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Fit Business and Ireland AM ran a Start Your Own Business competition worth over €50,000 in association with the Daily Star

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Raising Funds

How the hell do I raise money for my business?  Well if it is a new business or relatively new business (18 months or less) you may apply for a Priming Grant  with your local Enterprise Board.  This grant must be 50% funded by the owner/company and 50% funded by the Enterprise Board up to a maximum level of €80K if your company is not a potential Enterprise Ireland client. 

Setting up a business

The economy may be on its knees, but 287 new companies set up between 9th to 15th April alone. Starting your own business, whatever the business climate, is a challenge. Here are a few tips.

Dental tourism causing Irish dentists to grit their teeth

Irish dentists will have to deal with the new reality that is increasing numbers of people travelling abroad for dental treatments.  Driven by savings of up to €500 per crown and up to €2,200 per implant, we’re happy to pack up our worries about aftercare in an old kit bag to get a smile, smile, smile. Perhaps unsurprisingly, our preferred destinations include those in which we bought up thousands of properties during the boom - Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria and Spain.  Reports of sub-standard materials, poor sterilisation techniques and the lack of aftercare however mean that you really need to do your research before you select a practice. Dental tourism is on the increase with Irish clients making up at least 4% of wandering patients worldwide.

Insurance companies – insuring their own asses

Like our banking institutions our Insurance providers are taking us for fools. We pay for protection against the financial impact of the loss of property, health or income but get penalised for making a claim through the loss of “no claims” bonuses or through higher premiums on renewal.