The ESSOR program, Component 1, explained for small businesses
Component 1 of the ESSOR program, run by Investissement Québec, provides non-repayable aid for the studies that come before a project. For digital projects, it can cover up to half the cost of a digital diagnostic and plan, and then of carrying them out. The program ends on March 31, 2027.
The three sub-components
Component 1 is called “Appui à la concrétisation de projets d’investissement” (Support for the implementation of investment projects). It has three sub-components, and two of them concern digital projects.
| Sub-component | What it funds | Maximum aid |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Feasibility studies for a setup, modernization or expansion project. | 50% of eligible expenses, up to $50,000 per project |
| 1B | The digital diagnostic, the digital plan, the analysis of priority digital projects, the implementation plan and the selection of systems. | 50%, up to $20,000 for the duration of the program |
| 1C | The implementation of a digital plan produced under sub-component 1B. | 50%, up to $50,000 for the duration of the program |
In all three cases, it is a non-repayable financial contribution. The rates and amounts are maximums. Investissement Québec can grant less and limit the number of applications accepted based on its budget.
Who is eligible
- For-profit businesses and social economy businesses registered in Quebec.
- For sub-components 1B and 1C, businesses with 250 employees or fewer and annual revenue of at least $2.5 million.
- For digital projects, all sectors are eligible.
Eligible expenses
- Fees of outside consulting firms.
- Purchase of specialized information.
- Travel and accommodation costs, according to Government of Quebec standards.
The application steps
Online prequalification
A form that takes 5 to 15 minutes on the Investissement Québec website. You can also call 1-844-474-6367.
Registration with clicSÉQUR Entreprises
Access to the ministry’s portal takes 24 to 48 hours.
Preparing the file
The sub-component’s presentation guide, the list of documents to provide and the step-by-step guide can be downloaded. An incomplete application is refused automatically.
Submitting the application
The application is submitted in the portal. An automated acknowledgment of receipt is sent.
Review and decision
About six weeks for compliance, around two weeks of review by an advisor, then around twenty days before the decision.
Pitfalls to avoid
Signing too early
Expenses count only from the date of the acknowledgment of receipt, and only if the aid is confirmed. A contract signed and paid before the application is submitted is not reimbursed.
Skipping the digital plan
For sub-component 1C, the digital plan produced under sub-component 1B is required, and it must be less than 24 months old.
Letting the project drag
The project must start no later than three months after authorization and last no more than 12 months. The final payment request is made within 90 days after the planned end.
Waiting for the end of the program
The program ends on March 31, 2027, and Investissement Québec can suspend the receipt of applications without notice. With the review times, an application submitted late risks running out of time.
What Socle can do within this program
Socle can prepare the digital plan for sub-component 1B, in French, from a diagnostic of your operations. The contract is signed only after your application is submitted, so the expenses stay eligible.
For sub-component 1C, whether building a system is eligible is decided by Investissement Québec, file by file. I don’t promise it to you, and Socle’s price doesn’t depend on the grant.
Source
Everything on this page comes from the official program page. Read it again before you apply, because the conditions can change.
ESSOR, Component 1, on the Investissement Québec website (in French)
Questions about ESSOR
My business makes less than $2.5 million. Am I eligible?
Not for sub-components 1B and 1C, according to the published conditions. Sub-component 1A doesn’t state this threshold on the program page. Other programs, regional or municipal, may apply.
Can I apply myself?
Yes. The application is made online by the business. The consultant prepares the diagnostic and the plan, and provides the documents that describe the assignment.
Is the aid guaranteed?
No. The amounts are maximums, and Investissement Québec can limit the number of applications accepted based on its budget.
When does the program end?
On March 31, 2027, according to the program page.
A free 20-minute consultation, no commitment.
Pick a time in the calendar. You’ll get a confirmation email with the invitation.
- 1You tell me what runs on spreadsheets.
I don’t have a presentation for you. - 2I show you two screens close to your situation.
You see what your system would look like. - 3We decide together whether there’s a next step.
If Socle isn’t right for you, I’ll tell you.
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