digital Community Workforce System housed within the Toronto Metropolitan University. Through Magnet, you can connect to youth across more than 122 post-secondary institutions and receive personalized assistance with hiring the right talent for your business.
Eligibility
You're eligible if you have completed a digital adoption plan:
- As part of CDAP and have received your grant payment OR
- Under another recognized digital adoption program and submitted it to CDAP
Visit Magnet's website to learn more.
Fast-Track for businesses who already have a Digital Adoption Plan
Even if you already have a Digital Adoption Plan, you can still benefit from CDAP.
Get on the fast track to:
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) loan; and,
- Funded Work Placement
Using our fast-track option, your business can still benefit from a 0% interest loan of up to $100,000 to pay for new technology and/or a funded work placement to help implement your plan.
You may be eligible if you have a plan, created in the last 24 months, from one of the programs below:
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency: Digital Acceleration Pilot
- BDC Advisory Services
- Digital Acceleration Fund (Prince Edward Island)
- Digital Boost 2.0 (New Brunswick)
- Digitalization Competence Center (DCC)
- National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
- Programme Audit Industrie 4.0 / ESSOR - Volet 1B (Quebec – website in French)
There are a few conditions in order to utilize multiple funding programs to offset the cost of the digital adoption plan:
- Businesses must review and meet the eligibility criteria of both programs
- Businesses must work with a digital advisor that is recognized by both programs
- The total of the combined grants cannot exceed the amount invoiced by the digital advisor.
Contact us today to learn more.
Grow Your Business Online
Grow Your Business Online grant gives you:
- up to $2,400 to setup e-commerce
- Access to a network of more than 11,000 e-commerce advisors
How it works
- Step 1: Read the eligibility criteria to make sure the program is right for you.
- Step 2: Connect with your local service provider.
- Step 3: Apply for the grant with help from your service provider.
Eligibility
Use the CDAP grant assessment tool to see if your business qualifies.
You can get funding through CDAP if your business:
- is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
- is registered or incorporated
- is consumer-facing (sells goods and services directly to end consumers)
- has at least one employee (other than the owner) OR had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year
- commits to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months
- agrees to participate in follow-up surveys, share data about the experience, and have its name published as a grant recipient
Your business is not eligible if it is:
- a corporate chain, franchise or registered charity
- a representative of a multi-level marketing company
- a brokerage firm, such as real estate agents, investment advisors, insurance agents, etc.
- a business that is engaged in online reselling or drop-shipping reliant on third-party suppliers
- a wholesale or distribution business and manufacturer (unless you sell directly to consumers)
Costs covered
How can you use your grant?
- To develop a new e-commerce website or add functionality to your existing site (e.g. online reservation/booking tools, online ordering systems, electronic payments, search engine optimization (SEO))
- Redesign of an existing site is not eligible
- To install an e-commerce platform (including subscription fees/costs)
- To hire a consultant to help with digital marketing strategies for your e-commerce store that could include activities such as social media advertising.
- Your grant cannot be used solely for digital marketing or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item
- To track and manage inventory and sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty program, or increase cyber security using e-commerce software
- To pay up to 20% of the total cost of hardware and software
Eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online.
Ineligible costs:
- 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
e-Commerce advisor
As an advisor, you will help local small businesses assess their digital needs and develop their
e-commerce strategy. You will receive training to help you:
- understand CDAP grants
- learn the capabilities of e-commerce solutions
- understand the basics of cyber security
You can apply if you:
- have graduated from high school and are planning on pursuing a post-secondary education
- are currently pursuing post-secondary education
- have recently graduated from a post-secondary institution
FAQ
Find answers to frequently-asked questions about the Grow Your Business Online grant, eligibility criteria, costs and more.
CDAP Grant Streams
Can I apply to both the Grow Your Business Online and Boost Your Business Technology grant?
Yes, you can apply to both grants.
Can I apply more than once if the applications are in different fiscal years?
No, you can apply only once to Grow Your Business Online over the entire duration of the program. Moreover, your business can only receive the micro-grant once.
Small Business Eligibility
What counts as a consumer-facing business?
A consumer-facing business is one that sells products or services directly to end consumers. It may have a bricks-and-mortar presence as well as an online presence.
A business that sells to other businesses or engages in wholesale trade may be considered a consumer-facing business if it also sells directly to end consumers. For example, a painting supply store that sells paints to professional painters could be eligible for the program if they open an online store to sell paints directly to consumers. As another example, a farmer selling produce mainly to grocery stores could be eligible for the program if they started to sell directly to consumers through an online platform that enables consumers to order/reserve and prepay for products for pick up at a road side stand.
Businesses that are not considered consumer-facing are those that focus primarily on wholesale trade or sell only to other businesses. Businesses that engage in drop-shipping or online reselling are also not considered consumer-facing.
What documents are required to prove that my company is a registered business?
One (1) of the following:
- Master business license
- Article of incorporation
- GST return from CRA
We prefer that you provide a government document that confirms your business registration. If you provide only a GST/HST number, then this number must be verified via the GST/HST Registry.
Is my business eligible if it provides goods and services online only?
Yes. Consumer facing businesses are those that provide the majority of their services directly to consumers. Most will have a bricks and mortar presence where consumers can access their goods and services. Some will also have a virtual 'front door' through their online presence which also provides services to consumers.
If my business operates at more than one location, am I considered a corporate chain or am I eligible?
A business can go up to 5 outlets for the same business. These outlets have to be for a single, regional business and the organization does not offer opportunities for other people to buy franchises.
Can the owner of multiple businesses submit an application for each business? That is, for example, the owner of three (3) businesses submitting three (3) applications, one for each business.
Yes, as long as each business is registered with its own business number.
I am the shareholder of an incorporated business, therefore I am considered an employee of the incorporation. I have no other employees, am I eligible?
A shareholder does not count as an employee. Businesses must have at least one employee on payroll. Business that don't have any employees may also be eligible if they have made at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year.
Do part time or temporary employees count as eligible employees?
Part time or fixed-term employees count as eligible employees, but freelance or contract (fee for service) employees do not.
Is there a cap on the number of employees eligible companies can have?
No, there is no cap.
If my business is in their first year of business and is on track to earn $30,000 in revenues, would I be eligible?
Your business has to attest that you had a gross revenue of at least $30,000 in the last 12 months of operations or since incorporation/registration. Therefore you would not be able to apply if you are "on track" to meet the threshold, you would have to wait until the threshold has been met.
For how long must my employee have been employed by my business prior to applying for the Grow Your Business Online grant?
Your employee must have been working at the business for at least three (3) months.
Micro-Grant
Will the micro-grant be disbursed upfront to cover the costs?
No. Your business must provide a copy of the invoices and proof of payment in order to receive a reimbursement of costs.
What proof of expense is necessary from my business to claim the micro-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.
If the invoice is based on monthly payments, your business should make an advance payment for the full $2,400 before claiming the micro-grant. The invoice should show a credit balance.
Is the $2,400 micro-grant inclusive of taxes? If my business submits a total receipt for $2,400 that has $200 noted in taxes, would the grant funds cover the entire portion or should taxes be excluded?
The micro-grant is not inclusive of taxes. Micro-grants will be issued based on the cost of the expense(s) before taxes; refundable tax charges will not be reimbursed.
Small Business Eligible Costs
Can my business remit costs associated with digital marketing / social media / SEO if I do not have or plan to have an e-commerce store?
No, your business must have an e-commerce presence to be able to seek funds for digital marketing.
If my business chooses a monthly subscription or other recurring service, what is the process to claim the micro-grant?
Your business can prepay the monthly subscription up to $2,400 and submit the invoice and proof of payment to claim the micro-grant.
If my business already has an e-commerce website, can I use the fund to improve, update or redo my current website?
The re-design of an existing site is not eligible. However, upgrading existing website for added functionality (new plugins or features) would be eligible.
Can the grant be used to pay an employee or contractor to support digital adoption?
The micro-grant can be used to pay a contractor only if the contractor operates an independent business (registered and/or incorporated) that provides digital-adoption services. The grant cannot be used to pay an employee's salary.
Are consulting fees for assistance in applying to CDAP eligible costs?
The $2,400 micro-grant cannot go to consultants or agencies working on behalf of the ultimate SME recipients to help them apply for CDAP.
My business already has a website, can I use the grant solely for digital marketing initiatives?
Your grant cannot be used solely for website search optimization or social media advertising; such uses must be tied to an overall e-commerce implementation plan and not a standalone item.
My business would like to use the grant to purchase some hardware with accompanying software. Is this an eligible cost?
Hardware and accompanying non-ecommerce related software are eligible for up to 20% of total grant amount.
- An example of limited coverage for software would be any software that is bought with the equipment that is required to support an e-commerce strategy. For instance, if a small business buys a new e-commerce integrated point of sale (POS) system that costs $1,300, CDAP will cover 20% or $260.
The maximum amount of the grant that can be allocated to hardware and related software is 20% of $2,400 or $480.
E-Commerce related software is eligible for 100% of grant amount and can include the following:
- Software to track and manage product inventory, as well as fulfill and ship orders,
- Software for product databases
- Software to track sales, market to customers, offer discounts, maintain a loyalty programs
- Software to simplify marketing
- Cyber Security software or certifications
Please note all eligible costs must be directly tied to the sale of goods and services online (i.e. online reservations/ordering or chat bot function on website), and you will need to clearly outline this in your application.
Learning resources
These articles and blog posts from BDC will help you get a head start on adopting new digital tools.
Digital marketing
- 7 steps to create a website that works for your business Article
Want a tireless salesperson who works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? Start by designing a website for your business.
E-commerce
- Create an e-commerce strategy for your business Article
Crafting a clear strategic plan to take your business online will help you drive more sales.
- How to combine a bricks-and-mortar store with e-commerce Article
Do you know the "20/80 rule"? Discover that and more in this guide to combining your bricks-and-mortar store with e-commerce.
- E-commerce – Grow your global presence Article
- A step-by-step guide to starting an online store for your small business Blog Post
Improving operations efficiency (and profitability) through digital investments
- Digital procurement: 4 ways to boost efficiency and save money Article
Save money and time by using digital procurement software to handle your inventory management.
Investing in digital and technology to generate business and improve productivity
- 3 pillars of a successful digital transformation Blog Post
Create a digital corporate culture in your company and get the best value from your tech investments.
- How to use technology to improve your profits Article
Discover in this guide to the commonly used tech tools the different areas of your business that can be automated, from doing payroll to managing supply chains.
- Developing a digital business culture Success story
Learn how this aluminum window-maker is gaining new momentum by adopting digital technology, automation on the shop floor and a radically different company structure.
Contact information
Commitment to inclusion
The Canada Digital Adoption Program upholds Innovation Canada's commitment to providing inclusive programs and cultivating a workplace that is both diverse and inclusive so that we can best support the businesses we serve.