Start Up Business Grants for Small Businesses in Ireland | DHL Ireland

Funding for small businesses in Ireland

So, you’ve followed through on your great idea and started up your own business in Ireland. You want to keep that momentum and enthusiasm going full steam ahead, but there’s the small — yet time-consuming and potentially headache-inducing — matter of some vital admin to consider.

Whether you’re getting to grips with the early days of your project or standing proudly over a well-oiled machine, you could almost certainly benefit from applying for a support grant to inject additional funding into your venture. 

And to be honest — application forms are rarely the go-to idea of a good time, and even tracking down the precise grant that best suits your needs can feel pretty daunting. The following tips aim to cut through the clutter and get you and your small business where it needs to be.

What are small business grants?

Small business grants are a fantastic option, offering financial boosts from various sources like government agencies or local enterprise offices. These grants are designed to help small businesses in Ireland thrive without taking on debt, helping you fund crucial projects.

First things first, it helps to know where your business fits in. Per the Irish SME Association, a Micro Enterprise has fewer than 10 employees and an annual balance sheet and/or turnover of no more than €2 million. A Small Enterprise has fewer than 50 employees and an annual balance sheet and/or turnover of no more than €10 million. Finally, a Medium Enterprise operates with under 250 employees and has an annual balance sheet below €50 million and/or turnover of less than €43 million1. 

With the scope of your business in mind, it’s worth drilling down into the specific areas that require priority funding. Ask yourself — do I need more people? What about equipment and supplies? Am I looking to expand my general reach? Should I develop or increase my focus on marketing campaigns? Simply put — why am I applying for a grant in the first place?

Then, to give your application the best possible shot, it's important to have a deep understanding of your business, confidently make an undeniable case for yourself, and ensure all necessary paperwork is ready.

Tip: Explore practical tips and strategies from DHL Express to help you scale your business successfully.

Types of small business grants available in Ireland

There are loads of financial support options out there for sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies, covering everything from setting up or expanding your business and diving into market research to establishing an online presence and making your operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

So, when you're exploring business grants in Ireland, it really helps to get a handle on the main types of funding available. These are usually categorised by who's providing the money and what kind of projects they support:

• Government grants: These are issued by national or local government bodies to support innovation, economic growth, or public service initiatives. In Ireland, you'll often find these through organisations like Enterprise Ireland or your Local Enterprise Office.

• Corporate grants: Funded by larger businesses, corporate grants aim to support smaller businesses that share a similar mission. These can be a great way to secure funding for your small business while building valuable industry connections.

• Nonprofit grants: Awarded by charitable organisations, nonprofit grants usually focus on ventures that have a clear community or social impact. If your business has a strong social mission, this could be where you find your ideal business grant.

How to find small business grants in Ireland?

With many different business grants available, you might be asking “where can small businesses get funding?” and need some assistance in selecting the right one and making progress with the actual application. Thankfully, there are organisations devoted to this very scenario, both at local and national level.

Research available government grants

Local Enterprise Office (LEO)

Often thought of as a first-stop shop to start, grow, and develop your business, a visit to a Local Enterprise Office could prove essential. There are numerous LEOs located across the island of Ireland, with the express purpose of providing insight and assistance to new and existing small business owners — you can quickly find your nearest LEO here.

Priming Grant

The Priming Grant is for new businesses in Ireland. Aimed at ventures with up to 10 employees and international growth potential, it's available in their first 18 months. This grant can help fund essential costs like new equipment or direct business expenses, with the maximum support covering up to 50% of your investment or €150,000, whichever is the lesser2.

Business Expansion Grant

The Business Expansion Grant is ideal for established Irish businesses looking to grow. If your venture has been trading for over 18 months and aims to create jobs or expand markets, this grant can provide up to 50% of investment costs, with a maximum of €150,000, to help with things like capital items, salary costs or marketing3.

Feasibility (Innovation) Grant

The Feasibility (Innovation) Grant is perfect for exploring new ideas. If you're a budding entrepreneur or an existing business with a fresh project, this grant helps assess its commercial viability through market research, technical studies, or prototyping, with support typically up to €15,000 or 50% of investment costs4.

Grow Digital Voucher

The Grow Digital Voucher is designed to elevate your online presence. This grant helps Irish SMEs enhance their e-commerce capabilities and digital marketing efforts, covering costs for professional training, website development, or digital strategy. It typically provides up to 50% of investment, to a maximum of €5,0005.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Irish government’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment offers a range of tailored support options for enterprises of all sizes, including access to finance, management development, mentoring, business development programmes, market support, and trade promotion. The fastest way to see if your business lines up is to fill out this short seven-question form — as these things go, it’s a breeze.

Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland, meanwhile, is an incredibly useful — and impressively detailed — hub that boasts a huge amount of helpful information. Whether it’s exploring innovation, learning directly from highly-experienced business people, investigating expanding into new geographic markets, or strategically recruiting promising graduates to enhance your workforce, every individual grant on offer is broken down in an easy-to-swallow manner. Visit their website to check out the full list of resources available to support SMEs. Here are some examples of what’s available: 

Strategic Consultancy Assignment Grant

Looking to boost your strategy, explore new markets, or drive digital transformation? The Strategic Consultancy Assignment Grant provides financial support for engaging specialist consultants, covering up to 50% of the costs incurred to a maximum of €35,000. It's a great way to gain fresh insights and tackle big questions with expert guidance.6

Grants and support for women entrepreneurs

Enterprise Ireland offers a range of dedicated grants and support specifically for women entrepreneurs. And it's clearly making an impact: 31% of the startups they invested in during 2023 were led by women, highlighting Ireland's strong position as 3rd in Europe for investment in women-led startups. These initiatives aim to increase the number of women starting and scaling export-led businesses in Ireland. You can find funding programmes, mentorship, and invaluable networking opportunities designed to help women overcome challenges, build confidence, and accelerate their company's growth.7

Irish SME Association

The Irish SME Association offers a tailored ‘ADVANTAGE’ affinity programme for its members that reduces costs and adds value to your business through a range of preferential rates, added services, and exclusive access, with potential savings of up to 50%. Areas include accountancy software, advertising, broadband and phone, human resources, legal support, and recruitment.8

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

When it comes to sustainability matters, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has grants available if you’re looking to meet energy saving targets. From grants to support installation of commercial solar PV to electric vehicles for business, SEAI has a range of business grants and supports to help you cut down on energy costs or adopt more sustainable practices across all aspects of your business. Discover the grants SEAI offers for businesses here.

Tip: For greener and more sustainable processes in your manufacturing, including green packaging, explore DHL Express’ sustainable shipping solutions.

Additional funding options

National Enterprise Hub

Beyond specific grants, the National Enterprise Hub is a wonderful digital resource for Irish businesses. Think of it as a central hub where you can discover and access a wide range of government supports for starting, growing, and developing your venture, all in one place.9

Crowdfunding platforms

Crowdfunding platforms offer a dynamic way to secure funding directly from the public. Whether you're pre-selling a new product, seeking investment in exchange for equity, or even looking for a loan, these platforms connect your business with a 'crowd' of potential supporters. It's perfect for innovative startups or businesses with a compelling story that resonates with a wider audience.

Increase your chances of securing business grants for small businesses

It’s worth noting that your grant application, like any other, does not come with a guarantee of success. Moreover, it can be highly competitive. While it’s right to be optimistic about your chances of receiving funding, it’s essential to prepare for it realistically. Below are some tips to increase the likelihood of a successful business grant application:

1. Focus on the financials

Give yourself the best chance by thoroughly understanding the inner workings of your business. The financial outlook of your operation depends on your attention to detail, so make sure you have all necessary financial documentation on hand at the beginning of and throughout the grant application process. Taking this approach seriously leaves no room for error.

2. Prepare a solid business plan

Present a comprehensive and compelling business plan for your company's future. Treat the grant application process like a job interview for a position you're eager to secure, looking at it from the perspective of both employee and employer. 

3. Be clear on how the grant will be used

When seeking funding, be confident and clearly articulate the reason for your application. Outline precisely how the grant money will be used and how those uses will benefit your business, demonstrating that you can back up your claims and that others will benefit from your venture.

4. Demonstrate your team's expertise and capabilities

Make an undeniable case for yourself and your team. Highlight the unique strengths and capabilities of your team members. You're not just seeking funding for a business idea; you're selling the promise of taking things to the next level with a capable and committed team behind it.

What’s next?

A bit of patience goes a long way — these processes rarely advance overnight. But it's also smart to be diligent. Keep track of your grant application yourself, or stay in touch with anyone who helped you, like a mentor or your Local Enterprise Office.

Don’t be a bother but do be persistent — this is a crucial step in your business journey, and you want to keep things moving. Be ready in the event of a follow-up application and remain positive as the next steps unfold. Best of luck!

And as your business grows, so too will your logistics management needs. Whether you're looking at increased orders or exploring new markets, having reliable shipping and a streamlined supply chain is essential. 

At DHL Express, their reach is global, but their attitude and actions keep them locked in at a local level. All of their experts are based in Ireland, and they are on hand to help your business get to the next level and to keep it running smoothly. Whether it’s their dedicated customer service team, skilled sales representatives, or switched-on IT support network, they are there to support your business, whatever size and shape it takes on.

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