First Step Business Start Up Loans

First Step is setting up regional micro-enterprise networks, providing access to start up loans for self-employment.

Are you trying to start a new business or become self employed?
Are you unemployed for at least the last three months?
Are you in receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance?
Are you confident that with the right support including mentoring your business could commence within the next 5 months?
Have you prepared a business plan?
Do you need access to funding support?

If the answer is "yes" to all these questions, then FIRST-STEP can provide that assistance to you.

First-Step is setting up regional micro-enterprise networks where you will receive training, mentoring and access to start up loans for self-employment.

If you wish to participate in a micro-enterprise network, please e-mail training@first-step.ie (applications by e-mail only please).


About First Step:

First-Step is a private not-for-profit company, which  provides loans to people who want to create their own enterprise and who cannot access funding, or sufficient funding, from other sources.

First-Step’s core goal is to help finance start up and expanding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to provide job opportunities. They have an application and screening process which evaluates the applications received and stress tests them for likely success based on information received.

First-Step receives funding from Enterprise Ireland through the EU Seed and Venture Capital Fund and the Social Finance Foundation. First-Step is the beneficiary of an SME Guarantee Facility created within the framework of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) of the European Community.

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