The Priming Grant is Ireland’s flagship micro-enterprise start-up instrument, administered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). It offers up to 50 % of eligible start-up costs capped at €150 000 (real-world awards typically €10 k – €30 k) to companies in their first 18 months of trading. The grant is non-repayable, non-dilutive and designed to fund capital equipment, first hires, branding, and working-capital overheads, priming the venture for later expansion or Enterprise Ireland (EI) graduation.
1. Priming Grant Eligibility Snapshot
| Requirement | Standard Rule | Nuances & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Headcount | ≤ 10 employees (linked-enterprise rule applies) | Very early-stage firms with 1–2 FTEs are welcome |
| Age of business | ≤ 18 months from trading start | Measured from first invoice date |
| Sector | Manufacturing or internationally traded services | Unique tourism services also eligible; retail/personal services not |
| Geography | Production & HQ in LEO’s county | Trading from ROI only; exports encouraged |
| Market proof | Demonstrable demand & scalable potential | Pilot sales, LOIs, or market research data |
| State-aid status | Not EI / IDA / Údarás na Gaeltachta client | Feasibility-grant alumni may apply |
Linked-enterprise rule: include staff & turnover of any partner (> 25 %) or linked (> 50 %) entities when checking the 10-employee ceiling.
2. Priming Grant Funding Mechanics
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant rate | 50 % of eligible spend |
| Ceilings | Standard max €80 000; exceptional up to €150 000* |
| Per-job limit | €15 000 per new full-time job |
| Payment method | Reimbursement on paid invoices; 10 % retention until final inspection |
| EI approval triggers | ≥ €50 000 single grant or cumulative ≥ €100 000 over 3 yrs (Enterprise Ireland must co-sign) |
*Amounts above €80 k are reserved for projects with clear potential to graduate to EI’s High-Potential Start-Up or Exporter portfolios.
Eligible cost lines
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Capital: production equipment, commercial fit-out
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Salaries: founder and new employees (capped)
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Consultancy / innovation / marketing: professional fees, packaging design, trade-show costs
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General overhead: rent, utilities, insurance during ramp-up
No expenditure incurred before approval date is eligible.
3. Application Workflow
| Stage | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-screen | Meet LEO advisor; confirm sector & headcount fit | Month 0 |
| Training (optional) | Complete Start Your Own Business / Food Academy | Month 0–1 |
| Business Plan & Financials | 3-year P&L, cash-flow, market analysis | Month 1 |
| Online Grant Form | Upload plan, quotes, Origin Green number (if food) | Month 1 |
| Evaluation panel | 15-min pitch + Q&A | Month 1–2 |
| Letter of Offer | Sign within 30 days; agree draw-down schedule | Month 2 |
| Project implementation | Spend & claim in tranches (max 18 m window) | Month 2–18 |
4. What Makes a Winning Bid?
| Scoring Pillar | Winning Signal |
|---|---|
| Commercial viability | Clear USP, defined target customer, margin > 30 % |
| Job creation | Evidence grant will create ≥ 1–2 FTEs in 12 m |
| Growth trajectory | Roadmap to €500 k–€1 m turnover & export readiness |
| Founder capability | Relevant domain expertise + skin-in-the-game investment |
| Additionality | Project would stall or scale slower without grant; no dead-weight |
Common pitfalls: retail cafés, local trades, professional services (ineligible); business plan light on numbers; equipment quotes missing; cash-flow shows zero founder contribution.
5. Board-Level Capital Strategy
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Bridge funding – Pair Priming Grant with personal equity or angel SAFE to reach product-market fit before seed round.
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Timeline arbitrage – You must wait 12 months after draw-down before applying for a Business Expansion Grant; front-load activities accordingly.
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Grant stacking – Combine with Revenue R&D tax credit (25 %) and Microfinance Ireland loan for working capital.
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Exit to EI – Hit ≥ 10 employees or strong exports within two years to unlock EI HPSU equity funding.
Personal View
The Priming Grant is the most entrepreneur-friendly public money on the Irish start-up ladder: quick panel, minimal red tape, no equity strings. Yet founders often err in one of two ways: (1) ask too little (“€5 k for a website”) and leave growth-critical CapEx unfunded, or (2) over-reach with a €100 k wish-list minus proof of market. My rule: request the smallest amount that demonstrably halves your time-to-revenue. For most food & drink start-ups that’s €20 k – €40 k toward a pilot production line plus a launch campaign—the sweet spot panels like to approve.
