Business Supports

In addition to income support (your weekly payment), you can also get financial support with the costs of setting up your business. These supports are provided under a scheme called the Enterprise Support Grant (ESG). You can only get the ESG if you have been approved for the BTWEA. The business plan you submit as part of your application for the scheme must set out the rationale and requirement for financial support. The ESG can pay a total of €2,500 in any 24-month period.
The Local Enterprise Office is the First Stop Shop for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland. The Local Enterprise Office provides advice, information, training and support to you in starting up or growing your business.
If you live in an area that has a Development Company, then there may be an Enterprise Officer who can give advice and support on starting a new business.
Revenue provide information on what you need to do to ensure your business is tax compliant.
The Company Registrations Office provide information on how to register your business name.
Citizen’s Information highlight some important information in the link below that you need to know about being self-employed with links to relevant topics.

Short Term Enterprise Allowance

The Short Term Enterprise Allowance is available to people who are receiving Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB)or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed (JBSE)and wish to start their own business. You do not have to be receiving Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed for a specified period of time to qualify.

You cannot avail of the STEA scheme if you are receiving any other type of social welfare payment, however, if you are getting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), you can apply to transfer to JB or JBSE to access the Short Term Enterprise Allowance.

Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed for a maximum of 9 months. It ends when your entitlement to JB or JBSE ends.

The STEA will be paid at the same rate as your JB or JBSE, including any increases for child dependents. You will need to prepare a business plan, and have it approved in advance. The Short Term Enterprise Allowance is not subject to PRSI or Universal Social Charge but it is taxable.

How to apply

To apply for the Short Term Enterprise Allowance, complete application form STEA1.
You should return form STEA1 to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
The Case Officer will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You may then be referred to your Local Development Company. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval from the DSP.
If you are accepted on to the Short Term Enterprise Allowance, you must register as self-employed with the Revenue Commissioners.

Further Information

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is a scheme available to people who want to become self-employed and have been receiving certain social welfare payments for at least twelve months. You must be setting up as self-employed in a business that has been approved in advance in writing by a DSP case officer or Local Development Company.

Time spent on One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Transition, Jobseeker’s Benefit, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Widow’s Pension, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension can count towards this twelve-month period.

Time spent on other payments or schemes can also count towards the qualifying period for BTWEA.

The Government announced under the July Jobs Stimulus that access to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance will be extended to people getting the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

If you qualify for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance you can keep a portion of your social welfare payment, including increases for qualified children, for a maximum of 2 years.

You can retain 100% of your payment for the 1st year and 75% for the 2nd year.

You can keep any secondary benefits, such as Fuel Allowance, Medical Card and the Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance, while you are receiving BTWEA but any income from your business will affect your Rent Supplement or Housing Assistance Payment, if you are living in private rented accommodation and getting either of these payments. If you are in council housing, the BTWEA will not impact on the amount of rent you pay.

You do not have to pay tax, PRSI or Universal Social Charge on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance but you may have to pay tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge on any income you get from self-employment.

How to apply

To apply for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, complete application form BTW 2.
You should return form BTW 2 to the Case Officer in your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
The Case Officer will look at your business proposal and may discuss certain aspects of it with you. You may then be referred to your Local Development Company. You must not take up self-employment until you have received written approval from the DSP.
If you are accepted on to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, you must register as self-employed with the Revenue Commissioners.

Further Information

Supports to start your own business

If you are getting certain social welfare payments and you want to become self-employed, you may be eligible for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, or the Short-Term Enterprise Allowance. It is important to note that if you are self-employed and in receipt of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) then the weekly income disregard of €165 will not apply to you and your earnings from self-employment will be assessed in full. The earnings disregard for JST only applies to income from employment, not self-employment.

If you have an idea for a business or you have a skill or competency that could lead to being self-employed then there are some social welfare supports that provide an initial income whilst developing your business. There are also other supports available to help self-employed people.