If your business is about to buy accounting software, the new EDGE Grant can cover part of the cost. SMEs can get up to 50% of qualifying costs under an activity called single-function digital solutions. Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) gives you an application outcome in one week.
One rule catches people out before anything else: you apply first, then you buy. Pay a deposit or start work beforehand and the project is no longer eligible.
This guide explains who qualifies, what the grant pays for and how to apply. It also covers Xero, one of the cloud accounting platforms on the pre-approved list, because its prices change on 1 November.
What is the EDGE Grant?
The EDGE Grant is EnterpriseSG’s grant for Singapore companies starting projects to upgrade their capabilities, work more efficiently or expand overseas. It has over 150 activities across eight business areas. Automation & Digitalisation is one of them, and it is where accounting software falls.
EDGE replaced three older grants, EDG, MRA and PSG, on 30 September 2026. Before, you had to work out which grant suited your project. Now you pick the activity that matches what you want to do and apply under it.
Applications already submitted under the old grants will still be processed, and companies that received them before can still apply for EDGE.
How much support can an SME get for accounting software?
SMEs can get up to 50% of qualifying costs, and non-SMEs up to 30%. The 70% SME rate you may see in EDGE’s headline applies to other activities, not this one.
Two limits apply on top of that. Each company can get up to S$100,000 in total support, within a year across all EDGE activities. This S$100,000 is refreshed annually on 1 April. There is also a separate funding cap for projects under the Automation & Digitalisation category within EDGE. Companies are only granted a funding limit of up to S$30,000 to be used for all projects that fall within this category. If accounting software is only your first tech project this year, do add up your other plans and consider all potential project costs before you apply.
The terms at a glance
| Item | What EnterpriseSG says |
|---|---|
| Support | Up to 50% for SMEs, up to 30% for non-SMEs |
| Sectors | All sectors |
| Supported cost | Software costs, capped at 12 months |
| Not supported | GST & maintenance costs etc. |
| Vendors | Pre-approved solutions under IMDA SMEs Go Digital |
| Application outcome | 1 week |
| Project timeline | Complete within 18 months from the date of approval |
| Costs covered from | The date of application, once application approval |
| Documents needed | Vendor quotation, and a projection of expected cost savings for one year after completion |
| Proof of completion | A photo of the deployed software showing its unique identifier |
Who can apply?
The applicant must be a business registered in Singapore with at least 30% Singaporean and/or Singapore PR ownership. For this activity, you also need to meet these conditions:
- The company is registered and operating in Singapore
- No work has started, and no payment or deposit has been made to a vendor, before you apply
- The company has not applied for grant support for the same solution before
- The software is used or implemented in Singapore
You must keep meeting these conditions until you submit your claim, not just on the day you apply. If you stop meeting them partway through, your claim won’t be supported. You can check your company on BizSG before you start.
What counts as accounting software under EDGE?
EnterpriseSG describes this solution as an integrated accounting and sales management system. It is one platform that handles your general ledger, journal entries, tax calculations and cash flow, and produces quotations, invoices and reports. It is open to all sectors.
The software must come from a pre-approved vendor, so the brand alone isn’t enough.
What the grant pays for
Software costs are supported for up to 12 months. GST & maintenance costs etc, are not supported.
Services such as setup, data migration and training could also be covered, as long as they are part of the pre-approved package and match your quotation. Ask your vendor to break down the quotation so you can see exactly what is included.
How to apply for the EDGE Grant for accounting software
Follow these steps, in this order.
- Check your eligibility and find a vendor. Use BizSG to check your company, then pick a pre-approved vendor and solution on IMDA SMEs Go Digital
- Get your documents ready. You need a vendor quotation and a projection of your cost savings for one year
- Build your solution package. Create it on SMEs Go Digital so that it matches the quotation exactly, the system will generate a unique package reference ID for you
- Apply on the Business Grants Portal (BGP). Sign in with Corppass and input the unique package reference ID to proceed with the application. Do this before you pay anything or start work
- Accept your Letter of Offer. It sets out the conditions, grant amount, project period and what you need to deliver
- Set up the software. Once it is running, take a photo showing its unique identifier. Finish within 18 months of approval
- Submit your claim. Set up PayNow Corporate (preferred) or GIRO first. Then pay all expenses in full and submit your claim on the BGP before the due date
Costs from the date you apply are covered once your application is approved. It is safer to wait for the Letter of Offer before spending anything, and the outcome takes only one week.
For the cost savings projection, think in hours. How long do you spend on invoicing, chasing payments and month-end reconciliation, and what does that time cost? A simple, honest estimate is enough.
After your claim is approved, PayNow Corporate pays within 14 working days. GIRO can take up to eight weeks. Once the project starts, you can only change the project end date and the claim due date, and both need approval.
Where does Xero fit?
Xero is one of the cloud accounting platforms on the EDGE pre-approved vendor list for accounting and sales management. It covers the functions EnterpriseSG describes, including invoices and quotes, bank reconciliation, reporting and GST. Its monthly subscription also fits the grant well, since the supported cost covers up to 12 months of software.
Being on the list doesn’t skip any steps. The package you build on SMEs Go Digital must still match your vendor’s quotation exactly.
Xero's price change on 1 November 2026
Xero is raising its Singapore prices on 1 November 2026. Depending on the plan, you’ll have to pay S$3 to S$7 more a month. The new prices will apply to both new and existing subscribers from that date.
For your application, make sure the quotation shows the correct price you’ll actually be billed, depending on the time of application submission. Your quotation, solution package and claim all need to match.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying a deposit to “lock in” the vendor. Any payment or work before you apply makes the project ineligible
- Assuming the whole quotation qualifies. GST and maintenance costs are not supported, and software costs are capped at 12 months
- A package that doesn’t match the quotation. They must match exactly, including licences and services
- Assuming your current software is on the list. Check the exact solution and package, not just the brand
- Applying twice for the same solution. Companies that have applied for it before are not eligible
- Setting up payment too late. Without PayNow Corporate or GIRO, the grant can’t be paid out
- Missing the claim deadline. Pay all expenses in full and submit before the due date
Next step: check your project before you buy
Whether a project qualifies depends a lot on the order of events, and it is much easier to get this right before you ask for quotations. If you are planning to buy accounting software, a short conversation can confirm which solution fits, how much the grant could realistically cover, and how to plan the timing.
Contact 361DC on 6515 7906 or at enquiry@361dc.com, and we’ll go through your project with you.
FAQs
Yes, for new applications. EDG, MRA and PSG closed on 29 September 2026, and EDGE took over on 30 September. Applications and projects already in progress will continue to be processed, and you can claim once the project is complete.
Up to 50% of qualifying costs for SMEs, and up to 30% for non-SMEs. Software costs are supported for up to 12 months, and the support counts towards the S$30,000 Automation & Digitalisation limit.
No. You must not have started work or paid a deposit before you apply. Costs from the application date are covered once your application is approved.
Yes. Choose your vendor and solution from the pre-approved list on IMDA SMEs Go Digital. Your solution package must match the vendor's quotation exactly.
Yes, Xero is on the EDGE pre-approved vendor list for accounting and sales management. You still need to build a matching package, apply before you pay, and meet the eligibility conditions.
EDGE reimburses you after the project is complete and fully paid. You need a photo of the deployed software showing its unique identifier, plus proof of payment for all expenses. PayNow Corporate pays within 14 working days after your claim is approved. GIRO can take up to eight weeks.
