Many Hong Kong SMEs want a better company website to reach customers in the Chinese Mainland or overseas, but may not realise that the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) can support related costs. Administered by the Trade and Industry Department (TID) and implemented by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the BUD Fund supports non-listed Hong Kong enterprises in developing their business in the Mainland and other target markets (including economies with Free Trade Agreements or Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements with Hong Kong) through branding, upgrading and promoting sales. The cumulative funding ceiling per enterprise is HK$7 million.
Note that the BUD Fund is not a general website subsidy. Website costs must be directly related to developing business in an eligible target market. A website aimed only at local Hong Kong customers, with no target-market expansion purpose, falls outside the intent of the fund.
What changed from June 2026
- From 15 June 2026, the geographical scope expanded to 48 economies, with new additions including Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Brazil.
- From the same date, the Easy BUD funding ceiling per application rose by 50%, from HK$100,000 to HK$150,000.
- The fund also provides more targeted support for projects with artificial intelligence (AI) elements.
- The SME Export Marketing Fund was consolidated into the BUD Fund on 1 July 2026, so businesses should follow the latest BUD Fund arrangements directly.
Which funding measure covers a company website?
According to the Scope of Funding Summaries published by the Productivity Council, the BUD Fund may fund the development of a new company website or the enhancement of an existing one, provided the website is used to develop sales in the target market. In the Easy BUD Guide, this is measure 4.6: development or enhancement of the applicant's company website for developing sales in the target market(s).
- New website: funding may cover developing a brand-new company website.
- Enhancing an existing website: the total cost of enhancing an existing company website should not exceed HK$100,000 per application.
- Both the General and Easy BUD Scope of Funding Summaries list this website measure and the HK$100,000 enhancement cap.
- Applicants must explain the website content, promotion area, target audience, purpose, and its direct relationship with developing business in the target market.
General, Easy BUD and E-commerce Easy: what is the difference?
- General application: funding ceiling of HK$800,000 per application, typically processed in around 60 working days.
- Easy BUD: funding ceiling of HK$150,000 per application, processed in around 30 working days, faster than other application types.
- E-commerce Easy: funding ceiling of HK$800,000 per application, with a separate cumulative e-commerce ceiling of HK$1 million that counts toward the enterprise's HK$7 million overall ceiling.
For a smaller plan, such as a website focused on one target market plus some light promotion, Easy BUD's faster processing may be a good fit. Plans with several measures or a larger budget may suit a General application. Always check the latest official guidance before choosing.
Can SEO and SEM advertising be funded?
Under the Easy BUD scope, the Advertisement measure may fund advertising directly related to the project, including internet and social media advertising, as well as search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). Several limits apply:
- Related management fees are limited to a maximum of 6 months.
- Advertising outside the Mainland, FTA and/or IPPA markets and Hong Kong will not be funded.
- For internet advertising, deposits, bonuses and slotting fees are not funded.
- Advertising must be directly related to the funded project, not used as a general brand marketing budget.
Pre-application checklist
- Confirm eligibility: the fund supports non-listed Hong Kong enterprises; check the detailed requirements in the latest Guide.
- Name your target market clearly and confirm it is among the economies currently covered.
- Describe the website's target audience, promotion area and purpose, such as product information, enquiries or a sales channel for that market.
- Explain how the website directly helps develop business in the target market, rather than vague goals like improving image.
- For an existing site, list the parts to be enhanced and keep the related cost within HK$100,000 per application.
- Prepare service provider quotations and supporting documents as required by the Guide.
- If you also plan SEO or SEM, check that the advertising regions and management fee period meet the rules.
Approval is not automatic. Set out a clear project purpose and the website's link to the target market, and have the required supporting documents ready. The more specific your project description, the more clearly it shows the website's role in market expansion.
Where to apply and check the latest rules
Applications are submitted via the e-form on the BUD Fund website (www.bud.hkpc.org). Funding ceilings, eligible markets and funding scope may be updated from time to time, so check the latest Guide and Scope of Funding Summaries on the TID and Productivity Council websites before applying. Official information prevails.
You can build or enhance the website yourself (for example with tools like Webetter) or hire a team such as iGears; either way, confirm the project meets the fund's requirements first.