Self Employment

Being self-employed means you are running your own business rather than working for an employer.

Working for yourself can have a number of advantages. For example, it means you are in control of what you do, so you can organise your own hours, and you can build on a variety of skills, work and life experiences you have gained in your life so far.

Useful links

If you are interested in setting up your own business the following is a list of support services and information sources to help you get started.

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Leitrim is the first point of contact for all new businesses setting up in Co. Leitrim. Providing support in the form of advice, training, mentoring as well as financial assistance and the development of company management skills.

Leitrim Development Company provides small scale enterprise funding and other supports including business planning and mentoring is available to farmers and members of farm households to set up small service businesses or enterprises on the farm. Examples include food production and distribution, tourism enterprises, secretarial services and a wide variety of other services and enterprises.

Leitrim County Council – ONE CALL to Success provides you with one number to call to find out about the different support services available to you in setting up your business in Leitrim. The aim is to save you time by helping you to locate the most appropriate support for your type of business or the stage your business is at right now whether that be just an idea, starting up or growing.

Business Access to State Information and Services The aim of the BASIS website is to deliver Government information and services to business 24 hours a day. This site provides information on business start-up and development, paying taxes, employing staff etc.

Citizens Information For a general overview of preparation for self employment, company registration, taxation and supports.

Toil and Trouble A guide through the maze of self-employment, produced by the Department of Social Protection.

Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets.

Revenue provides detailed information on taxation for self assessment.

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a government department with an aim to drive Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity by creating the conditions where enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation can flourish and quality employment opportunities are grown and maintained.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme encourages those receiving certain social welfare payments in Ireland to become self-employed.