Grants & Supports for Monaghan Businesses: LEO, Enterprise Ireland and More

There's more support for Monaghan businesses than most owners realise — and much of it is free advice, training and mentoring rather than cash. This guide explains who does what, which grants you might qualify for, and where to start.

Quick answer: if you employ 10 people or fewer, start with Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Monaghan. If you're bigger or plan to export at scale, talk to Enterprise Ireland. If you want to sell into Northern Ireland, look at InterTradeIreland.

Who's who: the main support bodies

LEO Monaghan

Address: Unit 9, M:TEK Building, Knockaconny, Monaghan H18 ET82 Phone: 047 71818 · Email: info@leo.monaghancoco.ie Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm Web: localenterprise.ie/Monaghan

LEO Monaghan describes itself as the "first stop shop" for starting, growing and developing a business in the county. Its client companies created 90 net new jobs in 2025, and it now supports 166 small businesses employing over 1,000 people.

Who LEO grants are for

To get direct grant funding from LEO, you generally need to:

• Employ 10 or fewer full-time staff
• Be based in County Monaghan
• Be in manufacturing or internationally traded services (or a service with export potential), or tourism aimed at overseas visitors

Not eligible for LEO grants (but still eligible for training and mentoring): retail, cafés and restaurants, wholesale, personal services such as hairdressers, professional services such as accountants and solicitors, trades and construction, accommodation, and primary agriculture.

If you're in one of those sectors, don't skip LEO. Mentoring, training, the Start Your Own Business course, Grow Digital and Energy Efficiency supports may still apply to you.

LEO grants at a glance

Priming and Expansion grants can cover capital items, salaries (capped at €15,000 per full-time job), consultancy, innovation, marketing and some overheads.

How to apply: start with a phone call or the Grant Expression of Interest form on the LEO Monaghan website. You'll usually need a business plan and cash-flow projections. LEO also runs regular Financial Support Clinics.

LEO training and mentoring (open to almost everyone)

• Start Your Own Business course
• Mentoring: one-to-one sessions with an experienced business mentor
• Workshops: social media, bookkeeping, tax, selling online, tendering
• Local Enterprise Week and Student Enterprise Programme for secondary schools

Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland works with established and high-potential companies selling outside Ireland. You'd normally move to Enterprise Ireland once you outgrow LEO (more than 10 staff) or if you're a high-potential start-up.

Supports include:

• Innovation Vouchers — vouchers to work with a college or research centre on a business problem. Monaghan firms often work with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) or Atlantic Technological University.
• Pre-Seed Start Fund — Enterprise Ireland investment of €50,000 or €100,000 through a convertible loan note, with eligibility, co-investment and milestone conditions. This is investment, not an ordinary grant.
• High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) — investment for start-ups likely to reach significant export sales and jobs.
• Agile Innovation Fund, R&D Fund — for product and process development.
• Export supports — market research, overseas offices and trade missions.

Where to start: Enterprise Ireland's regional team for the North East / border region, or ask LEO Monaghan to refer you.

InterTradeIreland (cross-border)

As a border county, Monaghan businesses are perfectly placed to sell into Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh and beyond. InterTradeIreland exists to help.

• Acumen — supports the cost of a sales person to win cross-border sales. Aimed at manufacturing and tradeable services SMEs that have been trading 18–24 months and get less than 30% of sales from the target market. Retail, hospitality, tourism and professional services are not eligible.
• Innovation Boost — innovation support involving a project manager and academic expertise; check current funding and eligibility directly.
• Co-Innovate, Elevate, Funding Advisory Service — check InterTradeIreland for which programmes are open.
• Cross-Border Trade Hub — free online guidance on VAT, customs and the Windsor Framework.

Contact (Acumen): 028 3083 4110 · acumen@intertradeireland.com

See also our Cross-Border Shopping & Trade Guide.

Other supports worth knowing

• Microfinance Ireland — business loans for firms that can't get bank credit. Apply through LEO for a reduced interest rate.
• Revenue — the Start-up Relief for Entrepreneurs (SURE) and the Start-up Company Relief may reduce your tax in the early years. Ask your accountant.
• SEAI — grants for business energy upgrades and solar PV.
• Bord Bia — supports for food and drink producers, including Monaghan's many agri-food firms.
• LEADER programme (Monaghan Integrated Development) — funding for rural enterprise and community projects.
• Department of Social Protection — Back to Work Enterprise Allowance — if you're starting a business while getting certain social welfare payments.

Five tips before you apply

1. Call first. A 10-minute call to LEO Monaghan saves weeks on the wrong application.
2. Don't spend first. Most grants won't cover costs you've already paid for.
3. Have a plan. A simple business plan and 12-month cash-flow are needed for almost every grant.
4. Show the jobs. Grants are judged on jobs created and sales growth.
5. Use your accountant. Many Monaghan accountants help clients with grant applications.

FAQs

What grants are available for a new business in Monaghan?

The main one is LEO Monaghan's Priming Grant for businesses in their first 18 months, covering up to 50% of eligible costs. You may also be eligible for a Feasibility Study Grant, Grow Digital supports and Microfinance Ireland loans.

Can a shop or café get a LEO grant?

Usually not a direct grant, as retail and food service are excluded. But you can still use LEO's mentoring, training and some digital and energy supports.

Is there funding for selling into Northern Ireland?

Yes. InterTradeIreland's Acumen programme supports cross-border sales roles for eligible manufacturing and tradeable service firms.

Where is the LEO office in Monaghan?

Unit 9, M:TEK Building, Knockaconny, Monaghan H18 ET82. Phone 047 71818.

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Sources: Local Enterprise Office Monaghan (localenterprise.ie/Monaghan), Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland, nibusinessinfo.co.uk. Information checked November 2026.

Next step: Starting a business in Monaghan — the step-by-step guide · Add your business free