Discover Grants for Small Businesses in Ireland

GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN IRELAND: HOW TO FIND AND APPLY

So, you’ve followed through on your great idea and started up your own business. 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 in order to inject additional funding into your venture.

Let’s 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. However, we’re going to cut through the clutter with the following tips to get you and your business where you need to be.

Where do I start?

First, you’ll need to clearly identify exactly what category your business falls into. 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 million. 

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?

Tip: Explore our practical tips and strategies to help you scale your business successfully.

What types of small business grants are available?

There are numerous financial support options out there for sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies designed to cover a wide range of areas.

Examples include the initial set-up or expansion of your business, engaging in dedicated market research, establishing and maintaining an online presence, and taking steps to make your business sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

How to find small business grants in Ireland?

With many different grants available, you may require some assistance in selecting the one you’re after and making progress with the actual application of it all. Thankfully, there are organisations devoted to this very scenario, both at local and national level.

Local Enterprise Office

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.

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 – trust us, 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.

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. 

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 into your manufacturing, explore our DHL Green Logistics Toolkit.

Increase Your Chances of Securing a Small Business Grant

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 grant application:

I’ve identified the grant I need – Is there anything else I should do before applying?

Give yourself the best chance by thoroughly understanding the inner workings of your business and presenting a comprehensive and compelling business plan for its future. Treat the application process like a job interview for a position you're eager to secure, and look at it from the perspective of both employee and employer.

Ask yourself if you’ve submitted the best possible application that clearly outlines the strengths of what you have to offer. Make an undeniable case for yourself. Be confident - you’re seeking funding for a reason, one that you know you can back up and that others will benefit from.

Make sure you have all necessary documentation on hand at the beginning of and throughout the application process. Take the approach seriously and leave no room for error. The financial outlook of your operation depends on your attention to detail and ability to sell the promise of taking things to the next level.

I’ve submitted my grant application – what’s next?

Be patient - these processes rarely advance overnight. Be diligent, also - keep track of the application either on an individual basis or through the people you previously communicated with, whether it was a mentor, your Local Enterprise Office, or anyone else who assisted you.

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!

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