Starting a small business in Finland.

Useful advice on jobs, careers and entrepreneurship in Finland. Find job postings, job information, work permits and more.
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fastinjun
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Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by fastinjun » Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:31 pm

Hi Guys,

Im from the USA and have lived here in Finland for a little over a year. Im tired of the job search here and I have worked almost the whole time Ive been here but work is tough to find. Ive been thinking of starting my own business, I ran my own business in the states for 15 years so have some knowledge etc.
My question is does the government have any grants towards small business'? Im sure I would have to present them with a plan etc but wondered if there was any gov't help.
Thanks in advance.



Starting a small business in Finland.

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Upphew
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by Upphew » Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:47 pm

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Visa is for visiting, Residence Permit for residing.

Linza
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by Linza » Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:39 pm

If it works out, could you hire me? I'm in the same boat. I've been looking for work since I got here, and so far I teach English and shovel snow. Since I busted my wrist, it is now just teaching English, and that work is scarce. I'm pretty crafty and willing to work weird hours. :D


Suggestion: Music shop. There are two big ones in Helsinki, and viola strings are freakin expensive. I know a guy in the USA who runs a violin shop, might be able to make suggestions about from where you can import instruments / supplies. Just a thought. A completely self-interested thought, mind, but a thought. :)

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Pursuivant
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by Pursuivant » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:18 pm

fastinjun wrote: I ran my own business in the states for 15 years so have some knowledge etc. .
NO YOU DON'T - thats the first mistake, you "think". This is Finland where having a "think" is like dousing yourself with gasoline & lighting a match. Do you know there is no personal banktrupcy?
My question is does the government have any grants towards small business'?


Yes, of course there is, after all they want people to fall into their trap. Sorry for being so ultrapositive, but I've an associates degree in accounting bachelors degree in business, and the last thing I'd do is start a business. I got taught doing a SWOT analysis too well. Anyhow, as an immigrant the local (un) employment orifice MOL & the local TE-kaskus arrange "immigrant enterpreneur classes" where they explain the ins and outs of the Finnish system, be awake in the class where they explain TAXES and INSURANCE as both of those get people shagged. The TE-keskus also usually has so-called "business incubators" where you can get office space etc for startups.

As my professor said of the difference between having a business in USA and Finland
- In the USA you invent a gizmo in your garage, you open the garage door, and theres 1000 people lined up wanting to buy it.
-In Finland you invent a gizmo in the garage, you open the garage door and theres a meter of snow.
( and theres foortprints to the mailbox, theres a letter from the tax office wanting 100 000 as they heard you invented something and are apparently in business.)
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

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CAD_Guy
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by CAD_Guy » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:18 pm

I love the people on this forum, they're so positive all the time. :lol:

Anyway here's some useful information for you:

There's a definite way in which things can be done in and it's tedious.

First and foremost you need to be at least a permanent resident.

If you're unemployed you need to go to the unemployment office (if you're in Helsinki that's here: http://www.mol.fi/toimistot/helsinki/haapaniemi/) and when you get an appointment tell them you want to start a business to be able to get the grant. If you're already registered with the unemployment office you can call them to make an appointment for the purpose of starting a business.

You'll have to make an appointment with the business startup grant people (they're only there every fortnight). After the that you make an appointment with Yrityshelsinki. http://www.yrityshelsinki.fi/en

Before you got to Yrityshelsinki you need to do your business plan here for free which you take to your appointment: http://business-plan.fi/

Yrityshelsinkin (Enterprise Helsinki) has free seminars all the time you can find them online.

Your appointment with Yrityshelsinki will provide you with a good consultation and whether or not your business is worth pursuing and viable. As well they will provide you with a free consultation with an accountant, as our positive friend Pursuivant has pointed out, accounting here is completely different. You will be told about the insurances, which are not cheap by any standards but it's one of the costs of doing business. You'll be given appointments to see insurance companies to get an idea of costs.

You make another appointment with the startup grant people after Yrityshelsinki (if they agree your business is good) to submit your paperwork. Don't expect things to be fast! It will be a minimum 6 weeks after this appointment before you can start your business and then a month after your official start date before you get the grant.

You also lose all unemployment benefits as well. Not sure about social services.

Running a business isn't cheap and more than likely you'll find it more difficult than running one in the USA. It is of course up to you and what you think is best. A lot of people I find in Finland are not big risk takers and find that they are very much in the socialist way of thinking. I know many who have dreams of doing their own business but like the full time job they have and the security, benefits, etc...

Hope that helps.

fastinjun
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Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:04 pm

Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by fastinjun » Thu Mar 11, 2010 4:39 pm

Thanks for the advice, positive or negative. Things here in Finland are very much different than in the states and Ive had to take that into consideration but appreciate the suggestions and if this idea does take off I will definitely come back here to check in!
Thanks

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Pursuivant
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by Pursuivant » Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:56 pm

I've a friend who started a toiminimi. As he hasn't had the business running he got a bill from the tax office. His mistake - not telling them not doing anything. Small snag, deep pit.
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

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CAD_Guy
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by CAD_Guy » Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:15 pm

Pursuivant wrote:I've a friend who started a toiminimi. As he hasn't had the business running he got a bill from the tax office. His mistake - not telling them not doing anything. Small snag, deep pit.
Not surprised really, sounds typically Finnish. When you get the grant you need to report each month with forms supplied. I'm sure if don't do anything they'll probably fine you or whatever.

I forget to mention you can't start the business in any form prior to getting the approval for the grant, that means not even registering for the name. Also the grant is only for 6 moths, after that you can reapply for another 6 with a revised plan and then another 6 if you still need help. Not sure how hard it is to get the extensions.

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Pursuivant
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by Pursuivant » Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:10 pm

So, the advise is - do not "think" - "know".
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

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CAD_Guy
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by CAD_Guy » Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:30 pm

Pursuivant wrote:So, the advise is - do not "think" - "know".
Not always easy in this country. Especially if you don't speak the language.

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Pursuivant
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by Pursuivant » Fri Mar 12, 2010 12:35 am

If you don't know the language - eventually you learn. Or then you need it fast and then you cry and learn. Of course some people manage without, but some people win the lottery too.
Last edited by Pursuivant on Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

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filecore
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Re: Starting a small business in Finland.

Post by filecore » Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:17 am

CAD_Guy wrote:
Pursuivant wrote:I've a friend who started a toiminimi. As he hasn't had the business running he got a bill from the tax office. His mistake - not telling them not doing anything. Small snag, deep pit.
Not surprised really, sounds typically Finnish. When you get the grant you need to report each month with forms supplied. I'm sure if don't do anything they'll probably fine you or whatever.
I have run a toiminimi for almost four years now. This is the snag - if you go away to Ibiza for a month, or whatever, you still have to submit a monthly tax notification for that month, declaring that you earned zero euros. This is changing a little now that you can do the 'monthly' reporting on a quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis, but yes, the Finnish system is full of cheerful little pitfalls like this.

FeL
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Official information on starting a business

Post by FeL » Sat Jun 24, 2017 2:29 pm

For those arriving here, it may be helpful to link some current websites providing information on how to start a business:
https://www.prh.fi/en/kaupparekisteri/y ... minen.html
https://www.yrityssuomi.fi/en/web/guest ... rustaminen
https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/whatisbis/o ... nline.html


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