Geran Digital MARA: A Simple Guide to the DigitalBiz Grant

What is Geran Digital MARA?

Geran Digital MARA is the common name for MARA’s Program Pendigitalan Perniagaan, known as DigitalBiz. Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) runs it to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs build a stronger digital presence.

It is a grant, not a loan, so there is nothing to repay. MARA has offered a digitalisation grant capped at RM20,000 since at least 2023, and the current round lists a closing date of 31 October 2026. Check with your nearest MARA district office for the latest round.

How much can you get from the MARA DigitalBiz grant?

The grant covers up to RM20,000 per business. Once your application is approved, you pay 10% of the approved amount, and MARA covers the rest.

Your 10% goes to MARA, not to the service provider. MARA then pays the provider once the work is delivered and signed off.

Who qualifies for Geran Digital MARA?

You are likely to qualify if your business is:

• Bumiputera-owned, fully or by majority (providers commonly cite at least 60%)
• Registered with SSM, with many facilitators asking for at least two years of registration
• Running from business premises with a valid local council (PBT) licence
• Able to show recent finances, usually three months of company bank statements, plus audited accounts for a Sdn Bhd
• New to this grant, meaning you haven’t received the same grant in the set period

Conditions can differ between state MARA offices, so confirm the list with your district office before you start.

What does the DigitalBiz grant cover?

The grant is for digital work that improves how customers find and buy from you. Typical items include:

• A corporate website or online store
• Hosting and a domain name
• Payment gateway integration
• Basic SEO and Google Business Profile setup
• Digital marketing, such as social media content and ads
• Marketing materials like packaging design and posters

Some facilitators also offer business software packages, such as accounting or management systems. What you can claim depends on the quotation MARA approves.

How to apply for Geran Digital MARA

1. Check your eligibility against the list above, and gather your SSM documents, PBT licence and bank statements.
2. Get a quotation from a MARA-appointed facilitator. Applications use quotations from facilitators MARA has appointed, so ask your district office or the provider to confirm their status.
3. Submit the application form and supporting documents to your MARA district office. Many offices ask for two copies, and a simple business plan helps.
4. Pay your 10% to MARA once you receive approval.
5. The facilitator delivers the work agreed in the quotation.
6. Sign off and submit the confirmation documents and invoice to the district office, so MARA can release payment to the facilitator.

[Image: Step-by-step graphic of the DigitalBiz application flow. Alt text: “How to apply for the MARA DigitalBiz grant in six steps”]

Tips to improve your chances

• Ask for an itemised quotation. A clear list of deliverables is easier for MARA to assess.
• Link each item to a business goal, such as more online orders or repeat customers.
• Don’t buy anything before approval. Work started early may not be covered.
• Keep your documents current. Expired licences are a common reason for delays.

Where your POS system fits

A grant-funded website brings customers to you. Your POS system is where those customers actually pay, order and come back. The two work best when they’re connected.

DigitalBiz pays MARA-appointed facilitators for the work in your quotation, so your POS subscription is usually a separate cost. That makes it worth planning the two together, so you don’t pay for the same thing twice.

For example, the online store built into EPOS360 comes with every plan, with no setup fee and zero commission on pickup orders. Menu and stock changes on your POS sync to the online store automatically. If you run on EPOS360, you could focus your grant on what EPOS360 doesn’t provide, such as a corporate website, SEO, branding or ad campaigns, and link your website straight to your EPOS360 ordering page.

EPOS360 plans start from RM39 a month per store and include card, DuitNow QR and e-wallet payments, delivery integration with GrabFood, Foodpanda and ShopeeFood, and built-in loyalty rewards. A 30-day free trial of the Grow plan is available when you sign up.

If you’re a stall owner, see our guide to the POS for hawker stalls. On a tight budget, read about free POS options first, or compare POS systems side by side.

What about other digital grants?

The two other well-known digital grants are currently closed. The MSME Digital Grant MADANI (Geran Digital PMKS MADANI), which paid 50% of a digital service up to RM5,000, closed in September 2025. Its sister grant for hawkers, Geran Digital Penjaja MADANI, paid RM1,000 towards an e-POS system. Budget 2027 coverage so far shows no new round for either.

That makes Geran Digital MARA one of the few digitalisation grants open to small businesses right now, for those who qualify.

FAQ

Is Geran Digital MARA a loan? No. It’s a grant, so you don’t repay it. You only contribute 10% of the approved amount.

Can non-Bumiputera businesses apply? No. DigitalBiz is for Bumiputera-owned businesses. Other businesses can watch for future rounds of the MADANI digital grants.

Do I pay the 10% to the vendor? No. The 10% is paid to MARA after approval. MARA pays the facilitator once the work is delivered.

Can I choose any web designer? Applications use quotations from MARA-appointed facilitators. Check a provider’s status with them or your MARA district office before you apply.

When does the 2026 round close? The current round lists 31 October 2026 as its closing date. Confirm with your MARA district office, as dates can vary.

Get your business ready to sell online

A new website works harder when orders, payments and loyalty all run through one system. Book a demo of EPOS360 to see how your online store, POS and payments connect, from RM39 a month.