Thinking of Starting a Business? Here’s Where Demand Outstrips Supply in Ireland
Starting or expanding a business is a big commitment, but choosing the right niche can make it a smarter one.
At Procure.ie, we help Irish businesses get more from their budgets, whether that’s through better energy deals, lower overheads or insights that make planning easier. So, we’ve dug into the latest data on local demand and supply for everyday services, revealing where Irish consumers want more options and where the market is already packed.
Why Local Demand Makes All the Difference
Every new business comes with overheads, staff, premises, supply costs, and energy bills. But not every business niche offers the same return. Choosing an industry where demand clearly outpaces supply means you’ll spend less time (and money) fighting for customers, and more time growing your brand sustainably.
For businesses in more crowded spaces, every cost saving matters even more, from the deals you strike with suppliers to the rates you pay for your energy and utilities.
How we crunched the numbers
The team gathered average monthly search volume data for 25 common businesses/services in each county through searching for terms like ‘[business/service] near me. We then used GoldenPages.ie to gather the number of current listings for each business or service in each county before calculating a supply/demand index.
We analysed the following businesses:
- Bakeries
- Beauty salons
- Builders
- Butchers
- Carpenters
- Carpet cleaners
- Dentists
- Dog groomers
- Electricians
- Florists
- GP
- Grocery store
- Hairdressers
- Hotels
- Locksmiths
- Pet shops
- Petrol stations
- Pharmacy
- Pizza
- Plumbers
- Pubs
- Restaurants
- Solicitors
- Taxis
- Vets
Top 10 industries to start a business in Ireland
Our analysis shows that practical, everyday services like locksmiths, pet shops, and bakeries are seeing healthy demand, but have relatively few providers compared to how often people search for them. This means there’s clear space for new businesses to operate in the space.
Services like pizzerias and supermarkets also feature, suggesting that while these are everyday essentials, there are still parts of Ireland where choice is limited and new players can compete.
Oversaturated Niches: High Demand, High Competition
By contrast, some local favourites, like builders and beauty salons, continue to attract huge consumer interest but are already crowded with options. Opening in these sectors means standing out from day one, keeping costs tight, and building a loyal customer base fast.
Businesses in oversaturated markets often face higher marketing costs, frequent promotions, and rising energy usage from long opening hours, all reasons why cutting overheads (like securing the best energy rates) is so important.
Local Gaps You Might Not Expect
Looking closer at the county-level data reveals some surprising gaps too. For example:
- Carlow shows strong demand for petrol stations, an essential service but with few local options.
- Clare shows a similar pattern, hinting at regional gaps for critical businesses outside the big cities.
- In larger counties like Cork, demand stays steady for hospitality and retail but competition can vary street by street.
What This Means for Irish Businesses
For new businesses, these gaps are more than just interesting numbers, they’re real opportunities to fill unmet needs in local communities.
For existing businesses looking to expand, this kind of insight helps reduce risk: you know where to open next, what services to add, and how to plan your energy and supply needs from day one.
At Procure.ie, we back you up with practical support too from securing competitive business energy deals to helping you run a leaner, more efficient operation. Less money wasted on overheads means more room to invest in what really matters: your customers and your growth.
Plan Smarter. Grow Better. Save More.
Every business idea is stronger when it’s built on real insight and supported by a plan to run efficiently.
Whether you’re opening a locksmith service in Longford, expanding a family-run petrol station in Clare, or launching a new bakery in your hometown, Procure.ie can help you make the most of every euro on your business energy bills.
If you would like a free analysis of your business utility bills, simple email sales@procure.ie or click the link below and a member of the team will be in touch!
https://www.procure.ie/save-now/
