List of Start Up & SME Supports

In order to avail of Local Enterprise Office (LEO) funding the company comply with the following requirements:

Grants and supports available to companies:

Scheme Title	Available to Start-up	Description	Fund Contact	Fund Email
*Vantage Plus*	Start-up	Bord Bia Vantage is the online support centre for small food and drink businesses. Supports include market information, consumer insight, business development and export as well as information on relelvant industry events.	Eimear O’Donnell	Eimear.odonnell@bordbia.ie
Shop Front Improvement Scheme	Start-up	In many areas Local Authorities provide a Shop Front Improvement scheme for Retail Premises. Contact your Local Authority for more details.	Your Local Authority	info@drcd.gov.ie
Tourism supports	Start-up	There are a range of supports that boost tourism to the area. Contact your local County Council for more detailed information.	Your Local Authority	customer.service@tcagsm.gov.ie
Fire Safety Supports	Start-up	Local Authorities can provide guidance and advice on Fire Safety. This includes Fire Safety consultations, Fire Safety Certificate Applications pre-submission meetings, Fire Safety Inspections and information on Fire Safety Legislative requirements.	Your Local Authority	qcsofficer@housing.gov.ie
*Rates Incentive Scheme*	Start-up	Local Authorities operate rates incentive schemes to encourage occupation of vacant commercial properties around the area. Contact them your Local Authority for more information.	Your Local Authority	vacanthomesofficer@countycouncil.ie
Pre-Planning Advisory Session	Start-up	Your local Council provides a pre-planning service for individuals and companies considering commercial development.	Your Local Authority	buildingstandards@housing.gov.ie
LEADER 2014-2020	Start-up	LEADER will fund enterprise development and job creation, rural tourism, social inclusion through building community capacity, training and animation, basic services for hard to reach communities, rural youth initiatives, renewable energy, the protection and sustainable use of local water resources, protection and improvement of local biodiversity.	Contact the Local Action Group	rdp1420@drcd.gov.ie
*JobsPlus*	Start-up	JobsPlus is an incentive to encourage and reward employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed. Grants of €7,500 and €10,000 are available subject to eligibility criterial.	Employment Supports Services	jobsplusinfo@welfare.ie
Jobs Ireland	Start-up	Jobs Ireland is a service for employers who want to advertise job vacancies to jobseekers on www.jobsireland.ie and in Intreo Centres LoCall 1890 800024	Jobs Ireland – National Contact Centre	jobsireland@welfare.ie
EURES	Start-up	The European Employment Services (EURES) team can help employers who have difficulty recruiting staff in Ireland or who wish to broaden their skill base with access to jobseekers in other EU and EEA countries.	European Employment Services	Eures@welfare.ie
The EmployAbility Service	Start-up	The nationwide EmployAbility Service provides an employment support service for people with a health condition, injury, illness or disability and a recruitment advice service for the business community.	Your local EmployAbility Service	http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/List-of-Employability-Organisations.aspx
The Wage Subsidy Scheme	Start-up	The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentives to employers to employ disabled people who work more than 20 hours per week.	Your local Intreo Office	http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Intreo-Centres-and-Local-and-Branch-Offices.aspx
Supports for Employers of People with Disabilities	Start-up	A number of practical supports and allowances are available to companies to proactively assist the participation of people with a disability in the workforce.	Your local Intreo Office	https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/40cf48-find-your-local-intreo-office/
Seed and Venture Capital Scheme	Start-up	The Seed & Venture Capital Scheme (2019-2024) is aimed to stimulate job creation and support the funding requirements of early-stage innovative Irish companies with global ambitions.	Banking Relationship & Growth Capital Department	GrowthCapital@enterprise-ireland.com
*New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme*	Start-up	New Frontiers is the national programme designed to develop entrepreneurs, delivered on behalf of Enterprise Ireland by Institutes of Technology and Universities.	Development Advisor or Regional Office	http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Contact-Us/
Microfinance LEO Loan	Start-up	Loans are provided from €2,000 up to €25,000, from 3 to 5 years, with flexibility on repayment terms and a reduced interest rate for LEO clients.	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/
Feasibility Study Grant	Start-up	These grants are designed to assist with researching market demand for a product or service and examining its sustainability.	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/
Mentoring	Start-up	The Mentor Programme is designed to match up the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic advice and guidance.	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/
Priming Grant	Start-up	A Priming Grant is a business start-up grant, available to micro enterprises within the first 18 months of start-up.	You Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/
Business Advice Clinics	Start-up	A confidential meeting with a Business Advisor providing general advice and details on the various supports available, as well as signposting to other Government supports and possibilities to be involved in the LEO network’s flagship events.	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie
Business Expansion Grant	Start-up	This grant is to help support domestically traded manufacturing and service businesses with the potential to trade internationally. – Capital items Salary costs Consultancy/Innovation/Marketing costs General overhead costs</li>	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/Find-Your-Local-Enterprise-Office/
Start Your Own Business Programme	Start-up	This programme is for people who have a business idea and want to assess its viability and decide whether to proceed.	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/Find-Your-Local-Enterprise-Office/
Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ Grant	Start-up	Part-funding of costs that can be incurred in investigating and researching export markets, e.g. exhibiting at Trade Fairs, preparing marketing material and developing websites specifically targeting overseas markets	Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie/
Lean for Micro	Start-up	The Lean for Micro programme involves working with a ‘Lean’ consultant who will introduce Lean principles and help the business to complete a specific cost reduction project to improve efficiency.	Your Local Enterprise Office	https://www.localenterprise.ie
Various VAT measures to reduce burden on SMEs	Start-up	A number of VAT measures facilitate small businesses including: cash accounting for SMEs earning up to €2 million per annum retention of 9% VAT rate for tourism services VAT exemption or reduced VAT filing for businesses with low turnover.	Your Local Tax Office	http://www.revenue.ie/en/contact/
Employment and Investment Incentive (EII)	Start-up	The Employment and Investment Incentive (EII) offers individuals who invest in new ordinary shares in qualifying SMEs up to 40% tax relief on their total income, in return for a four year investment period.	Revenue	eiiadmin@revenue.ie
Startup Relief for Entrepreneurs (SURE)	Start-up	Startup Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE) is a tax relief incentive scheme. It allows entrepreneurs to claim an income tax refund of up to 41% of the capital they invest in starting a company.	Your Local Tax Office	http://www.revenue.ie/en/contact/
Tax Relief for new start-up companies	Start-up	A tax relief from Corporation Tax can be available for new start-up companies who have a corporate tax liability of less than €40,000, subject to certain conditions being met.	Your Local Tax Office	http://www.revenue.ie/en/contact/
Research & Development Tax Credits	Start-up	A tax relief from Corporation Tax can be available for companies engaged in high value add Research & Development (‘R&D’) activities. The R&D Tax Credit gives a company a 25% tax credit for their expenditure on qualifying R&D in a given year.	Your Local Tax Office	http://www.revenue.ie/en/contact/
Revenue Guide for Starting a business	Start-up	Information about the tax and customs implications of starting a business, paying your tax and the initiatives available for start-up businesses.	Revenue	https://www.revenue.ie/en/contact-us/index.aspx
Skillnet Learning Networks	Start-up	Join a Skillnet Learning Network to benefit from high quality training that is subsidised, relevant to your sector or region, and delivered at a time and in a location that suits your business.	Skillnet Ireland	info@skillnetireland.ie
MentorsWork	Start-up	The MentorsWork 12-week business-support programme is free to SMEs nationwide and is designed to provide the skills and supports to help business owner-managers and leaders sustain and improve their business. MentorsWork comprises of an integrated approach of mentoring, masterclasses and workshops, and a first-of-its kind self-assessment tool to identify the competencies impacting your business. MentorsWork is brought to you in partnership between Skillnet Ireland, SFA, Ibec, SCBI and Microfinance Ireland	Liz Thomas	liz.thomas@skillnetireland.ie
Trading Online Voucher	Start-up	The Local Enterprise Office Trading Online Voucher is a government grant scheme, designed to assist small businesses with up to 10 employees. It offers financial assistance of up to €2,500 along with training and advice to help your business trade online. Businesses that have already received a Trading Online Voucher can apply for a second voucher, where upgrades are required.	Enterprise Information Centre	infobusinesssupport@enterprise.gov.ie
E-Merge programme	Start-up	The E-Merge programme provides €2,800 consultancy support to help cross-border businesses develop online sales and eCommerce solutions.	Enterprise Information Centre	infobusinesssupport@enterprise.gov.ie
Credit Review	Start-up	The Credit Review Offices provides an independent, impartial credit appeals process for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and farms who have been refused a loan by a bank (AIB, BOI, PTSB and Ulster).	Credit Review Office – Jane Rogers	info@creditreview.ie
LEADER	Start-up	LEADER is an EU programme to support activity in rural areas. LEADER is delivered as part of the Rural Development Programme by the network of Local Development Companies. – The programme supports seven measures to improve the quality of rural life and the rural economy which include: Assisting farmers to diversify into non-agricultural activities Support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises Support for tourism activities Provision of basic services for the rural economy and population Village renewal and enhancement Support for conservation and upgrading of rural heritage Training to develop skills and build the capacity of local communities to develop local strategies.	Your Local Development Company	http://ildn.ie/about-irish-local-development-network/members/
Training	Start-up	Local Development Companies provide a range of training course including Start Your Own Business programmes. Contact your Local Development Company for details of training available in your area.	Your Local Development Company	http://ildn.ie/about-irish-local-development-network/members/
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance	Start-up	All 50 Local Development Companies (LDCs) deliver the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Short Term Enterprise Allowance Schemes on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. The scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed by allowing them to keep a percentage of their social welfare payments for up to two years.	Your Local Development Company	http://ildn.ie/about-irish-local-development-network/members/
BeSMART.ie	Start-up	BeSMART.ie is the free, online safety statement and risk assessment tool developed by the Health and Safety Authority. BeSMART helps SMEs to manage health and safety in a way that is both easy-to-do and cost-effective. Using a simple four-step process, business owners or managers work through their selected business type on BeSMART.ie to produce risk assessments and a safety statement specific to their workplace. In raising safety awareness and prompting business owners to take action to prevent accidents and ill-health in their workplace, BeSMART.ie supports business viability and compliance with health and safety laws.	Business and Education Support Team	wcu@hsa.ie
HSA Learning	Start-up	The Health and Safety Authority has developed online health and safety courses that are free of charge and available 24/7. Courses include assessment and learners can download certificates of completion, when the assessment is complete. There is also a group management function that employers or managers can use to register a learners on a course.	Business and Education Support Team	wcu@hsa.ie
Microfinance loan	Start-up	Small loans through the Government’s Microenterprise Loan Fund to microenterprises . The purpose of the fund is to help start ups and established businesses to start up a small business or expand your existing business.	Loan Advisor	info@microfinanceireland.ie
Credit Guarantee Scheme	Start-up	The purpose of the CGS is to encourage additional lending to SMEs by offering a partial Government guarantee (currently 80%) to banks against losses on qualifying loans to eligible SMEs. It is targeted towards companies who are unable to access credit because of inadequate collateral, the market, sector or technology is perceived by lenders as higher risk, or there is a need for re-financing caused by the exit of the SME’s lender from the Irish market	info@sbci.gov.ie	info@sbci.gov.ie