Are there any subsidies or grants available for website (HP) production?

I am not sure of the difference between a grant and a subsidy.

Subsidies cannot be received unless the project plan is adopted in a review process, but grants are generally available if the requirements are met.
Grants are not always available, as the submitted business plan must be adopted in the review process. On the other hand, grants are mostly for employment-related projects, etc., and can basically be received as long as the requirements are met. The main type of subsidy that can be utilized for website production is the “subsidy.

Where can I get information about grants and subsidies?

We recommend that you first consult with your local Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Also check the website of the Small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) and MiraSupport.
Since the details of subsidies change every year, it is important to check the latest information. The fastest way is to consult directly with the local chamber of commerce and industry, asking if there are any subsidies that can be used in this situation. In addition, the website “MiraSupport” for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) and the “Guidebook for Using Small and Medium-sized Business Policies” are also useful.

What are the benefits of applying for a grant, other than getting the money?

It is to be an excellent opportunity to rethink your company’s business plan with the advice of experts.
The real value of applying for a grant is more than the money; it is the application process itself. By developing a business plan with the support of an expert, you can review your business objectively. We recommend that you use this as an opportunity to think about how to get out of your “manager’s solitude” and grow your business.

In this issue, we will talk about “subsidies and grants,” a question we are often asked by small and medium-sized businesses. Especially in the case of website production (website creation), when a large sum of money is available, we are often asked if there are any subsidies or grants that can be used. This is a common cut-off point.

In general, the most famous subsidies are the Small Business Sustainability Subsidy for ordinary promotional websites, and the IT Introduction Subsidy for systems to improve productivity.

In addition, each local government (prefectural and municipal) may offer its own subsidies and subsidies. In terms of Web human resource development, employment-related subsidies may also be useful.

So, in this issue, we tell you specifically how to find out about them and in terms of what you can do to get more than just money.

Transcription of video content

In this FAQ series, we will provide an overview of the big ideas about grants and subsidies and how they should be viewed.

If you are considering whether you can use subsidies or grants not only for your website, but also for your web application, please read to the end. We hope you will understand what we are talking about.

We’ll look into it internally and figure it out.

I think that in many cases, you consult with company labor relations staff regarding subsidies and grants.

Of course, if your company has a labor consultant, it is better to consult with him or her first.

However, different laborers may not know much about the web or IT, or may not be very knowledgeable about subsidies and subsidies, or may have their own specialties.

In such cases, if you think that because the laborer said, “I don’t really know, it’s not very common,” that’s it, then you are missing out on a lot.

Therefore, we recommend that those in charge and management do their research properly.

What is the difference between a grant and a subsidy?

First, let me discuss the difference between grants and subsidies.

The grants are basically not sure if they will be adopted!

If you are a small business owner, there is a “Small Business Sustainability Grant” available to you.

I don’t know what the percentage is, but I don’t know if I will be accepted or not. I don’t know what the percentage is, but I don’t know if I will be accepted.

If accepted, a percentage of the money will be returned. It does not mean that you will get it.

It is in the form of a percentage of the cost paid that is subsidized. So there is basically no positive benefit.

If you spend 500,000 yen on a project, you will receive two-thirds or one-half of that amount back. Absolutely, you will have to take out the money.

In contrast, grants are basically always returned if you conform to their criteria. As long as you do not do anything wrong, you will always get your money.

For example, employment is the most famous and easiest to understand. For example, if you want to increase the minimum wage or provide training to raise the level of a particular skill, you are guaranteed to receive a subsidy if you submit your application.

In the case of creating a website or utilizing the Web, there are no other subsidies for website creation, except for human resource development.

What there is is, basically, a subsidy.

The purpose is often promotional. It’s either sales promotion or productivity improvement. When this is the objective, we submit a plan that says, “This is what we are going to do,” and if it passes, it will be returned to us.

So there is such a difference between grants and subsidies.

Where can I get information on grants and subsidies?

So where can we find information on grants and subsidies?

The grants and subsidies change every year. It may be the amount, the details, or what percentage of the grant is subsidized. Or what used to be available may no longer be available.

There are many reasons for this.

There are many reasons for this, such as cases where the government decides that the program was not effective and quits, or where the system is changed because of fraud, or where the screening criteria are changed.

So, it is dangerous if we do not start by examining “what is available to us” now.

For the Web, it is MiraSupport. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) should look at MiraSupport.

Which web-related grants can I use?

The three most major subsidies now are the “Monodzukuri subsidy,” “Small business sustainability subsidy,” and “IT introduction subsidy.

The “Monodzukuri subsidy” is different and larger in amount, and there are many things that can be done.

Of course, we can create a website within this category, but it is also used when we are doing various things related to our business itself, such as “creating a website” or “doing sales promotion. We will also create a website and do sales promotions.

It’s not a matter of saying, “I want to make a website, so let’s use the Monozukuri subsidy.

Not much, because the sense of scale shifts.

The most common is the “Small Business Sustainability Grant”. The maximum amount is 500,000 yen. Currently, the maximum subsidy is two-thirds of the total amount.

This is easy to use for anything related to promotional activities. However, as for the amount, it is Max 500,000 yen, so it is not that big.

Also, timing is limited. There are two or three openings a year, and we have to match the timing. I don’t know if it will necessarily fit the timing that the business wants to do it.

The other thing that has been happening is that the adoption rate has been declining as people have become more aware of the program and competition has increased over the years.

The third is the “IT introduction subsidy. Since this is from the viewpoint of productivity improvement, there is a high possibility that a simple website creation will not be approved.

I am not sure if this is also still being done at the time the video is being viewed.

Let’s talk to the Chamber of Commerce.

Basically, the fastest way is to contact the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

You may have the impression that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a pain in the ass, but it is better to inquire and ask if there are any subsidies for your situation.

Some say that the temperature varies from region to region, but at least in our hometown and the Saitama Prefecture Chamber of Commerce and Industry around our house, they were very kind to us.

The other thing we always have on hand is the Guidebook for Using Small and Medium-sized Business Policies (SMB). The contents are mostly about subsidies for business improvement and cash management. It is also available online.

It also includes information about subsidies, various information sources, expert dispatch, the Monozukuri Meister Program, and financial support.

The definition includes information that can be used for those who are small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) under the SMB Basic Law, such as capital of 300 million yen or less for manufacturing and other industries, and 300 employees or less for other industries.

This should always be available at the Chamber of Commerce, and if not, you can request it from the small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) by just paying the postage. We always keep about 30 copies in stock to give away to anyone who wants one.

I think it would be a good idea for you to watch this and then consult with the Chamber of Commerce. Of course, if you have someone in your company who knows more about this, it would be better to leave it to them.

So, there is one thing that must be understood in advance.

And it is better to have them think that there are not so many things that can be used for website-related and web-utilization-related purposes. So you shouldn’t expect too much.

The current photo was taken in 2020, and although there may be more different ones in the future, there are basically none at the present time.

However, if you want to train human resources or raise funds, you may be able to obtain a lower interest rate or easier access to institutional loans from the Japan Finance Corporation by using subsidies or management innovation plans.

Although electronic applications are now available…

The application process for subsidies used to be very cumbersome, and although it was possible to apply online for the IT introduction subsidy, it was necessary to submit paper applications, especially for the small business sustainability subsidy and other subsidies.

It was a hassle to burn the information to a CD and hand it over. It was a hassle to go to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ask for the documents, and so on.

However, a new grant application system called “J-Grants” has been launched, and by using this system, it is now possible to apply electronically for several subsidies, including the Small-Scale Sustaining Grant.

Of course, the required documents will remain the same, but this will allow for electronic applications.

It’s just that You have to get an ID called G-biz ID. Gbiz ID.

G-biz ID. In order to get it, you have to prepare a seal registration certificate and many other things. The screening process seems to take about 2 or 3 months. That is the premise, but I was able to do it at least once.

I think many people would then think that since it is easier and more convenient, they should just apply without consulting anyone else, but I would not really recommend that.

The Real Value of Challenging Grants

The reason for this is that I myself have obtained sustainability grants and business innovation plans, but the most valuable part of doing so is not only the amount of money I receive.

I would not have done it if I were on my own, but I would have asked for help from a small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) consultant when the timing was right, or I would have asked, “Is there anyone who is strong in this field? If the timing was right, we would send an SME diagnostician.

So you can consult with these people to create a plan and they can support you.

It’s basically free.

It would cost a lot of money to hire a normal consultant or a small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) diagnostician. Of course, the people who come to us are paid by the government, so there is no need to hesitate.

It’s a good opportunity to look at the management plan and the numbers and talk about “this is the way to do it” as we go along. As an excuse.

The same is true for excuses against myself and for excuses against going to the Chamber of Commerce.

You should have that taken care of.

In fact, the amount of subsidy is not that large.

IT introduction subsidies are much higher, but there are inevitably a lot of actual costs since it is assumed that systems and such will be installed. The max value isn’t particularly high for the small business sustainability subsidy.

Use the power of outside sources to trigger “thinking

For companies with a small number of employees or those that are mostly one-person operations, there are many cases where the president has no one to consult with or it is expensive just to find someone to consult with.

Then, if there is a basic availability, it is free. Even if it is not available, a counselor from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will always be available for consultation.

There, we can talk about various problems, such as, “A company nearby is doing it this way,” and so on. Although it does not go as far as a business plan, a proposal is required in order to receive a subsidy, so we make a numerical plan, market analysis, and so on.

If we create it ourselves, we can’t get away from ourselves, and we can’t get away from the so-called loneliness of management.

However, if they are able to do it successfully with outside help, they will receive a subsidy as an added bonus. I think it is a good idea to think of it in that way.

I think the value added there is the greatest.

In that sense, I think you should be willing to go on and on about applying for grants, but you should have them see it as a “time to do the thinking” at that time.

Please have it done that way, and if it works, try to make it feel like there is money to be backed up later for putting in a website, CRM, SFA, and other systems there.

Summary of this issue

There are two major things to keep in mind regarding grants and subsidies.

There are no direct subsidies available for Web use. Please contact the Chamber of Commerce or keep checking the guidebook.

We also visit the website of the small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) to catch up on information. With MiraSupport, there is also an e-mail magazine.

Also, please be mindful of the process that you are going through when you receive grants and subsidies. It is definitely better to make good use of it as a means of pushing yourself to the point of thinking for yourself. I would like you to place importance on this.

Creating a website is not just about building a box.

In the process of creating this, it is a good time to review our business, think about what value we can offer to whom, analyze the market, and think about what our vision is and what our concept should be. This is a good time to think about what our vision is, what our concept is, and what we should do in the future.

Please try to keep in mind that “web utilization should not end with the mere creation of a box.

If you are interested in learning more about how to create such a product, please contact us. We are available nationwide and do remote consulting. We do all kinds of things, including website development.

I hope the above is helpful.