Start or Grow Your Business in Clare

Thinking of starting a business or social enterprise in County Clare? CLDC can help you move from idea to action with free training, one‑to‑one support, and access to funding programmes. Whether you’re at idea stage or already trading, there’s support available.

This page is for people in Clare who are exploring self‑employment or building a new venture.
You might be:

Someone with a business idea and not sure where to start

A social entrepreneur developing an enterprise with community or environmental impact

On a social welfare payment and wondering about supports like the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

A rural business, farmer or community group exploring LEADER funding

How CLDC supports new businesses

  1. Explore your idea
    We help you clarify your business or social enterprise idea, understand your customers, and check basic viability.

  2. Build core skills
    Through our free ‘Start Your Own Business’ courses, you’ll learn the essentials of business planning, marketing, tax, and finance.

  3. Check supports and entitlements
    If you’re on a qualifying social welfare payment, our team can help you explore the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and other self‑employment supports.

  4. Access funding and programmes
    For eligible rural and community‑based projects, we can guide you through LEADER and other funding options, from initial idea to application.

  5. Ongoing mentoring and networking
    Depending on your stage, you may be able to access mentoring, networking, and further training through CLDC and partner organisations.

    Not sure where you fit? Contact us and we’ll point you to the right support.

Start Your Own Business Courses

CLDC regularly runs Start Your Own Business courses for people in Clare who are thinking about self‑employment. See what (free!) courses are coming up.

Social Enterprise

If you are building an enterprise with a social, community, or environmental mission, CLDC can help you design and grow it in a sustainable way.

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

This is a Department of Social Protection scheme that allows certain social welfare recipients to keep a portion of their payment for a period while starting a new business.

Are you eligible for LEADER?

LEADER is an EU‑funded programme that supports rural regeneration and community‑based projects, including certain types of new or expanding enterprises in rural Clare.

Get inspired!

Many businesses and social enterprises across Clare have started or grown with support from CLDC programmes. See examples of local businesses we have helped