Negative and more NEGATIVE ...

[Hank W.]

any prospective job applicant without any Finnish skills whatsoever should at least be prepared to face difficulties, depending on their expectations.

I always say prospective people wanting to start a business should have preparation-H at hand when they get acquainted with VERO...

[shrecher]

Finland has very nice climate for business activity.

Man, first anyone to say that. And a foreigner on top! What are you selling, bright light lamps or vodka?

first of all word "nice" is very subjective. Some other could say bad. For me it is nice because my skills are demanded and well paid. I'm doing IT business. Some of my friends in mind doing construction works and all quite happy.

Next, the motivations why it is very good:
1. Transparent and simple law. For example, you don't need a attorney to submit tax return.
2. Secure and safe place to work
3. It is EU country which opens wide opportunities
4. Simple immigration for high skilled workers . You don't need to file H1B petition
5. Good local education, many skilled professionals

You may think the taxation is very high here. Yes and no. Capital gain tax is only 28%. There are many deductions, so you really pay from the gain.

Income tax could be high. Yes, in some cases. But assume we have family of 3 persons (husband, wife, kid). Only one is working. Assume, they pay tax as 1000 Eur. It is high if they income is 4000 Eur (all figures are examples only). Most likely, they kid goes to kinder-garden, which cost 521/mo. State will pay at least 321 Eur for them, which is obvious return from tax. Also, they get 100 EUR child allowance. If wife will go for study she gets daily allowance 200 Eur and no tuition fee, which is about 300 Eur in other countries. So what we have

tax 1000
consumed services: 321+100+200+300=821 EUR.
---
next tax 179

it is very OK tax.

[raamv]

1. Transparent and simple law. For example, you don't need a attorney to submit tax return.

Well at least you need an accountant!! thereafter your business starts to take off, you would be better off to maintain clean books...

2. Secure and safe place to work

Hmm..I wonder where else you need security guards for IT businesses!!( Not many places that I could think off)

3. It is EU country which opens wide opportunities

have no clue what you mean by this!! based on what? what kind of opportunities?

4. Simple immigration for high skilled workers . You don't need to file H1B petition

and if you file a H1B in Finland, its not valid...in case you didnt know..
H1B is as simple in the US as the permanent resident permit issued here..as long as the paperwork is legal, and perfect..
Now, this is where you think its easy..Do you know of people with the "wrong" or "not enough" paperwork? and how hard it is the first time or second time around? H1B is way easier for the 1st and many more times..

5. Good local education, many skilled professionals

You mean to exploit? in IT? hmm..As I understand, most IT businesses are still relocating to Eastern Europe and Fast East...

and your overall point about business climate as related to How difficult it is to FIND jobs without certain skills or Language proficiency in Finnish is?

[Karhunkoski]

Most likely, they kid goes to kinder-garden, which cost 521/mo. State will pay at least 321 Eur for them, which is obvious return from tax. Also, they get 100 EUR child allowance. If wife will go for study she gets daily allowance 200 Eur and no tuition fee, which is about 300 Eur in other countries. So what we have

tax 1000
consumed services: 321+100+200+300=821 EUR.
---
next tax 179

it is very OK tax.

Interesting analysis there.

So all you guys out there with kids hereby forfeit any right to complain about income tax, you guys are making a profit from the system, it's only childless/childfree people who can grumble

[Hank W.]

1. Transparent and simple law. For example, you don't need a attorney to submit tax return.

Well at least you need an accountant!! thereafter your business starts to take off, you would be better off to maintain clean books...

2. Secure and safe place to work

Hmm..I wonder where else you need security guards for IT businesses!!( Not many places that I could think off)

3. It is EU country which opens wide opportunities

have no clue what you mean by this!! based on what? what kind of opportunities?

4. Simple immigration for high skilled workers . You don't need to file H1B petition

and if you file a H1B in Finland, its not valid...in case you didnt know..
H1B is as simple in the US as the permanent resident permit issued here..as long as the paperwork is legal, and perfect..
Now, this is where you think its easy..Do you know of people with the "wrong" or "not enough" paperwork? and how hard it is the first time or second time around? H1B is way easier for the 1st and many more times..

5. Good local education, many skilled professionals

You mean to exploit? in IT? hmm..As I understand, most IT businesses are still relocating to Eastern Europe and Fast East...

and your overall point about business climate as related to How difficult it is to FIND jobs without certain skills or Language proficiency in Finnish is?

Well, lets say
1. in some countries a private person cannot comprehend a tax return without a lawyer. In Finland you can do almost any legal proceeding, like "import" a wife, draw up a prenuptial, get married, buy a house, get divorced, draw up a custody agreement - without any need for a lawyer. That is if you have half a brain awake in high school where this was taught over. In other countries you need to hire a lawyer even to get a residence permit for your wife...

2. OK, so not so many earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, maoist rebels, bandits, indian traffic or chinese water torture...

3. Well, common market area.

4. Yes but we don't have a quota system. H1B's have a cap.

5. Cheap engineers they claim. Expensive production.

I think theres a CREATE jobs aspect.