Setting up Shop: The Best Counties in Ireland to Start a Business
Starting a business is one of the most exciting, but challenging steps any entrepreneur can take. From securing the right premises to managing staff and overheads, every decision can significantly impact long-term success. One of the most important, and often overlooked, factors is where you choose to set up your business.
While every business owner will have their own obstacles when setting up shop, our team has crunched the numbers to help determine which counties business owners might be overlooking. Our team analysed every county in Ireland to uncover the best places to launch a new venture.
We assessed factors such as:
- The availability of commercial properties to rent
- The availability of commercial properties to buy
- The number of jobs advertised per 100,000 people
- Average salaries
- Disposable income per person
These datapoints were given a weighted score out of 100, before being combined into a Total Index Score, ranking every county from best to worst for starting a business.
At Procure.ie, we don’t just help identify the best places to start your business; we also help reduce the costs of running it. With access to the best commercial electricity rates and competitive commercial electricity rates across Ireland, we ensure businesses save money on essential overheads from day one.
Top Counties in Ireland to Start a Business
- Roscommon (Index Score: 310.61)
Roscommon takes the top spot, scoring highest overall thanks to a strong balance of affordable property, steady income levels, and a manageable jobs market. Roscommon has the highest number of commercial properties on the market for sale, meaning new businesses here enjoy lower barriers to entry.
- Mayo (Index Score: 306.92)
Mayo follows closely behind. Its high score is driven by a good availability of commercial properties and a prospering local economy, with plenty of jobs currently being advertised in the county, which would suggest that businesses are growing. Mayo is also home to one of the lowest average salaries in the country, meaning lower overheads and greater access to talent without facing wage pressures commonly found in some of the more urban centres.
- Tipperary (Index Score: 285.60)
Tipperary ranks third, boosted by a healthy jobs market per capita and a steady balance of property availability. It’s also home to one of the higher disposable income counties in Ireland, with just over £29,000 disposable income per person according to CSO statistics.
- Kerry (Index Score: 259.54)
Kerry performs strongly thanks to job availability and affordable property options. For entrepreneurs considering lifestyle alongside business, Kerry offers a strong mix of commercial opportunity and quality of life.
- Donegal (Index Score: 255.00)
Donegal rounds out the top five. The county scored well on salary and job availability indices, showing its strength as a sustainable and affordable location for new business ventures.
Counties Scoring Lowest for Business Start-ups
At the other end of the scale, the lowest-scoring counties were:
- Wicklow (185.92)
- Laois (153.38)
- Offaly (153.28)
- Meath (145.83)
- Kildare (132.41)
These counties had fewer available properties per capita, higher salary pressures, or weaker disposable income levels, making them more challenging locations for business owners.
Why Location Matters
This study highlights how Ireland’s business environment can vary dramatically depending on the county. Choosing the right location not only helps with recruitment and access to premises, but can also set your business up for long-term profitability.
John Small, Sales Director at Procure.ie commented on the research:
“Starting a business is an exciting challenge, but many new entrepreneurs underestimate the impact that location can have on long-term success. Our research shows that counties like Roscommon and Mayo offer a strong mix of affordability, opportunity, and consumer spending power, key ingredients for business growth.
“At Procure.ie, we know that managing overheads is just as important as choosing the right location. That’s why we help businesses secure the best commercial electricity rates, reducing costs from day one and giving them the freedom to focus on growth.”
Methodology
To determine the best and worst counties in Ireland to start a business, we created an index ranking system based on several key factors that directly impact business success.
We analysed:
Each factor was standardised into an index score to allow for fair comparison across counties of varying sizes. The individual indices were then combined to generate a Total Index Score, with counties ranked from highest (best for starting a business) to lowest.
