Start a Business
In business, a strong beginning really is half the battle. Getting the key elements right from the start can make a big difference to the success of your business for years to come.
How Can We Help?
The Local Enterprise Office has developed a wide range of useful ways to help you in the start-up of your business.
Our Start Your Own Business Courses have proven to be of great benefit to many start-up business owners in County Offaly. Take a great first step and book a course today.
Comments from past participants: 'an excellent course, well presented and practical', 'very informative and enjoyable', 'easy to follow and step by step'
Joining a network is a wonderful way to meet other people going through the same experience, building up your contacts list and picking up some helpful tips.
Our Mentor programme gives you access to expert advice from an experienced professional in a number of key business areas including General Management, Financial Structuring, Production Planning, Marketing and Distribution.
You may be eligible to apply for financial assistance to help grow your business. These financial supports are designed to provide a flexible suite of supports to LEO clients and potential clients.
Download our brochure on LEO Financial Supports.
Fáilte Ireland has launched a free online learning course – Introduction to Tourism – designed to support businesses exploring opportunities in the tourism sector.
This practical and informative course is ideal for:
New tourism businesses such as activity providers (bike hire, walking/hiking tours) or visitor attractions (museums, galleries, distilleries).
Existing businesses expanding into tourism, for example a whiskey manufacturer introducing distillery tours, or a food producer adding a visitor experience on their farm.
The course provides:
A comprehensive overview of Ireland’s tourism landscape.
Insights into tourist motivations and behaviours.
Guidance on identifying and communicating a unique selling proposition (USP) for your tourism business.
For entrepreneurs who have completed the LEO Start Your Own Business programme, this course is an excellent follow-on module if your business has a tourism focus.
The course is available through learniFI, Fáilte Ireland’s online learning hub, which offers free access to a wide range of learning modules, resources, and toolkits for tourism businesses of all sizes and stages.
Access the online flyer - Tourism Business Starter Guide - that provides businesses with a visual guide to the key first steps in starting a tourism business by clicking HERE.
