Co. Waterford

Business loans in Waterford for limited companies

Business loans in Waterford for limited companies in life sciences supply, port logistics, technology and tourism, arranged by phone and online.

Population: 60,079 (Waterford city and suburbs)
County: Co. Waterford
Local Enterprise Office: LEO Waterford
Our fee: €0 to you; The lender pays us commission

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See what your company could borrow

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Prefer to talk? +353 1 536 9910

Population: 60,079 (Waterford city and suburbs)
County: Co. Waterford
Local Enterprise Office: LEO Waterford
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 Waterford 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.

Start my 60-second check

Overview

Doing business in Waterford

Business loans in Waterford often follow the city’s largest employers. Sanofi says its Waterford site has about 850 direct employees, and companies such as IBM and Repligen have added roles with IDA Ireland support. Each of these sites relies on local engineers, contractors, caterers and hauliers.

The city centre is also changing. The North Quays project is adding a 207-metre sustainable transport bridge over the Suir and a transport hub due to open in late 2027, bringing years of work for construction and service companies. Welcome Finance does not have a Waterford office; we deal with Waterford companies by phone, email 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 Waterford

Pharmaceuticals and life sciences
Bioprocessing and medical devices
Software and technology
Port and logistics
Agri-food
Tourism

Finance in Waterford

Business finance for Waterford companies

Popular finance for Waterford businesses

What does Waterford’s life sciences base mean for local suppliers?

Sanofi describes itself as one of the largest companies in the South East, with about 850 direct staff in Waterford. Repligen built a bioprocessing centre of excellence in the city with IDA support, announced in 2021, and IBM said in June 2025 it would hire up to 75 software engineers in Waterford, working with South East Technological University (SETU) on mainframe and Linux skills.

Suppliers to these sites often work to strict standards and long payment cycles. A maintenance contractor or a specialist cleaning company may need to hire and train staff before a new site contract pays its first invoice.

How busy is the Port of Waterford?

Port of Waterford’s main terminal is at Belview, 8 km downstream from the city on the River Suir. The CSO recorded about 2.4 million tonnes of goods through Waterford in 2025. The port reported a record 2024, with bulk cargo up 19% to 1.81 million tonnes, containers up 17% and a record shipment of wind turbine blades.

Where do business loans in Waterford usually go?

North Quays and other public projects pay in stages, so contractors often need working capital between valuations. Importers and agri-food businesses using Belview tend to ask about stock and supplier-payment finance, while hospitality companies plan for the gap between the summer season and spring. Council rates schemes for vacant premises can lower the cost of opening a new unit, which is worth checking before you borrow for a fit-out. A July 2025 council report confirmed that all four spans of the North Quays bridge had been installed, and Harcourt Developments was due to begin the first phase of the mixed-use scheme on the quays.

Local support

Business support in Waterford

Local Enterprise Office Waterford

The first-stop shop for micro and small businesses in Waterford, with an office on The Mall in the city and another at the Civic Offices in Dungarvan.

Economic Incentive Scheme 2026

Waterford City and County Council offers up to three years’ rates relief, capped at €5,000 a year, and a €6,000 start-up grant over three years for businesses filling vacant units.

Urban Façade Improvement Scheme

A council grant of up to 50% of the cost of improving a building’s façade or upper floors in Waterford towns and villages, capped at €2,000.

Enterprise Ireland, Waterford office

Enterprise Ireland’s South office in Waterford Industrial Park on the Cork Road works with exporting manufacturers and internationally traded services companies in the region.

South East Technological University

SETU works with employers such as IBM on technical skills, and is a source of graduates and research partners for Waterford companies.

Microfinance Ireland

For Waterford businesses with fewer than 10 employees and turnover under €2m: loans of €2,000 to €50,000, 1% cheaper through LEO Waterford.

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 loans

Credit 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

Loan amount

€5,000€2,000,000

Interest rate (annual)

0%40%

Term

3 mo10 yrs

How the annual rate is applied

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%

Check eligibility for this amount

Illustrative only. Actual rates, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender. This is not an offer of finance.

How we work

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. Finance is subject to status and the lender’s approval. This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. We are paid commission by the lender when finance completes. We do not charge your company a fee and never ask for payment upfront.

Business loans in Waterford: FAQs

What is Waterford’s Economic Incentive Scheme?

It is Waterford City and County Council’s main support for filling vacant commercial property. For 2026 it offers up to three years of commercial rates relief, capped at €5,000 a year, plus a start-up grant of €6,000 spread over three years, and extra help with mentoring, marketing and sustainability advice. Apply through the council’s Economic Development Grants page before you commit to a premises.

Is there a grant to improve a shopfront in a Waterford town?

Yes. The council’s Urban Façade Improvement Scheme covers up to 50% of the cost of improving the outside of a building, capped at €2,000. It includes façade and upper-floor works and is aimed at vacant or tired-looking premises in Waterford’s towns and villages. Owners and occupiers can apply, including those based outside the county.

When will Waterford’s North Quays bridge and transport hub open?

The €260 million transport hub on the North Quays is due to open in late 2027, after construction finishes in Q3 2027 and safety testing is complete. The 207-metre sustainable transport bridge over the Suir is scheduled to open before the station. A mixed-use development by Harcourt Developments is planned alongside it on the North Quays.

Which LEO office should a Dungarvan company use?

Local Enterprise Office Waterford covers the whole city and county, and has an office at the Civic Offices in Dungarvan as well as its city office on The Mall. A Dungarvan business can use either. The LEO runs business advice clinics, training and grants, and is the place to apply for a Microfinance Ireland loan at the reduced rate.

Where is Enterprise Ireland’s office in Waterford?

Enterprise Ireland’s Waterford office is in Waterford Industrial Park on the Cork Road, with the entrance on Brown Road. It is the nearest Enterprise Ireland office for much of the South East, including Kilkenny. It works with manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that export or plan to, so most smaller firms start with LEO Waterford.

Can a Waterford haulier fund a new truck through Welcome Finance?

Truck and trailer finance is usually hire purchase or leasing. Tell us what your company needs and we will tell you whether a lender on our panel may consider it. If the pressure is cash flow, for example fuel and wages while a customer pays on long terms, a working capital loan from our panel may help. Our vehicle finance page explains the options.

Is the Port of Waterford growing?

Yes. The port reported a record 2024, with bulk cargo up 19% to 1.81 million tonnes, container volumes up 17% and 15% more vessels. The CSO recorded about 2.4 million tonnes of goods through Waterford in 2025. Most cargo moves through Belview, downstream of the city, which suits importers moving bulk cargo and containers.

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