What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Irish businesses can access EU funding through three main routes: apply to a grant call, seek a loan or other finance from an intermediary supported by an EU programme, or apply through an Irish authority administering EU funds. A grant is generally non-repayable if you meet its conditions; a loan must be repaid; and a guarantee supports the lender, not a cheque paid directly to your business. The right route depends on your project, eligibility and the specific call or lender’s terms.
How EU grants, loans and guarantees differ
| Type | What the business receives | Repayment | Typical application route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant | Funding for eligible activities or costs under a defined programme or call. | Usually non-repayable if the recipient complies with the award conditions; breaches can trigger recovery. | Apply to a direct EU call through the Funding & Tenders Portal, or follow the Irish or regional authority’s route for a locally administered opportunity. |
| Loan | Debt finance, potentially supported by an EU financial instrument. | Repayable under the lender’s agreement, including applicable interest and fees. | Usually apply to a participating bank or other financial intermediary, which assesses the application and sets its terms. |
| Guarantee | Risk-sharing support to a lender that may help it provide finance to a business. | The business repays the loan it receives; the guarantee is not a grant paid to the borrower. | Ask an intermediary whether it offers finance under a relevant EU-backed guarantee or risk-sharing scheme. |
| Equity or venture capital | Investment in the business in exchange for an ownership interest or equivalent investment rights. | Not a conventional loan repayment, but the investment has ownership and return implications. | Typically accessed through an investment fund or other financial intermediary participating in an EU-supported instrument. |
EU financial instruments include debt, equity, loan guarantees, venture capital and risk-sharing. They can sometimes be combined with grants, but the relevant programme’s rules determine whether a combination is allowed. The European Commission explains the instrument types and intermediary role in its financial instruments guide.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which route might suit your business?
Direct EU grants for eligible projects
Direct grants are tied to a specific call, not a general-purpose pot for any business expense. Horizon Europe may be relevant to eligible research and innovation projects. The EIC Accelerator is aimed at innovative companies seeking support for breakthrough, high-potential projects. Whether an Irish company can apply alone or needs partners, which costs qualify, the funding rate and the deadline are set by the individual call.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC 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 & 11Search the Funding & Tenders Portal route described by Your Europe and check the live call notice before treating a programme as open. Ireland’s general funding and grants overview is useful context, but its references to predecessor programmes and historical allocations are not evidence that those opportunities remain available.
#1 Best Overall
![Express Accounts Accounting Software Free [PC Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41kiz1fP83L._SL160_.jpg)
- Manage your payments and deposit transactions
- Check balances and generate reports to monitor your business finances
- Email and fax reports to your accountant
- Create and track quotes, invoices and more
- Connect to the app with secure web access
Grants administered through Irish authorities
Some EU funding is implemented indirectly or jointly with member states. In those cases, an Irish national or regional managing authority publishes the local application route and rules. Use the country- and programme-specific instructions rather than assuming every EU-funded grant application goes through the central EU portal. Your Europe outlines the distinction between direct and indirect routes in its EU funding overview.
Loans and guarantees through intermediaries
For EU-backed finance, a business commonly approaches a participating local lender or other intermediary rather than applying to the EU for a loan. The provider decides whether to lend and sets the amount, duration, interest rate and fees. EU backing does not mean zero interest, automatic approval or identical terms between lenders. The Commission’s Access to finance portal can help identify potential intermediaries; compare the actual provider’s offer and eligibility criteria.
Rank #2
- You can now print to blank check stock. Customization of the check layout is "not" possible at this time. Check the Help file for additional details.
- Electronic form filing for W-2, 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC is available through a third party service (there is a nominal fee for this service).
- Tax forms for 2022
- Includes tax tables for 2023
- Support for new 1099-NEC form
An Ireland-specific listing: Microfinance Ireland
The EU Access to Finance directory lists Microfinance Ireland as an InvestEU-supported route for start-ups and small businesses, with loan/guarantee finance and a listed maximum of €25,000. The directory record was accessed on 4 October 2026 and does not show its original publication date. Treat the ceiling as a directory listing, not a guaranteed current product or approval: confirm availability, eligibility, amounts and terms directly with the provider.
Check eligibility before choosing a programme
There is no single eligibility test for all EU business funding. Each call or intermediary sets requirements based on factors such as applicant type, project, sector, costs, location and programme priorities. For a grant, check whether your activity and costs are eligible, whether co-financing or partners are required, and what reporting obligations apply. For lending, expect the provider to assess financial information and creditworthiness; security requirements and pricing depend on the product.
Rank #3
- TRUSTED ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE: For 42 years, Sage has supported small businesses with reliable accounting software to grow their business. Sage 50 Premium Accounting (formerly Peachtree Accounting) includes a one-year Sage Business Care plan with access to online support. Trusted by accountants and bookkeepers for decades.
- SIMPLE TO START: Powerful 1-User Accounting Software designed for small businesses. Choose from various business models to create the right chart of accounts, easily pay bills, invoice customers, and track costs with confidence using Sage 50 Accounting.
- PAY BILLS & INVOICE: Spend less time on administrative tasks with bookkeeping and invoicing software that lets you easily pay bills and invoice customers while tracking billable and non-billable costs for each job. Streamline daily financial management and reporting.
- CALCULATE JOB COSTS & MANAGE INVENTORY: Use job costing by phase and cost type to calculate job profitability and make informed business decisions. Track inventory to ensure you have what you need, when you need it, with powerful inventory management software and reporting tools.
- MANAGE FINANCES: Audit trails and advanced budgeting tools help you stay on top of business performance and finances. Create purchase orders, manage expenses, track spending, and utilize payroll and financial reporting capabilities to support business growth.
- Confirm the business’s location, legal form, sector and the project’s purpose and stage.
- Check whether the opportunity accepts your type and size of applicant, and whether collaboration is required.
- Identify eligible costs, co-funding requirements, state-aid conditions and the application deadline.
- For finance, review due diligence, repayment schedule, interest, fees and any security the lender requires.
- Check whether related or partner companies affect the business’s SME classification.
The European Commission’s general SME size thresholds are:
| Category | Employees | Turnover or balance sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | Fewer than 10 | Annual turnover or balance sheet no greater than €2 million |
| Small | Fewer than 50 | Annual turnover or balance sheet no greater than €10 million |
| Medium | Fewer than 250 | Annual turnover no greater than €50 million, or balance sheet no greater than €43 million |
These are general classification thresholds, not a promise that a business qualifies for a particular funding call. The Commission notes that the assessment can account for links with other companies and that substantial resources in a larger group may mean a business does not meet the SME test. See its eligibility guidance.
Rank #4
- TRUSTED ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE: For 42 years, Sage has supported small businesses with reliable accounting software to grow their business. Sage 50 Pro Accounting (formerly Peachtree Accounting Software) includes a one-year Sage Business Care plan with access to online support. Trusted by accountants and bookkeepers for decades.
- SIMPLE TO START: Powerful 1-User Accounting Software designed for small businesses. Choose from various business models to create the right chart of accounts and customize reports in real time with no prior accounting knowledge required.
- PAY BILLS & INVOICE: Spend less time on administrative tasks with bookkeeping and invoicing software that lets you easily pay bills, invoice customers, and track billable and non-billable costs for each job. Improve efficiency with Sage 50 Accounting.
- IMPROVE CASH FLOW: Use job costing to calculate job profitability and make more informed business decisions. Monitor cash flow, track payments and expenses, and manage finances with confidence using accounting software for small business.
- MANAGE INVENTORY: Keep track of inventory to ensure you have what you need, when you need it. Create purchase orders, manage expenses, and track spending with ease using inventory management software designed for growing businesses.
How to apply for EU funding as an Irish business
- Define the need. Decide whether the project calls for non-repayable grant support, repayable working or investment finance, a guarantee-backed loan, equity, or a permitted combination.
- Find the right route. Search the Funding & Tenders Portal route for direct calls, and consult the Ireland-specific route and relevant managing authority for locally administered opportunities.
- Identify finance providers. If seeking a loan or investment, use the Commission’s Access to finance portal to find potential intermediaries, then ask the provider whether the product is currently available to your business.
- Read the controlling rules. For a grant, use the call notice and programme documents. For a loan, use the intermediary’s current product terms. Check eligible activities and costs, partners, co-financing, deadlines, due diligence and ongoing obligations.
- Compare actual terms before committing. Consider the total cost and repayment schedule of finance, the grant’s conditions and reporting burden, and whether the funding fits the project timeline. EU support does not replace the lender’s assessment or the call’s eligibility rules.
What EU funding figures do—and do not—tell a business
The European Commission Representation in Ireland says that more than 200,000 businesses and entrepreneurs are supported each year through business loans, microfinance, guarantees and venture capital; the page does not state the figure’s publication year. It describes support across several forms of finance, not a count of grant awards available for Irish businesses to claim. See Doing business in the EU.
Recommended Free Tools
The Commission’s Ireland policy page, dated 9 June 2026, says the Recovery and Resilience Plan will deliver €1.15 billion between 2024 and 2026. It also states that Recovery and Resilience Facility milestones were due by 31 August 2026 and final payments by 31 December 2026. These are national-plan allocations and deadlines, not an open €1.15 billion business grant fund. The page describes delivery through Ireland’s plan and wider policy support; it does not establish that a company can apply directly for those sums. See EU economic policy and Ireland.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![QUICKEN CLASSIC BUSINESS & PERSONAL FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS| 1 Year [PC/Mac Online code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qWaUWoCjL._SL160_.jpg)
- See business, rental & personal finances together & separately
- Get built-in Schedule C & E tax reports, P&L, cash flow & more
- Manage your rental properties
- Plus get our best-in-class personal finance tools
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.
