How can we help?

Search

Alice partner heading Title

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 

Copy url
Url copied
Loader

No results match your current filter criteria. Please try adjusting your filters for broader results.

41 supports based on your selections

HR & OD Community of Practice

Nurturing HR & OD excellence for scalable business growth.

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

The HR & OD CoP is a collaborative platform bringing together HR and OD leaders to share knowledge, address challenges, and drive innovation. Through interactive roundtables and peer learning groups, we foster a dynamic community focused on exploring and overcoming HR and OD challenges, exchanging best practices, and uncovering emerging trends and solutions.

You may be eligible if:

  • You are an Enterprise Ireland client company.
  • Targeted towards HR Managers, HR Directors, Chief People Officers, who are responsible for leading the people function within their business
  • Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.
82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Training & Programmes

Advice & Mentoring

Market Discovery Fund

Carry out market research and develop a plan to enter new markets

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Enterprise Ireland's Market Discovery Fund is an export development grant that supports businesses who are looking to explore new market opportunities.

Businesses who are planning to enter into new international markets, or looking to introduce new products or services within existing markets.

You may be eligible if: 

  • You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client  
  • You are a potential EI client operating a small to medium or large business
  • You have been trading for 5+ years with annual revenues of at least €500K 

Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Grants & Funding

Innovation Partnership Programme

Boost innovation and growth with the help of an academic expert

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP) connects businesses with research institutes (universities, institutes of technology) to collaborate on research projects. Businesses can take advantage of professional research capabilities to drive innovation in their products, processes or services. 

Businesses looking to develop new or improved products, processes, services through collaboration and knowledge-sharing with Irish research institutes.

You might be eligible if: 

  • You are an existing Enterprise Ireland client 
  • Clusters of companies are welcome to apply 
  • You can provide a minimum cash contribution of 20% of the total project cost
82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Grants & Funding

Evolve Strategic Planning

Help to address challenges with changes to trade

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Businesses need to be able to adapt and keep going, even through challenging times when the world around them suddenly changes. With this grant for strategic planning, we can help you prepare for future business challenges by covering the cost of preparing a response plan. 

Businesses that want to prepare a plan so they can continue to operate in difficult times.

You may be eligible if: 

  • You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client 
  • You are a potential EI client operating a small to medium business
  • You are actively trading and engaged in certain eligible activities, and have been impacted by business disruption


Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Training & Programmes

Access Advice : Lean Start

An introduction to Lean Thinking

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

LeanStart is an introductory, short-focused training programme that introduces your company to Lean thinking. Lean thinking is a set of business principles that can help staff learn new ways of working and identify inefficient processes that do not add value to a business. 

Businesses looking to make practical improvements in their business to deliver better quality faster and without waste. 

You may be eligible if: 

  • You are an existing Enterprise Ireland (EI) client
  • You are a potential EI client operating a small to medium business


Eligibility is subject to terms and conditions.

82b063dd194fa4824750d1db3b2aa506g

Grants & Funding

No results match your current filter criteria. Please try adjusting your filters for broader results.

Loader
“

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

“

Sarah

Innovate Solutions Project Manager
Image

Ready to take the next step?

Browse our extensive library of resources or contact our friendly Hub team for personalised assistance. All the information you need to propel your business forward is right here at your fingertips.

Learn more

Discover support stories that relate to your business needs

Inclusive approaches to recruitment six
Published 18 September 2025
8 minutes read News & Insights
Read this support story
irfu-pic-jpg-data
Content Hub Single Page test fin FIXED
Published 18 September 2025
Success stories
Read this support story
Domestic Home Hero [Picture]_data
Inclusive approaches to recruitment
Published 18 September 2025
8 minutes read Success stories
Read this support story
frame-hero-png-data
Visit our Content Hub