Title: Start your business and keep your payment > The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance pays 100% of your jobseeker payment in year one and 75% in year two. We get you ready, plan the money and set you up to trade. Source: https://pontia.xyz/ie/ Checked: 25 September 2026 🇮🇪 For jobseekers in Ireland # Start your business and keep your payment. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance pays 100% of your jobseeker payment in year one and 75% in year two. We get you ready, plan the money and set you up to trade. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/)[See how it works](#schemes) Always free - No card needed - No trial that runs out - No hidden charges - **100%**of your payment in year 1 on BTWEA - **€2,500**Enterprise Support Grant - **€50,000**Microfinance Ireland start-up loan Schemes ## Official schemes in Ireland - Keep an incomeJob search required ### Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare Stay on Jobseeker’s Allowance while you research and plan your business. Business research, a business plan and a Start Your Own Business course count as genuinely seeking work, and 9 months on it qualify you for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. [What is this, and what do I have to do? →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/ja-preparing/) - €254 a week from age 25; usually €163.70 at 18–24 living at home (2026) - Genuinely seeking work: bring examples of your steps, business ones included, to Intreo meetings - Plan and research, but don’t start trading: a business that already operated can’t get BTWEA - 234 paid days in a row unlock the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance [Official site](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/unemployed-people/rules-for-getting-a-jobseekers-payment/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Keep an incomeJob search until approved ### Back to Work Enterprise Allowance After at least 9 months on a qualifying payment, you can start an approved new business and keep 100% of your payment in year one and 75% in year two. [What is this, and what do I have to do? →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/) - 100% of your payment in year 1, 75% in year 2 (including increases for dependants) - Needs 9 months on e.g. Jobseeker’s Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment or Disability Allowance - Approved in writing by Intreo and a Local Development Company before you trade - Not taxable; can be combined with the Enterprise Support Grant (up to €2,500) [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Keep an incomeJob search until approved ### Short-Term Enterprise Allowance If you get Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, you can keep the same weekly payment for up to 9 months while you start an approved business. [What is this, and what do I have to do? →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/stea/) - Same weekly rate as your jobseeker payment, for up to 9 months - No minimum time on the payment; an Intreo adviser must recommend it first - Taxable; seasonal or part-time self-employment does not qualify [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/short-term-enterprise-allowance-stea/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 See all 7 options - Grant ### Enterprise Support Grant If you are approved for BTWEA or STEA, you can apply for up to €2,500 towards start-up costs such as equipment, insurance and marketing. You pay a share of each cost. - Up to €2,500 on BTWEA; €1,000 on a 9-month STEA; €625 on a 6-month STEA - You pay at least 20% of each cost (10% for mentoring and short training) - Pays against quotes and invoices; not rent, vehicles or stock [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/enterprise-support-grant/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Loan ### Microfinance Ireland Start-Up Loan A government-backed not-for-profit lender offering €5,000 to €50,000 to new small businesses that struggle to borrow from banks. - €5,000 to €50,000, up to 3 years, no fees - 6.5% interest, or 5.5% if you apply through a Local Enterprise Office - Up to 5 free mentoring sessions [Official site](https://microfinanceireland.ie/startup-loan/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Advice & support ### Local Enterprise Office supports Training, mentoring and the Start Your Own Business programme. LEO grants mainly go to manufacturing and export businesses, so most local services will not qualify. - Start Your Own Business training and one-to-one mentoring at 31 local offices - Priming Grant: up to 50% of investment in the first 18 months, for eligible sectors only - Retail, personal services, professional services and construction are generally excluded from grants [Official site](https://www.localenterprise.ie/discover-business-supports/funding-and-grants/financial-supports/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Keep an income ### Back to Work Family Dividend Parents leaving a long-term jobseeker or one-parent payment for self-employment can get a weekly amount per child for up to 2 years. Not with BTWEA. - Year 1: €58 a week per child under 12, €78 for 12 and over; half in year 2 - Up to 4 children, for up to 2 years; not taxable - You sign off primary payments and start within 4 weeks [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-family-dividend/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 Summaries are simplified. Always check the official source before you apply. [Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculatorSee what you’d keep over 2 years, plus the Enterprise Support Grant.](https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/) [Looking for work as well?Genuinely seeking work, made simpleMake the job search easy](https://pontia.xyz/ie/genuinely-seeking-work/) Your plan, step by step ## We hold your hand from idea to first customer Eight stages, in order. Each step says what to do and why, gives you the tool for the job (free first) and keeps your budget and benefit right. 1. ### Get set up Keep your income safe and make time for the business. 2. ### Shape your offer Know what you sell, who it’s for and what it costs. 3. ### Fund it Know what you can spend, and claim the support you’re entitled to. 4. ### Get online A website, your own domain and a proper email. Every business needs them. 5. ### Show up on social Be where your customers already are, without it eating your day. 6. ### Find customers Start conversations and make it easy to say yes. 7. ### Get paid properly Tell the right people, take money safely and keep records. 8. ### Grow with others You don’t have to do this alone. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/) Tools ## The right tools for what you’re building Websites, design, AI assistants, bookings, shops and bookkeeping, matched to your goal and budget. Free tiers first. - Website - CarrdFree - FramerFree - Squarespace - Design - CanvaFree - FigmaFree - AI assistant - ClaudeFree - ChatGPTFree - Bookings - Online shop - Shopify - Square OnlineFree - Bookkeeping - Google SheetsFree - Email list - MailerLiteFree - beehiivFree - KitFree - Business bank - Revolut Business Some tool links are affiliate links. If you sign up through one we may earn a fee. It never changes your price or what we recommend. €0 forever Always free ## Free for you. Always. No card, no trial that runs out, no premium plan, no hidden charges. Every feature is free for everyone. - No card needed - No trial that runs out - No hidden charges - Every feature included **How we stay free.** When we recommend a tool, some links pay us a small commission if you choose to sign up with them. It never costs you more, and we always show the free option first. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/) FAQ ## Questions, answered Is it really free? Yes. No card, no subscription and no hidden charges, now or later. We’re paid small commissions when you choose a tool we recommend, at no extra cost to you. Are you part of the government? No. We are an independent service. We link to the official source for every scheme, and your benefit office always has the final say. Will starting a business affect my benefit? Usually it has to be reported. We show you when, and we never suggest hiding income or activity. What happens to my data? In this early version your plan is stored only in your browser. When accounts launch, we will ask before storing anything. ## Your scheme is the start. Let’s build the rest. Two minutes to a plan you can act on today. [Sign up free: it takes 2 minutes](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/) Always free - No card needed - No trial that runs out - No hidden charges --- Pontia is free and independent. It is not a government service and not financial, tax, legal or benefits advice; always check the official source linked on the page. Some tool links are affiliate links: we may earn a fee at no cost to you, and free options come first. Contact: hello@pontia.xyz Cite as: "Start your business and keep your payment", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/ (updated 25 September 2026) Whole site in one file: https://pontia.xyz/llms-full.txt