Business loans
Start-up business loans: finance for young limited companies
Start-up business loans help a young Irish limited company fund stock, equipment and growth. Start-ups registered as limited companies in Ireland can apply. Most lenders look for some trading history, so options may be fewer for a new company.
- How long
- 6 months to 5 years
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 1 to 2 weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
Quick eligibility check
Is your young limited company ready to borrow?
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
About 60 seconds · no credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register
Prefer to talk? +353 1 536 9910- How long
- 6 months to 5 years
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 1 to 2 weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
- Irish limited companies
- Several lenders, one request
- No fees for your company
- No obligation
At a glance
Start-up business loans at a glance
around 1 to 2 weeks
- Irish limited companies
- Often 6+ months trading
- Unsecured
- 1
Tell us what you need
Three taps: purpose, amount, business type. About 60 seconds, no credit search and not recorded on the Central Credit Register.
- 2
We match you to lenders
We check your profile against lender criteria and approach only those likely to consider it. One request, only to lenders likely to consider it.
- 3
Compare any offers
See the rate, fees, security and any personal guarantee side by side before you decide anything.
Lenders we work with
We are a broker, not a lender. Lender names and logos are trademarks of their owners and are shown with permission. Their inclusion does not mean the lender endorses Welcome Finance. Finance is subject to each lender’s own approval, which is not guaranteed.
About start-up business loans
A start-up limited company can borrow like any other company, but lenders have less to go on: no filed accounts, a short bank history and forecasts instead of results. So most lenders ask for some trading first and usually a personal guarantee from the directors. The honest answer depends on where your company is today.
Not trading yet, or only a few months in? Look first at Microfinance Ireland, which lends start-ups and established businesses with fewer than 10 staff and turnover under €2 million, up to €50,000, when they are having difficulty getting bank credit. Your Local Enterprise Office offers mentoring, training and supports, and Enterprise Ireland supports high potential start-ups. See our grants and supports page and our guide to where start-ups can get help.
Trading for 6 to 12 months or more? Our lender panel may help. Linked Finance, for example, offers a merchant cash advance of €10,000 to €150,000, repaid from card sales over up to 12 months, and term loans of €10,000 to €500,000 over 6 to 60 months, for companies with turnover over €100,000; the rate depends on the company's credit grade. Younger companies are considered only at the lender's discretion. Treyd offers stock finance for buying goods. The lender makes the decision and sets the rate; approval is never guaranteed.
What it’s used for
- Stock and supplier payments
- Equipment and fit-out
- Marketing and hiring for growth
- Bridging until a grant or customer payment arrives
Who it’s for
- Irish limited companies in their first two years
- Companies with card sales from about 6 months
- Companies with grant funding or founders' own money that need working capital
- Founders willing to give a personal guarantee
No credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register · about 60 seconds
Start-up business loans calculator
Estimated monthly repayment
€3,179.97
- Total interest
- €14,479
- Total repayable
- €114,479
- Equivalent APR (effective)
- 9.38%
- Factor rate
- 1.1448
- Equivalent flat rate (per year)
- 4.83%
Illustrative only. Actual rates, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender. This is not an offer of finance.
How start-up business loans work
- 1
Check your stage
How long has the company traded, and what is its monthly turnover?
- 2
Prepare the basics
Bank statements, a short plan and cash flow forecast.
- 3
Tell us what you need
We check which lenders on our panel may consider you, if any.
- 4
Lender decides
If a lender may help, it assesses the company and makes the decision.
Types of start-up business loans
Merchant cash advance
Repaid from a share of card sales; can suit card-taking firms from about 6 months.
Short-term business loan
Fixed repayments; usually from 12 months trading.
Stock finance
Pays suppliers for goods you buy for resale.
Microenterprise loan
From Microfinance Ireland, for start-ups that cannot get bank credit.
Typical eligibility
Every lender sets its own criteria. These are common starting points. We’ll tell you which lenders are likely to consider your business.
- Irish limited company registered with the CRO
- A business bank account in the company's name
- For our panel, usually 6 to 12 months of trading and turnover over €100,000
- Directors resident in Ireland and willing to give a personal guarantee
What you’ll usually need
- Business bank statements since trading began
- Management accounts or a short business plan
- Cash flow forecast for the next 12 months
- Company and director details
Advantages
- Builds a credit record for the company
- Can fund growth while trading is strong
Things to consider
- Fewer lenders and higher rates than for established firms
- Personal guarantees put directors' own assets at risk
- Lenders may lend less than you hoped
Rates, fees and costs
Young companies usually pay more than established ones, because the lender takes more risk. With Linked Finance, the rate depends on the company's credit grade. Microfinance Ireland lends at fixed rates set by the scheme. Ask for the total cost in euro and every fee.
We are paid commission by the lender when finance completes. We do not charge your company a fee and never ask for payment upfront.
Example (for illustration only): a company borrows €20,000 over 2 years. If a lender’s offer showed a total repayable of €25,000, the repayments would be 24 monthly payments of about €1,042. The real cost depends on the lender’s offer, and finance is subject to status and lender approval.
If the company cannot repay, the lender can pursue the company and any director who gave a personal guarantee, which can put personal savings and assets at risk. Never borrow against your family home for a start-up through us; we do not help with that.
Finance is subject to status and the lender’s approval. Welcome Finance is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. We arrange finance for limited companies for business purposes only; this is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Compare start-up business loans with alternatives
Not sure this is the right fit? Here’s how it compares with the options businesses most often weigh it against.
Start-up business loans
This page- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- 6 months to 5 years
- Typical speed
- Some lenders decide within days; not guaranteed
- Security
- Unsecured
- Typical min. trading
- 6 months
- Amount
- €10k to €500k
- Term
- Up to 12 months
- Typical speed
- Decisions often within 24 to 48 hours, not guaranteed
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 6 months
- Amount
- €10k to €250k
- Term
- Until repaid from card sales
- Typical speed
- Usually within days; not guaranteed
- Security
- Card takings
- Typical min. trading
- 6 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Usually 1 to 5 months per purchase
- Typical speed
- Usually 1 to 3 weeks to set up
- Security
- Stock / orders
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
| Detail | This page Start-up business loans | Short-term business loans | Merchant cash advance | Stock finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Varies | €10k to €500k | €10k to €250k | Varies |
| Term | 6 months to 5 years | Up to 12 months | Until repaid from card sales | Usually 1 to 5 months per purchase |
| Typical speed | Some lenders decide within days; not guaranteed | Decisions often within 24 to 48 hours, not guaranteed | Usually within days; not guaranteed | Usually 1 to 3 weeks to set up |
| Security | Unsecured | Depends on the lender | Card takings | Stock / orders |
| Typical min. trading | 6 months | 6 months | 6 months | 12 months |
How we work
Start-up business loans: frequently asked questions
Can a start-up limited company get a business loan in Ireland?
Yes, but most lenders want some trading history. On our panel, a company with card sales may be considered from about 6 months of trading, and term loans usually need 12 months and turnover over €100,000. Before that, Microfinance Ireland and your Local Enterprise Office are the usual places to start.
Can I get a loan before my company starts trading?
It is harder, because most lenders look for some trading history, so options may be fewer. Start-ups registered as limited companies in Ireland can still apply through Welcome Finance, where a lender's criteria allow. Microfinance Ireland lends to start-ups that have difficulty getting bank credit, up to €50,000, and your Local Enterprise Office can help with mentoring and supports.
Will I need a personal guarantee?
Usually, yes. Lenders rely heavily on the directors when a company is young. A guarantee means you could be personally liable if the company cannot repay. Read our guide to personal guarantees for company loans and take independent advice before signing.
Does Welcome Finance only help limited companies?
Yes. We work only with companies registered in Ireland, borrowing for business purposes. Sole traders and partnerships cannot apply.
What helps a young company get approved?
Clean business bank statements, steady or growing card or invoice income, a realistic cash flow forecast, tax affairs up to date and directors with a good credit record. Borrowing a sensible amount compared with turnover also helps. Approval is never guaranteed.
Are there grants for start-ups in Ireland?
Yes. Local Enterprise Offices offer supports such as feasibility and priming grants for eligible small businesses, and Enterprise Ireland offers a feasibility grant of up to €30,000 for high potential start-ups. Check each scheme's rules directly.
Check in 60 seconds
Is your young limited company ready to borrow?
Tell us how long the company has traded and what it needs. We will tell you honestly whether our panel may help, or where to start instead.
- No credit search, not recorded on the Central Credit Register
- One request, several lenders: we’re a broker, not a lender
- For limited companies registered in Ireland
- No fees for your company: we’re paid commission by the lender
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
Sources: Frequently asked questions, Linked Finance (checked 26 Oct 2026); Microenterprise Loan Fund Scheme, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (checked 26 Oct 2026).