Co. Westmeath
Business loans in Athlone for limited companies
Business loans in Athlone for limited companies on both banks of the Shannon, from Midlands distributors to engineering suppliers, arranged by phone and online.
- Population
- 22,869 (Athlone town)
- County
- Co. Westmeath
- Local Enterprise Office
- LEO Westmeath
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
Quick eligibility check
See what your company could 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- Population
- 22,869 (Athlone town)
- County
- Co. Westmeath
- Local Enterprise Office
- LEO Westmeath
- 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
Funding for Athlone companies in three steps
- 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.
Overview
Doing business in Athlone
Athlone sits at the centre of the country, where the M6 crosses the Shannon, and companies seeking business loans in Athlone often serve customers in every province. The town had 22,869 residents at Census 2022 and is home to Enterprise Ireland’s Midlands office. It also spans two counties.
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Most of the town is in Westmeath, while Monksland and the west bank are in Roscommon, which changes which LEO, council schemes and western funds you can use. Welcome Finance has no Athlone office; we help Midlands companies on either side of the Shannon by phone and online.
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.
Key industries in Athlone
- Telecoms and software R&D
- Pharmaceuticals
- Engineering and cleanroom services
- Distribution and logistics in the Midlands
- Retail and hospitality
- Education and public services
Finance in Athlone
Business finance for Athlone companies
Popular finance for Athlone businesses
Why do so many Midlands companies base themselves in Athlone?
Location is the main reason. The M6 and the Dublin to Galway rail line put most of the country within a few hours’ drive, which suits distributors, wholesalers and service companies that cover the whole island. Ericsson has long run a research and development centre in the town, and engineering firms serve pharma and technology clients across the Midlands.
The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has its Midlands campus in Athlone, giving local companies access to graduates, apprentices and research partners. Enterprise Ireland’s Midlands office is on the Dublin Road in the town, so exporters across the region can deal with the national agency close to home.
Which side of the Shannon is your company on?
It matters for public supports. Westmeath County Council and LEO Westmeath, based in Mullingar, cover the east side of the town. Monksland and the west bank are in Roscommon, so LEO Roscommon applies there, and only Roscommon-side companies can use the Western Development Commission’s loan fund, which covers seven western counties but not Westmeath. With 22,869 residents, Athlone is a major Midlands town, and its shops, hotels and services draw customers from both counties.
Where do business loans in Athlone usually go?
Logistics and wholesale companies in Athlone often need working capital to cover fuel, wages and stock while customers pay on account. Retail and hospitality firms in the town centre borrow for refits or quiet months, and Westmeath County Council’s Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2026 waives 75% of rates in year one, then 50% and 25%, for a business opening in a unit vacant for at least six months.
Local support
Business support in Athlone
Local Enterprise Office Westmeath
Based at Áras an Chontae in Mullingar, LEO Westmeath covers businesses on the Westmeath side of Athlone with grants, training and mentoring.
Local Enterprise Office Roscommon
Run by Roscommon County Council from Roscommon town, it covers Monksland and the west side of Athlone.
Westmeath Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2026
Waives 75%, 50% and 25% of rates over three years for businesses opening in Westmeath premises vacant for at least six months.
Western Development Commission loan fund
Loans usually of €50,000 to €300,000 for companies registered, headquartered and controlled in seven western counties, which include Roscommon but not Westmeath.
Enterprise Ireland Midlands
Enterprise Ireland’s Midlands office is in Athlone on the Dublin Road, working with exporting manufacturers and internationally traded services companies.
Microfinance Ireland
Athlone businesses with fewer than 10 employees can borrow €2,000 to €50,000, with a 1% lower rate through LEO Westmeath or LEO Roscommon.
National schemes
State-backed supports
SBCI Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme
€25,000 to €3m over 7 to 10 years, open until 30 June 2029. Get an eligibility code from the SBCI, then apply directly to a participating lender.
About SBCI loansCredit Review Service
Reviews refusals by AIB, Bank of Ireland or PTSB of €1,000 to €3m. Apply within 30 days of the bank’s final decision.
SEAI business energy grants
Grants towards solar PV and energy upgrades for businesses.
Estimate your monthly repayments
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 we work
Business loans in Athlone: FAQs
Which LEO covers Athlone: Westmeath or Roscommon?
It depends which side of the Shannon you are on. Most of Athlone is in Co. Westmeath, covered by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath at Áras an Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar. The west side of the town, including Monksland, is in Co. Roscommon, so companies there deal with Local Enterprise Office Roscommon at the council’s civic offices in Roscommon town.
Can an Athlone company use the Western Development Commission’s loan fund?
Only if it is registered, headquartered and controlled in one of the Western Development Commission’s seven counties, which include Roscommon but not Westmeath. A company based in Monksland may qualify; one based east of the Shannon will not. Loans usually range from €50,000 to €300,000 over three to ten years, at the EU reference rate plus a margin.
Is there rates relief for opening in a vacant Athlone premises?
On the Westmeath side, yes. Westmeath County Council’s Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2026 waives 75% of rates in year one, 50% in year two and 25% in year three. The property must have been vacant for at least six months, and you must own it or hold a lease of at least 12 months. Ask the council’s rates team for the full criteria.
Where is Enterprise Ireland’s Midlands office?
In Athlone itself, at Auburn, Dublin Road. Enterprise Ireland works with manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that export or plan to, including engineering suppliers to the pharma and technology sectors. Smaller Athlone companies usually start with LEO Westmeath or LEO Roscommon, depending on their side of the river, and are referred on when ready.
Can a Midlands logistics company fund vans or trucks through Welcome Finance?
Vehicles are usually funded through hire purchase or leasing. Tell us what your company needs and we will tell you whether a lender on our panel may consider it. Where the strain is day-to-day cash, such as fuel, tolls and wages while customers pay on account, a working capital loan from our panel may help. Read our van finance page for the options.
Do I have to travel to apply for a loan from Athlone?
No. We work with Athlone companies entirely by phone, email and online, whether you are in the town centre, Monksland or out on a business park. You send your bank statements and accounts securely, and we tell you whether our panel can consider your company. Only Irish-registered limited companies can apply through us.
Check in 60 seconds
Check your eligibility in 60 seconds
No credit search and nothing recorded on the Central Credit Register. No obligation.
- 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: Enterprise Ireland, Connect with us: regional offices (checked 22 Oct 2026); InterTradeIreland Cross-Border Trade Hub, Local Enterprise Offices contact list (checked 22 Oct 2026); Western Development Commission, loan finance (checked 22 Oct 2026); Microfinance Ireland, What we do (checked 22 Oct 2026); Westmeath County Council, Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2026 (checked 21 Oct 2026); Roscommon County Council, Athlone West (Monksland) Local Area Plan appendices (checked 21 Oct 2026); LEO Roscommon, Local Authority Business Services (checked 21 Oct 2026).