Thinking about starting your own business but not sure where to begin?

This 1-day workshop is designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the essential steps of launching a business in Ireland.  Please note this workshop is an introductory to starting your own business and not a Start Your Own Business programme.

Course details are as follows:

Date: 18th September 2026

Duration: 09:30 to 17:00 (lunch provided)

Price to participant: €20

Location: MERITS, Naas, W91 FE8V

Overview of the topics to be covered during the day:

• Introduction and outline of the programme
• Elevator Pitch fundamentals
• Entrepreneurial self-evaluation exercise
• Traits of an Entrepreneur
• Legal Structures for Start-ups- overview
• SWOT Analysis
• Registering a Company or a Business
• Business Plan- overview of a simple template
• Overview of effective Marketing for SMEs
• The 5 W’s of Marketing Communications (segmentation, channels, media etc)
• The 7 P’s of the Marketing Mix
• Defining a USP or value proposition
• LEAN Model Canvas- in brief
• Market Research- key principles
• Setting Marketing Goals & Developing the Marketing Strategy
• Communications Strategy Planning, Management and Measurement
• Developing a sales strategy
• VAT, Self-assessment taxation including IT, PRSI and USC- in brief
• Allowable Expenses
• Credit Management
• Projecting Cash Flows
• Pricing your product/service
• Financing your start-up business – options in brief
• Leo/State Supports for Start-ups- overview
• Evaluations
• Programme close.