Take Your Business Online Grant Program

Eligible businesses can apply for up to $5,000, excluding GST. The City may approve the full amount requested, a reduced amount or no funding. 

Yes. TYBO provides matched funding on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Your business must contribute at least the same amount as requested from the City.

For example, if your eligible project costs $8,000, excluding GST, you may request $4,000 from the City and must contribute at least $4,000. 
 

No. TYBO is competitive and subject to the funding available through the Council adopted annual budget. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding. 
 

An applicant must:

• have a registered Australian Business Number
• own or operate a small business within the City of Karratha local government area
• have appropriate insurance, permits and licences
• offer products or services that are market ready or already operating
• have the financial capacity to deliver the project and provide the matched contribution
• meet all other requirements in the TYBO Funding Guideline 

Yes. A sole trader may apply if the business meets all eligibility requirements. 

Yes, provided its products or services are market ready or already operating and it meets all other eligibility requirements. 

Yes. The business must declare whether it operates as a Home Office, Home Occupation or Home Business and provide evidence of any planning, building or environmental health approvals required by the City.

An application may be placed on hold while the relevant approvals are confirmed. 
 

Eligible projects must improve the business’s digital capability or online marketing presence.

Projects may include:

• website development or enhancement
• ecommerce functionality
• social media campaigns or management
• digital systems supporting online sales, service delivery or business operations
• online learning, subscription or membership portals
• customer relationship management systems
• app development
• search engine optimisation
• online advertising and digital marketing

Other projects may be considered if they clearly meet the objectives of TYBO. 

Yes. The development or improvement of a business website may be eligible, including ecommerce functionality. 
 

• Social media campaigns or management may be eligible where they improve online engagement, brand awareness or customer reach.
• Recurring services and ongoing operating costs are not eligible. 
   

A digital solution may be eligible where it forms part of a defined project that improves the business’s digital capability or operations.

Ongoing subscriptions and recurring operating costs are not eligible. 
 

TYBO will not fund:

• staff wages, rent, utilities or consumables
• recurring operational costs
• activities that do not support the objectives of TYBO
• projects funded through another City funding program during the same financial year
• projects that have already commenced or been completed
• projects that contravene City policies or local laws
• projects that present a risk to public health or safety
• activities for which another government body has primary responsibility
• incomplete or late applications
• applicants who have not met previous City funding obligations
• applicants with outstanding debts to the City, including overdue Acquittals 
   

No. Staff wages, rent, utilities, consumables and other ongoing operating expenses are not eligible. 
 

No. TYBO does not provide retrospective funding. Projects that have already commenced or been completed are not eligible. 

No. A project already funded through another City funding program during the current financial year will not be funded through TYBO. 

Your application must include:

• a description of your business and its current digital capability
• a clear description of the proposed project and its objectives
• the expected benefits to the business and local economy
• an explanation of how project success will be measured
• key milestones and the proposed completion timeframe
• a detailed budget showing costs excluding GST
• appropriate quotations supporting the proposed costs
• evidence of your matched contribution and financial capacity
• evidence of required insurance, licences, permits and approvals 

You must provide appropriate quotations that substantiate the proposed project costs. Refer to the TYBO Funding Guideline and application form for the current quotation requirements. 

Before applying:

• Read the TYBO Funding Guideline and the City’s Grant and Sponsorship Policy.
• Confirm that your business and project are eligible.
• Prepare your project plan, budget and quotations.
• Gather the required supporting documents.
• Complete the online application form before the Funding Round closes. 

No. Applications must be received before the advertised closing date to be considered in the relevant Funding Round. 

The City may request clarification or additional information. However, incomplete applications may be returned or determined ineligible.

Applicants should provide all required information and supporting documents when submitting their application. 

The City will first check whether the application meets the eligibility requirements.

Eligible applications will then be competitively assessed against two equally weighted criteria:

• Demand and Need, weighted at 50%
• Quality of Application, weighted at 50% 

The City will consider whether the application clearly demonstrates:

• the demand or need for the project
• appropriate supporting evidence
• the expected benefits and outcomes
• the value of the project to the business and local economy 

The City will consider:

• whether the project scope is clear and well defined
• whether the proposed activities are appropriate
• how the project will improve digital capability or online presence
• how the project will improve competitiveness, customer engagement or business efficiency 

Where funding is limited, preference may be given to first time TYBO applicants.

The City may also consider previous participation, the outcomes achieved through earlier funding and applications submitted across consecutive Funding Rounds. 

Applicants will generally be notified in writing within four to six weeks after the Funding Round closes. 

No. Funding decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. An unsuccessful applicant may submit a new application during a future Funding Round. 

You must enter into a written Funding Agreement with the City before commencing the approved project or receiving funding.

The Funding Agreement will confirm the approved project, funding amount, payment conditions, delivery timeframe, reporting requirements, acknowledgement obligations and Acquittal requirements. 

You may commence the approved project after the Funding Agreement has been executed.

The project must commence within 60 days of executing the Funding Agreement unless otherwise approved by the City. 

An initial payment of up to 50% of the approved funding may be released after:

• the Funding Agreement has been executed
• the City has received a valid tax invoice
• evidence of project commencement has been provided
• evidence of eligible expenditure has been provided 

The initial payment is released after you demonstrate that the approved project has commenced. You must therefore have sufficient financial capacity to begin delivering the project before receiving the initial payment. 

The remaining funding will be paid after the approved project has been completed and the City has approved the Acquittal.

A valid tax invoice must be submitted to claim the remaining approved funding. 

Payment processing may take up to 30 days after the City receives a valid tax invoice and all required supporting documents. 

Funding is calculated on eligible project costs excluding GST.

Applicants who are not registered for GST may be required to complete an Australian Taxation Office declaration before receiving funding. 

The project must be completed within six months of the funding approval date unless the City approves a written extension. 

Contact the City as soon as possible.

You must submit a written variation request explaining the proposed change and obtain the City’s written approval before changing the approved project, expenditure or delivery timeframe.

Do not implement the proposed change until written approval has been received. 

Yes. You must submit a written extension request explaining why additional time is required.

Extensions will generally only be considered where circumstances are beyond your control and the overall intent of the approved project remains unchanged. Approval is not guaranteed. 

The requirements will be specified in the Funding Agreement and may include:

• displaying the City logo on relevant websites, digital applications or marketing material
• participating in joint media or promotional activities
• providing photographs or other evidence of completed project deliverables 

An Acquittal is the process through which you demonstrate that the approved project was completed, the funding was used for its approved purpose and the required outcomes were achieved. 

A written Acquittal and all required supporting documents must be submitted within 30 days of the project completion date. 

The Acquittal must demonstrate:

• completion of the approved project
• expenditure of City funding on approved activities
• provision of the required matched contribution
• the outcomes and benefits achieved
• compliance with the City’s acknowledgement requirements
• evidence of expenditure and proof of payment 

Receipts and other documents demonstrating that the approved expenses have been paid must be provided.

Tax invoices alone will not be accepted as proof of payment. 

Unspent funds must be returned to the City within 60 days of project completion unless the City has approved a written variation. 

Failure to satisfactorily acquit the funding may result in:

• repayment of funding
• forfeiture of unpaid funding
• ineligibility for future City funding
• other action available under the Funding Agreement 

Yes. The City will publish a list of successful applicants in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

By accepting funding, a recipient acknowledges that relevant funding information may be publicly disclosed. 

Applicants are encouraged to contact the City before applying if they are uncertain about eligibility, project scope, required approvals or supporting documents.

Telephone: (08) 9186 8555

Email: enquiries@karratha.wa.gov.au

Website: www.karratha.wa.gov.au