Material and guides
We have collected a number of handbooks, guides and links related to starting up, running and developing a business in Finland. Feel free to use those that suit you best.
Start here
The Finnish Business Information System (YTJ)
is a shared service of the Patent and Registration Office (PRH) and the Tax Administration, where you can make joint reports to both authorities. The information you report is logged with the Trade Register, the Register of Foundations, and the Tax Administration’s VAT Register, Tax Prepayment Register and Employer Register.
The Patent and Registration Office
(PRH) is the place where you have to register your new business.
The Tax Administration
will help from the very start of setting up a business, and their site contains a lot of information.
Starting up a business
The first steps to entrepreneurship (video)
Starttirahan hakuun tarvittavat liitteet
The Enterprise Finland
portal contains a huge amount of information on starting a business. It also has an online business planning tool, including financial calculators.
The Entrepreneur Guide
is a must-read for anyone planning to start up operations.
Yritystulkki.fi
is a site (in Finnish) with a lot of practical information for entrepreneurs, including a start-up checklist.
The Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office)
site has a wealth of information for new entrepreneurs.
Finnvera
can help with financing and guarantees.
Helpful links for companies that are already operating
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
can grant development aid and assist e.g. in internationalisation.
Business Finland
(formerly the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, TEKES) offers financing services for internationalisation and innovation.
ProAgria
has diverse development services for agricultural entrepreneurs.
More information about entrepreneurship
“Light entrepreneurship” refers to business operations that are usually conducted via a billing service. This allows you to operate with or without your own business ID, while billing through an external service. The most common light business format is a trade name. Note that light entrepreneurship is not recognised by Finnish law, which means that these forms of entrepreneurs are considered to be entrepreneurs, regardless of whether they have an employment contract with the billing service or their own business ID. For more information on light entrepreneurship, see the Light Entrepreneurship Guide.