If you’re a small business owner in Ireland spending your evenings replying to booking requests, chasing invoices, or trying to remember who you need to follow up with, there’s funding available right now that could change how you work.
The Local Enterprise Office Digital Start Voucher gives small businesses up to €5,000 towards software, systems, and getting everything set up properly. And no, it’s not just for building websites.
You can use it for things like online booking systems, CRM setup (that’s just a system that keeps track of your clients and follow ups), automated invoicing, digital contracts and onboarding, workflow automation that does the repetitive stuff for you, course or membership platforms, and training to help you use your new systems.
Let me show you what this actually looks like for real businesses.
The Dog Groomer
Right now, your phone never stops. WhatsApp messages at 9pm asking “any slots this Saturday?” You’re scrolling back through conversations trying to figure out who’s booked and when. And every few weeks, someone just doesn’t show up, which means you’ve lost that income and the slot sat empty.
What if clients could just book themselves in?
With an online booking system, you set the exact days and hours you want to work. Clients pick their own slot without messaging you. Payment is taken at the time of booking, so no more no shows costing you money. You set your own rules, like rescheduling allowed up to 24 hours before, but after that they forfeit their payment. Automatic reminders go out so clients actually remember their appointment.
Your Sundays stop being spent managing your diary. Your evenings are yours again.
If no shows are a regular problem for you, I’ve written a full breakdown of how online booking systems stop no shows and protect your income.
This kind of setup would use around €960 to €1,440 of your voucher.
The Personal Trainer or Fitness Instructor
You’re running classes, training clients one to one, and somehow also trying to keep track of who’s paid, who’s booked, and who filled in their health questionnaire.
Right now, you’re probably sending contracts manually, chasing indemnity forms, and hoping everyone’s told you about any injuries before they show up.
With an automated onboarding system, new clients get a welcome email as soon as they sign up. Health questionnaires and indemnity forms are sent automatically and stored safely. Contracts go out for digital signature without you lifting a finger. Payment is taken before they start. Everything lands in one place so you’re not digging through emails.
You stay compliant, clients feel looked after, and you’re not spending your rest days on admin.
This kind of setup would use around €1,200 to €1,600 of your voucher.
The Mobile Hairdresser or Beautician
You’re driving between clients, trying to reply to messages while also running your actual business. Booking requests come through Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and sometimes text. You’ve definitely double booked yourself at least once.
An online booking system means one link you share everywhere (bio, posts, stories) that lets people book and pay. You set which days you’re in which area. Clients can reschedule themselves within your rules, up to 24 hours before, or they lose the deposit. Automatic reminders reduce no shows. Your calendar updates in real time so no more double bookings.
You can focus on your clients instead of being glued to your phone between appointments.
This setup would use around €960 to €1,440 of your voucher.
The Tradesperson
Quotes scribbled on the back of receipts. Invoices you meant to send last week. That job you quoted for three months ago and never followed up on.
A simple CRM and quote to invoice system means all your leads in one place with reminders to follow up. Quote templates that look professional and take minutes to send. Digital signature so you have agreement in writing before starting work. When the job’s done, the invoice generates automatically. Payment reminders send themselves so you’re not chasing money.
You get paid faster and stop losing jobs because you forgot to follow up.
This setup would use around €1,440 to €1,760 of your voucher.
The Photographer
Enquiries come from everywhere. You’re copy and pasting the same information into emails, sending contracts manually, chasing deposits, and trying to remember who’s at what stage.
With an automated enquiry and booking system, enquiries get an immediate response with your pricing and availability. Proposals go out with one click, pulling in their details automatically. Contracts and invoices are attached, ready for digital signature. Once they sign, the deposit invoice sends automatically. Their shoot goes straight into your calendar with all their details attached.
You book more clients because you’re responding faster and nothing falls through the cracks.
This setup would use around €1,440 to €1,760 of your voucher.
Want to Use More of Your Voucher?
The examples above are perfect if you have one main problem you want to solve. But if you’re ready to properly sort out how your business runs, you can use more of the €5,000 available.
Here’s what bigger projects could look like:
Full Online Coaching or Course Platform Setup (€4,000 to €4,960)
For coaches, consultants, or trainers who want to move beyond one to one work and sell courses, memberships, or group programmes.
This includes membership or course platform setup, content structure and module organisation, automated student onboarding sequence, payment system with options for payment plans, community space setup and configuration, email sequences for nurturing leads into buyers, email sequences for student engagement so they actually complete the course, CRM integration so you can track who’s bought what, booking system for any one to one calls included in the programme, and full training and documentation.
You stop trading hours for money and have something you can sell while you sleep.
Complete Client Management System for Service Businesses (€4,400 to €4,960)
For agencies, consultants, or professional services who are juggling leads, projects, and clients across multiple spreadsheets and apps.
This includes full CRM setup with pipeline management, lead capture and automated follow up sequences, proposal and contract automation with digital signatures, client onboarding workflow including welcome emails, intake forms, and kickoff scheduling, project or job tracking system, invoicing automation linked to project stages, client portal where they can see progress, documents, and invoices, reporting dashboard, team workflows if you have staff or contractors, and full training and documentation.
You run your business from one system instead of fifteen different apps and spreadsheets.
Full Booking and Client Experience System for Clinics, Studios, or Salons (€4,000 to €4,800)
For businesses with multiple services, staff members, or locations who need everything running smoothly.
This includes online booking with multiple service types and pricing, staff calendars and availability management, deposit or full payment at booking, your cancellation and rescheduling rules built in, automated reminders by email and SMS, client intake forms, waivers, and health questionnaires, membership or package options like a block of 10 sessions, loyalty programme or referral tracking, gift voucher system, CRM with client history and notes, rebooking prompts after appointments, reporting on busiest times, most popular services, and revenue, and training for you and your team.
You run a tight operation that feels professional to clients and gives you full visibility of the business.
How Do You Actually Get This Voucher?
The application process is straightforward.
First, check you’re eligible. Most small businesses trading for at least 6 months qualify. You can check the full eligibility criteria on the Local Enterprise Office website.
Second, apply through your Local Enterprise Office. You can find your local office here.
Third, once approved, you choose your provider and get the work done.
Finally, submit your invoice and the LEO pays their portion directly.
You do need to pay the provider upfront and the voucher reimburses you, so keep that in mind for cash flow.
What Next?
If you’re spending more time on admin than actually doing the work you love, this voucher could genuinely change how your business runs.
I help small business owners in Ireland set up systems that work, from booking platforms to CRM setup to automations that handle the repetitive stuff.
Not sure where to start? The Ops Review is a 90 minute deep dive into your business where we identify exactly what’s slowing you down and create a clear plan to fix it.
Or if you’re ready to chat about what would make the biggest difference for your business, you can book a call here.
