Grants and Funding for an SME Website Project in London (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

In 2026, a French SME can have 30 to 50% of its website redesign funded by a regional grant and spread the rest with a Bpifrance digital loan of 10,000 to 300,000 EUR, usually without a personal guarantee. France Num is no longer a grant desk: it is the public portal that points businesses to grants, diagnostics and advisers. The golden rule fits in one line, and it applies just as much to London firms applying for local schemes: do not sign any quote before your application is filed, or the spend becomes ineligible.

The schemes available, compared

The amounts below are 2026 orders of magnitude observed on French regional and national schemes. Each region sets its own rules and budgets can close mid-year, so always check the current rules with your region or chamber of commerce. UK readers will find the closest equivalents in British Business Bank Start Up Loans (up to 25,000 GBP) and borough or growth hub grants, which follow similar logic.

All these grants fall under the EU de minimis regime: a maximum of 300,000 EUR of public aid over three rolling years per company. Keep an up-to-date record of aid received, the region will ask for a declaration.

Tax treatment: expense or asset?

A website can be booked as an expense or as an intangible asset. Development costs for a site that generates revenue (e-commerce, ordering, client portal) are in principle capitalised and amortised, usually over 1 to 3 years. A purely informational site may, depending on the case, be expensed. Your accountant decides, but the cash impact is real.

The tax saving is calculated on the amortised remaining cost at the standard French corporate tax rate of 25% (15% on the first 42,500 EUR of profit for eligible SMEs; the UK main rate is also 25%). It is spread over the amortisation period.

The traps that cost you a grant

The first trap is timing: most regions require the application to be filed before any spending commitment. A quote signed or a deposit paid the day before makes the project ineligible. The second concerns the type of spend: SaaS subscriptions, hardware and advertising are often excluded; only design, development and consulting count. The third relates to the supplier: some regions require a listed supplier or one established in the European Union, with a quote itemised line by line. Finally, the grant is paid against settled invoices: you carry the cash for 2 to 6 months, which is why the Bpifrance loan is useful to bridge the gap.

Mini case study

Claire runs a 25-person office furniture manufacturer near Nantes. She wants to redesign her site and add a quote configurator, for a budget of 24,000 EUR excluding VAT.

She obtains a 40% regional grant capped at 9,600 EUR and funds the balance with a 15,000 EUR Bpifrance loan over 5 years with a 12-month deferral. Since the site is capitalised and amortised over 3 years, the tax saving on the remaining 14,400 EUR reaches about 3,600 EUR. Her real net cost drops to around 10,800 EUR, or 45% of the initial budget. The configurator generates 12 quote requests a month; with 3 signed orders at a 1,500 EUR margin each, the project pays back in under three months of activity.

FAQ

Does France Num still pay a digital voucher?

No, the 500 EUR France Num voucher ended in 2021. The France Num portal now lists regional grants, diagnostics and Bpifrance financing, and connects businesses with more than 2,000 accredited advisers.

Can a regional grant and a Bpifrance loan be combined?

Yes, it is the most common combination. The grant covers 30 to 50% of the project and the loan finances the rest plus the cash gap, within the de minimis cap of 300,000 EUR over three years.

How long before the grant is paid?

Allow 2 to 4 months of processing, then 1 to 3 months after delivery for payment against settled invoices. In total, 4 to 7 months can pass between filing and receiving the money.

Is an e-commerce site eligible?

In most regions, yes, if it develops online sales for an existing business. Third-party marketplaces and monthly platform subscriptions, however, are often excluded.

Can the supplier be based outside France?

It depends on the regional rules: some require a supplier established in the European Union, others accept any supplier invoicing in euros with an itemised quote. Check this before comparing quotes.

Let's scope your project. Send us your region, scope and target budget: we prepare a quote itemised line by line, compliant with grant application requirements, with a schedule that fits processing times. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.