Starting a business is a bold move, but you don’t have to do it alone. Entrepreneurs in Ireland have access to a range of supports (grants, low-cost funding, mentorship, and subsidised training), and the challenge is usually less about eligibility and more about knowing what’s out there, and making sure your financials are in good enough shape to apply in time.
We don’t apply for grants on your behalf, but we make sure your financials are clean, current, and grant-ready when you need them most.
Local Enterprise Office (LEO)
Your Local Enterprise Office is the first place many small businesses go when exploring supports, making it a natural starting point for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and sole traders. LEOs typically offer “Start Your Own Business” courses, digital upgrade vouchers, one-to-one mentoring across finance, marketing, and HR, and feasibility or priming grants for early-stage funding. See Find Your Local LEO for what’s currently available in your area and the up-to-date grant amounts.
Enterprise Ireland
If you’re aiming to scale and expand globally, Enterprise Ireland is a major player in the Irish startup funding landscape, with supports for scalable and exporting businesses including the New Frontiers pre-accelerator programme, Innovation Vouchers for accessing expertise from registered knowledge providers, and the Competitive Start Fund offering equity funding to early-stage, globally oriented start-ups. See enterprise-ireland.com for current eligibility and funding amounts.
New Frontiers
New Frontiers is a pre-accelerator programme designed for early-stage founders seeking structured support, combining a stipend during its full-time incubation phase with business development training and mentorship. It’s run through institutes of technology and universities. See newfrontiers.ie for current details.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)
For those moving from social welfare into entrepreneurship, BTWEA lets you keep a portion of your social welfare payments while you build your business, tapering over the first two years, alongside mentoring, business planning support, and a potential setup grant. It’s ideal for early-stage sole traders or self-employed founders transitioning from qualifying welfare payments, and is administered by the Department of Social Protection via Intreo and Local Development Companies. See BTWEA on Citizens Information for current eligibility and payment rates.
Microfinance Ireland
Some businesses don’t qualify for a standard bank loan. That’s where Microfinance Ireland comes in. It offers loans designed for start-ups and micro-enterprises (sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies) with fewer than 10 staff, particularly where bank finance isn’t an option, with flexible repayment terms and free mentoring and application guidance available via your LEO. See microfinanceireland.ie for current loan limits, interest rates, and terms.
Skillnet Ireland
An often-overlooked support is access to discounted training through Skillnet Ireland, a practical way to combine funding with upskilling your team. Subsidised course fees vary by network and location, covering everything from leadership and marketing to tech and finance, delivered through regional and industry-specific Skillnet networks. See skillnetireland.ie for current subsidy rates and available courses.
Back for Business
A free, peer-driven development programme funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Irish Abroad Unit, designed to support founders who have returned, or are planning to return, to Ireland. It includes monthly mentoring via peer round-table sessions, strategic planning workshops, and networking, structured for entrepreneurs transitioning back to Ireland and building early-stage ventures. See backforbusiness.com for the current programme schedule.
Dogpatch Labs and First Fridays
Dogpatch Labs is a startup hub in Dublin’s Digital Docklands offering mentoring, workshops, networking, and access to Ireland’s national NDRC accelerator programme. First Fridays for Startups is Ireland’s largest monthly ecosystem event, hosted by Dogpatch and rotating through regional hubs, offering curated 1:1 mentoring, expert panels, and networking with mentors, founders, corporates, and investors. See dogpatchlabs.com for upcoming events.
Deciding on Your Business Structure First
Before applying for funding, it’s worth having your business structure sorted. Some supports are only open to certain structures, and lenders and grant bodies will want to see clean, structure-appropriate records. See our guide on sole trader vs limited company if you’re still deciding.
How We Help You Stay Application-Ready
We don’t write grant applications, but we make sure your books are always ready when an opportunity comes up. That means keeping your records tidy and Revenue-compliant, having financial reports ready for funders, mentors, or lenders, giving guidance on what numbers actually matter when applying, and peace of mind that you’re not scrambling last minute.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to grants and funding, timing and organisation are everything. We’ll help you keep clean, consistent financial records, build reports that align with grant or funding applications, and plan for future growth with clear financial visibility.