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Local Enterprise Office

12 schemes tracked

Priming Grant

The Priming Grant is a business start-up grant available to micro enterprises within the first 18 months of start-up. It helps eligible sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies fund capital, salary, consultancy/innovation/marketing, and general overhead costs linked to setting up the business.

Grant range
Up to €80,000 standard. Max €150,000 in rare cases
Funding level
50%
Support type
Grant
Last checked
3 Sept 2026
Start this application on Local Enterprise Office's website (opens in a new tab)

About this scheme

The Priming Grant is a business start-up grant available to micro enterprises within the first 18 months of trading. It can fund capital items, salary costs, consultancy/innovation/marketing costs, and general overheads tied to establishing the business.

The standard maximum award is 50% of eligible investment or €80,000, whichever is lower, with up to €15,000 per full-time job created (subject to the 50% cap). Awards between €80,000 and €150,000 are exceptional, reserved for projects that clearly show potential to graduate to Enterprise Ireland.

Eligible enterprises are sole traders, partnerships, or limited companies with no more than 10 employees (with some flexibility), operating within a Local Enterprise Office's area, in the commercial sphere, with a demonstrated market and growth/job-creation potential. Certain sectors (retail, personal services, professional services, construction, coal/steel, gambling, adult entertainment, tobacco, non-medicinal cannabis products) are excluded. Larger awards require Enterprise Ireland approval, and no project expenditure may be incurred before the application is submitted.

Who can apply

  • Must be a sole trader, partnership or limited company
  • Enterprise must not employ more than 10 people (exceptions possible with LEO advisor approval)
  • Must be established, registered and operate within the geographic area of a Local Enterprise Office
  • Must operate in the commercial sphere
  • Must demonstrate a market for the product/service
  • Must show potential for growth in domestic and/or export markets and for new job creation
  • Must be within the first 18 months of setting up the business
  • Priority given to manufacturing or internationally traded services sectors with export/Enterprise Ireland graduation potential
  • Ineligible: Enterprise Ireland/IDA/Udaras na Gaeltachta clients; domestically focused retail, personal services, professional services and construction services; coal or steel sector businesses; gambling/gaming, adult entertainment, tobacco, and non-medicinal cannabis-based product activities
  • Grants ≥€50,000 (or cumulative ≥€100,000 over 3 years) require Enterprise Ireland approval
  • Application must be submitted before any project expenditure is incurred or project activity commences

How to apply

  1. N/A