Digital for Business is a Local Enterprise Office (LEO) programme for micro and small Irish businesses. An approved consultant such as AppAdvisor reviews how your business runs and recommends the digital tools and changes that would help most. The consultancy is fully funded for businesses that qualify, and the written report is yours to keep.
Small businesses with between 1 and 50 paid employees that have been trading for at least six months, are registered and operate in the area of the Local Enterprise Office, are solvent, and are not clients of Enterprise Ireland or IDA. Companies, sole traders and partnerships can apply. Your Local Enterprise Office decides; we check eligibility with you before you apply.
If your business qualifies, the Digital for Business consultancy is fully funded by your Local Enterprise Office, so there is no cost to you for our work or the report.
The Grow Digital Voucher (also called the Grow Digital grant) is for small businesses that have completed Digital for Business in the previous two years. It covers 50% of eligible costs on new software, training and setup, with a grant of between €500 and €5,000 per application, so the full €5,000 needs €10,000 of spend. A business can have up to two projects, €5,000 in total. Apply before you buy anything. It replaced the Trading Online Voucher, which closed in December 2024.
New, off-the-shelf software subscriptions for up to a year, such as a CRM, online shop, online booking and payments, stock or order management, cloud accounting or payroll, cyber security and analytics, plus the training and setup needed, which can be up to half of the project cost. It does not cover custom or bespoke software, bespoke website development, compliance systems or extra licences on software you already use. A website can be included only as a new software subscription, such as a website platform you subscribe to.
As a guide, about one week for the Digital for Business application to be approved, two to three weeks for our consultation and report, and two to four weeks for the Grow Digital grant decision. The project then needs to be put in place within six months.
AppAdvisor is an approved Digital for Business consultant on twelve Local Enterprise Office panels: Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary and Westmeath.
A systems review and a solutions report that is yours to keep: an independent proposal setting out every recommended solution, with cost estimates and what you need to apply for the grant, plus an overview of where AI can help. Depending on the project it can also include a marketing or brand piece, guidance on setting up and applying AI, and a step-by-step guide to putting the proposed solutions in place.
No. We do not sell software and we do not take vendor commissions. You are free to choose your own suppliers. Our only interest is giving you the right advice.
We are advisory first. Under Digital for Business you get independent advice and a written report. If you want hands-on help afterwards, we can do that too, privately: guided implementation, smaller pieces of AI setup and implementation, and training with your team.
Joe and Jack Connaughton, a father and son team. Joe brings over 35 years in business and technology, and Jack brings current knowledge of AI and business systems. We work every assignment together, and Joe gives the final review and sign-off on every report.
We are based at the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre, TUS Athlone, Co. Westmeath. We work with businesses across our twelve LEO counties and meet onsite or online, whichever suits you.
Both are Local Enterprise Office programmes we deliver. Green for Business is free, expert-led consultancy to help you cut energy costs, waste and emissions. Lean for Business gives up to five days of funded consultancy to remove waste, improve flow and fix bottlenecks.
Yes. Our AI Advisory is open to any business. Start with the free AI Readiness Assessment. The in-depth AI Strategy and Solutions Report covers your whole operation; it is fully funded if you qualify for Digital for Business and available privately if you do not.
A short 3-minute online assessment for SMEs. It shows where your business sits on the AI readiness curve and gives you a personalised PDF showing what businesses at your stage typically do next.
Book a free consultation. We will check whether you qualify and tell you honestly what would help.
