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Supported by the Irish government, Microfinance Ireland assists businesses struggling to secure a business loan from a traditional lender. Whether you are starting a new business, expanding your business or just happen to be in a tight spot with your business, we are here to help. We help businesses by providing unsecured business loans of €2,000 to €50,000 for commercially viable proposals. Sole Traders, Partnerships & Limited Companies are all eligible to apply.

Who we are?

At Microfinance Ireland, we provide unsecured business loans up to €50,000 to both Start-ups and Established businesses that are having difficulty in getting access to funding. 

We have a few different loan packages: 

  • Start-up loan
  • Cashflow loan
  • Expansion Loan
  • Small loan

 

Who we service?

Microfinance Ireland lends to small businesses based in the Republic of Ireland with fewer than 10 full time employees and annual turnover must be less than €2m (micro-enterprises). There must be at least 1 full-time position in the business either for you or for somebody else. The job must be located in the Republic of Ireland (26 counties)

What we do?

We provide small loans through the Government’s Microenterprise Loan Fund. The purpose of the fund is to help Start-ups and Established Businesses to get the finance they need for their business. 

  • What is a Microenterprise? 
    It is simply a small business (including a self-employed person) with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than €2 million. We help these businesses by providing unsecured business loans of €2,000 to €50,000 for commercially viable proposals. 

  • Struggling to secure finance? 

    We can consider applications from businesses that may have been declined a loan from their Bank. We look at each application and base our decision on the viability of the business and your ability to repay the loan.

At a glance

Focus

As advocates for small businesses, we are supported by the Irish government and provide small business loans to both start up and established businesses. We work with all types of industries and were established to help businesses that find it hard to secure regular finance.dfdfsd

Sectors

We lend to businesses in Hospitality, Food & Drink, Manufacturing, Construction, Retail and Services to name but a few. Under EIF Guarantee(s), there are a number of restricted sectors and/or business activities that MFI cannot support. To see the full list of restricted sectors please visit our exclusions page.

Network

• The business must be located in and registered in the Republic of Ireland and at least 1 full time job must be created/sustained in the Republic of Ireland.  

• The Applicant must also reside in their private residence on the island of Ireland 

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41 supports based on your selections

Get Exporting

Your export development pathway

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Get Exporting is designed to support businesses at every stage of their journey to achieving new export sales. Through our Export Development Pathway, we aim to simplify the export journey and help you build the knowledge, confidence, and strategies needed to succeed in global markets.

You may be eligible if:

  • You are an Irish manufacturing and internationally traded services companies
  • You have less than €10k in global export sales per annum over the last two years
  •  Commitment required from CEO and/or a member of the Senior Leadership Team

Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions

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Advice & Mentoring

Cyber Security Review Grant

Take the first or next step to improving your company’s cyber security in a fluid world

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Enterprise Ireland, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre, offers the Cyber Security Review. This initiative provides companies like yours access to cyber security experts who will conduct an independent review of your company’s cyber security status, identify vulnerabilities, and develop a clear roadmap for you to enhance your security measures. 

You may be eligible if:

  • You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client
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Grants & Funding

Research, Development & Innovation Fund

Increase sales and employment with research and development

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This fund provides financial support to invest in research, development and innovation. The aim is to develop new products, services, and processes to make the business more competitive.

Businesses that are involved in experimental, non-routine Research and Development projects in areas such as advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, sustainable technologies, healthcare and life sciences, food and beverage.

You may be eligible if: 

  • You are an Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office or Údarás na Gaeltacht client or potential client
  • You have adequate cash resources to implement the proposed project

Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions. 

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Grants & Funding

Spotlight On Skills

Identify and address critical skills needed for growth

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The Spotlight on Skills programme is a collaboration between Enterprise Ireland, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Irish Management Institute (IMI). The programme has been developed to help businesses create a company skills plan.The initiative is run online and will support your company to identify and address critical skills needs, to build capability and achieve strategic growth. As part of the process your company has a focused engagement with their local Regional Skills Manager to get a response from the Educational and Training Providers in your region to address your critical skills needs.

You may be eligible if: 

Participants should include two team members of your companys senior executive team who are:  

  • Familiar with your business strategy for the next 1-5 years. 
  • Understand the entire business operation.   


Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.

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Training & Programmes

Strategic Marketing Review

Improve your sales and marketing plans.

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This is a short, intensive programme for senior leaders. It allows you to gain support and training to identify business growth opportunities and build a clear marketing plan.

The Strategic Marketing Review is suited to 2 types of businesses - early stage clients who are limited with resources in sales and marketing, or companies that have resources, are exporting, and want to scale.

You may be eligible if: 

  • You are an Enterprise Ireland client 
  • You need to address sales and marketing challenges in the short term 
  • You are an early stage business with revenues of €0.5m or less 
  • You are already exporting and want to scale

Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.

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Training & Programmes

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Collaborating with you is essential for creating a dynamic future for businesses in Ireland.

“

Sarah

Innovate Solutions Project Manager
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