The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For most Irish small businesses, the best first stop is the free National Enterprise Hub (NEH), followed by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) for local advice and scheme guidance. EU-level directories can help with finance, trade, partnerships and procurement, but a listing is not an open grant or a promise that your business qualifies.
Where should an Irish small business start looking for support?
Start with the National Enterprise Hub for a broad search across government supports, then contact your Local Enterprise Office about local advice, mentoring, training and grants. These routes help you identify which agency or programme fits your needs; the agency administering a funding scheme makes the decision on an application.
What does the National Enterprise Hub do?
The NEH is an all-of-government support-discovery and advice service operated by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Its searchable catalogue and trained advisers, available by phone and live chat, can point businesses toward relevant supports. The NEH does not award grants or decide applications.
The NEH FAQ describes a catalogue of more than 287 supports across 30-plus departments and agencies, while a separate government summary says over 250. These are catalogue counts reported on different pages; the directory is large and may change, so treat any count as indicative rather than fixed.
#1 Best Overall
- Income And Expense Log Book: This Income and Expense Record Book（8.5" x 10.5"） is a necessary item for any small business owner or entrepreneur. It is an essential part of any business - helping you understand your overall earnings to determine if you are profitable.
- Daily Tracking and Weekly Overview: let our log tell you if you are profitable today! There are two pages per week to help you you track your income and expenses. At the end of each day or week, you can note whether you made a profit or a loss for the day.
- Clear P&L Statement For Your Business: This income and expense book makes it easy to see your expenses and how they fluctuate from time to time. This makes it easy for you to decide where you can cut back on expenses and assess your total annual net profit.
- Main Features: Expense Review + Income Review + Weekly Pages + Summary of The Year + Twin-Wire Binding + Waterproof Cover + Rounded corner design + Thicker paper
- Effective Organization: This budget book has a twin-wire binding and you can easily lay it flat at 180°. This effective design can help you work better and bring you great convenience in the process of using.
What can a Local Enterprise Office offer?
Depending on the business, project and current scheme rules, LEOs can offer advice, mentoring, courses and grant support. The LEO FAQ describes several grant routes:
- Priming Grants: for qualifying micro-enterprises in their first 18 months.
- Business Expansion Grants: for eligible businesses beyond that early stage.
- Feasibility or Innovation Grants: for research, innovation and technical development.
Sector and activity exclusions apply. The LEO FAQ gives a headline Priming Grant limit of up to 50% and a typical maximum of €80,000, with higher awards considered in exceptional cases. This is not a standard entitlement: the administering LEO assesses the application, costs and scheme rules. Ask your local office to confirm the current criteria before spending money or relying on a headline limit.
Rank #2
- Neatly Track & Organize Your Finances: The accounting ledger book is here for you to stay on top of your spendings & income! Clearly & neatly structured, it offers ample space for all crucial information about checks, savings, bills & other expenses or income
- Perfect For Small Business Owners: Keep it simple, yet super effective - the undated income and expense log book is an absolute must-have among small business supplies! Register your financial data and use your debit & credit records to compile a trial balance
- Premium Style With A Sturdy Cover: With the 120-page finance tracker, you can manage your finances conveniently in one place. A solid cover, thick paper and a reliable ring binding ensure maximum durability
- Beautiful Modern Minimalistic Design: A visual highlight just like you can expect from ZICOTO! The sage green cover of the ledger book, look stunning with a modern golden floral on the front - makes bookkeeping simply beautiful!
- Super Handy - Always At Hand: Thanks to its practical size, the 8.6x6.1” ledger book fits into any bag easily and is therefore always by your side. Whether used as a checkbook register or to track other financial flow, with the log book you’ve got it all sorted!
Are there grants for digital upgrades or energy improvements?
The NEH FAQ describes the following schemes and eligibility conditions. The amounts are scheme ceilings or rates, not guaranteed awards. Check with the administering body whether each programme remains open and whether its terms have changed.
| Support described by the NEH FAQ | Type and headline amount | Eligibility and project cues | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEO Energy Efficiency Grant | Grant covering 75% of eligible costs, up to €10,000. | The FAQ lists businesses with 1–50 employees, not already supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland, and completion of a Green for Business, Green Start or SEAI energy audit. | Confirm current availability, the eligible equipment or work, required audit and approval timing with the LEO before committing costs. SEAI is also identified as offering free energy audits. |
| Grow Digital Voucher | Grant of up to €5,000, covering 50% of eligible costs for software, IT configuration and training. | The FAQ says the business must first complete a free Digital for Business assessment, have traded for at least six months, employ 1–50 people and not already be an Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland client. | Check the current application window, approved cost rules and whether your business meets the client-status and other requirements. |
| Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher | €10,000 voucher, as described in the NEH FAQ. | The FAQ describes eligibility for qualifying CRO-registered limited companies collaborating with a publicly funded knowledge provider; sole traders are ineligible under that description. | Confirm current rules, participating knowledge-provider requirements and application timing with Enterprise Ireland. |
What can I do if a bank will not lend to my business?
The NEH FAQ describes Microfinance Ireland as offering loans of €2,000–€50,000 to businesses that do not meet mainstream bank criteria, including early-stage firms with limited collateral or credit history. These are repayable loans, not grants. The Hub is not the lender, so check current rates, repayment terms and eligibility with Microfinance Ireland.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe NEH FAQ also points to SBCI-supported products accessed through participating banks or other lenders. Ask the relevant lender which products are available and what their current terms require.
What EU support tools are useful to Irish businesses?
The European Commission’s Your Europe SME directory groups tools for funding, information, training and partnerships, and advice. These are navigation and business-support resources; a directory entry does not establish that a grant is open or that a particular firm qualifies.
Rank #4
- Easy To Track Your Finances: HAUTOCO accounting ledger book keeps you on top of your expenses and income! Help you keep your money organized, spend well, and set and achieve financial goals
- Premium Material: The A5 accounting ledger book has a total of 120 pages and 2040 lines of entries. It is made of 100gsm thick paper to reduce ink leakage; it is equipped with a waterproof and sturdy PP cover to protect the inner pages
- Practical Design: Compact 8.3 x 6.2'' expense tracker notebook is easy to carry and features information pages, 2025 calendar, yearly financial goals page, and PVC pocket for storing important tickets and loose items
- Manage Your Finances Effectively: Undated accounting books with number, date, description, account, payment or deposit amount, and total balance. You will be able to easily analyze your financial activities and quickly prepare accurate financial statements
- Ideal For Small Business or Personal Use: An accounting log journal can track your business or personal financial status. With a clear record of transactions, you can find unnecessary expenses or fraudulent charges
- Access2Finance: helps businesses find EU-supported loans or venture capital.
- Access2Markets: provides trade information, including taxes, tariffs, rules of origin and product requirements for importing and exporting.
- Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): offers business advice and partner introductions, including connections for international growth.
- European Digital Innovation Hubs: connect businesses with digital testing and skills support.
- Other directory tools: cover intellectual property, public procurement and EU-rights disputes. Your Europe Advice offers help with individual EU rights.
Can a small Irish business apply directly for EU funding?
Sometimes, depending on the programme, applicant and project. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment distinguishes between direct EU-managed grants or contracts and indirect support delivered through national or local intermediaries. Direct funding is generally tied to a defined project objective and a specific call, rather than a universal grant for small businesses.
Enterprise Ireland and EEN Ireland are among the routes the Department identifies for advice and connections. Find the relevant programme first, then check its current call documents and national contact point; eligibility, deadlines and application procedures are programme-specific.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- PERFECT LEDGER BOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: This accounting ledger book for small businesses will help you organize finances, sort and summarize transactions, create balance summaries and set you up for financial success.
- SWITCH TO EFFICIENT & STRESS-FREE ACCOUNTING: This accounting book is undated and lasts a whole year and has 113 pages, including 53 weekly views, an annual summary, empty note pages, and, at the back, a spacious pocket for receipts.
- TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES & SUCCEED: With this detailed record of all transactions and totals, you will be able to easily analyze your finances and quickly prepare accurate financial statements.
- COMPACT A5 FORMAT & DURABLE DESIGN: This bookkeeping record book comes in A5 format (5.8 by 8.3 inches) and has an eco-leather hardcover, 120gsm no-bleed paper, elastic, pen loop, bookmark, pocket for notes, and a user guide.
- 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: We will exchange or refund your receipt book for small business if you aren’t satisfied with your expense tracker notebook for any reason. Reach out to us via message to refund your small business supplies.
Where can I get help exporting or finding business partners?
Use Access2Markets for free, multilingual information on import and export requirements, including tariffs, taxes, origin rules and product requirements. For advice on international growth or introductions to business and technology partners, EEN supports SMEs and is identified by the Irish Department as a source of tailored advice and partnership opportunities.
How can I tell whether my business qualifies?
There is no single eligibility test for Irish or EU support. Before contacting an adviser or scheme administrator, gather the details that commonly shape a decision:
- Business location and sector, plus any activity that might be excluded.
- Legal form, trading age and number of employees.
- Ownership or client status, including whether the business is already supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland where relevant.
- The project’s purpose, proposed costs and whether spending has already begun.
- Plans involving innovation, exports, digital upgrades, energy improvements or an EU funding call.
Ask the scheme administrator or LEO to confirm eligibility, eligible costs, co-funding, application timing and any approval needed before purchase. A maximum amount or percentage is a scheme limit, not a guarantee of an award.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
