Business start up grants/loans ???

in sanity

Hi All,

I have been out of work since July 2007, when the company I worked for shut down. I have not claimed any benefits yet, and have been supporting myself on my savings/overdraft, and a little bit of entreprenuering. My pot is now empty however, and I am in the process of making a claim for jobseekers allowance.

I wish to start my own business, and have a great business plan written. The banks wont help due to being unemployed, and overdrawn, but I was wondering if there was any government based grants/loans that might help me out. I would only need around €6500 to get me started, and should need to employ 2/3 local staff within the first 6/12 months of trading, and hence putting more than just myself back into work. I would be more than willing to employ people from FAS or any other government based/backed training/work seeking initiatives.

Surely there must be some sort of help/support out there for me

in sanity

Can nobody help me with this one

Nolanger

Go into your local dole office and ask to speak with a Job Facilitator.
However, you usually need to be signing on for a certain number of months before they can provide financial assistance.

Avns1s

Contact your local County / City Enterprise Board office (part of the Local Authority) or contact your local LEADER and / Partnership company. If you come back with a location I may be able to help with contact details. PM if you wish.

Mrs. MacGyver

You could also contact the Dept of enterprise trade and employment to see if they have any advice to offer.

in sanity

Avns1s

Thanks for the post, found some useful stuff on the Council and City Enterprise Boards website. Do you know anybody who has used them? What are the chances of success? Do they favour a specific type of trade/business? What timescales are to be expected? I will look to contact them myself next week, but a bit of advice from someone with first-hand experience of dealing with them would be great.

Do they have an obligation to deal with each case on its individual merits perhaps, they may have a charter to adhere to?


My line of business will be an automotive consultancy providing help to small businesses (mainly taxi/coach operators) with their vehicle purchasing needs. The first half of the year is generally the busiest time of year for the motor trade, so I am keen to be up and running as soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone else for the posts, and keep them coming if you have any further helpful advice.

soontobesmokin

What exactly would automotive consultancy consist of ? Excuse me for being a little intrusive but €6500 is ok a tidy sum of money but not totally out of reach, also I am always interested in new ideas.

mikemac

soontobesmokin wrote: »

What exactly would automotive consultancy consist of ? Excuse me for being a little intrusive but €6500 is ok a tidy sum of money but not totally out of reach, also I am always interested in new ideas.

Be warned OP. Soontobesmoken is out to steal your idea! :eek::D

soontobesmokin

No, curiousity has gotten the better of me :rolleyes:

SarahMc

What about First step, non profit company offering loans to new businesses who can't get finance elsewhere.

Another couple of websites you may find useful
Basis
Startin a business in Ireland

in sanity

SarahMc

Thanks for your help, I'll check them out.

soontobesmokin

Thanks for the interest, but i'm not looking for equity investors, but any help you can supply regarding my original post would be greatly appreciated

Keep up the good work guys

in sanity

soontobesmokin - to satisfy your curiosity :cool:

I have many years experience of the motor trade, specialising in taxi/hackney/minibus sales. My "consultancy" will assist operators and companies by advising/sourcing/supplying/negotiating discounts regarding all vehicle purchase matters.

In the first instance my services will be geared towards the taxi/hackney/minibus trade, but I do envisage offering similar/same services to the general public at some stage in the near future.

soontobesmokin

Fair enough, good luck with your plan, he who dares wins !

in sanity

Thanks for all the help guy's its been very informative

Guru Maith Agut

SarahMc wrote: »

What about First step, non profit company offering loans to new businesses who can't get finance elsewhere.

Startin a business in Ireland

Just thought I might bump this having found this page through a search myself on this subject, a warning pops up when you try and visit the above link. Be careful!