Business Course for Foreigners

[Jazqas]

Ok guys, I found this course and wondered if anyone has taken it already or has any opinions.

310202 GoBusiness! Business Course for Foreigners

Last I checked there were still some places available in the class, and I have no idea when it may fill up.

Thanks,
Jazqas.

[FinnBrit]

Hi,

I'm going to the 1430 - 1730 class on Tuesdays. It contains some useful information and the instructor, Anna-Kaisa, seems to know her stuff as an ex-entrepreneur herself. We've only had one session so far and my only complaint would be a slight lack of structure; at some points it was more like a free-for-all Q&A rather than an organised walk-through of things we need to know. Anyway, on the whole I would recommend it.

On the course I am on, eight people registered and only six showed up on day one so there should be room for some more

[Rosamunda]

Not been on that one. But I think I might enroll (thanks for the info). I have done language courses at Helsinginaikuisopisto and they were quite good, class sizes were fairly small and the atmosphere was quite convivial.

I did a Startup business course in Lahti but it was only one or two days (I forget) and it was really just a powerpoint presentation (death by bullet style) and I didn't learn a thing. It never got into the accounting and taxation stuff in any detail which was what we all wanted. Spent too much time on the fuzzy stuff "are you entrepreneur material?"? Like, do we have the choice? (90% of the particpants were unemployed foreigners!).

But your course is 24 units, so it is probably quite detailed and hopefully there is some flexibility in there depending on the specific needs of the group.

Maybe see you there?

[FinnBrit]

There are quite a lot of bullet-points involved here too, and, believe it or not, most of the handouts are in Finnish (for a course for foreigners in English!). Anyway, I'd done quite a lot of my own research before I signed on: met with and created a business plan with TE Keskus and YritusHelsinki, met with accountants, and read most of the material I could find on the various websites that offer English services (there are quite many). If you've done this groundwork then I think the only reason to sign onto this course (in hindsight) is to have easy access to someone who can help you fill any gaps in your knowledge. If you are still in the general 'thinking about it stage' however then this course would be a great introduction to the world of Entrepreneurship in this country. According to the overview of the course we were given we will cover accounting and taxation in depth over the next few sessions.

If you're only interested in book keeping, the instructor did mention that the company will be offering a specific course in this come May..

[Rosamunda]

If you're only interested in book keeping, the instructor did mention that the company will be offering a specific course in this come May..

Aha! Yes, that would be useful. I hate relying on my husband for the VAT returns and annual accounts etc. I can do the basic bookkeeping but I'm not too sure about Finnish specifics.

THX.

[raamv]

If you are still in the general 'thinking about it stage' however then this course would be a great introduction to the world of Entrepreneurship in this country. .

There is a whole different world for entrepreneurs that want to start an Oy and have funding etc etc that are not covered by any courses or institutions...
it comes with Hardball search and world of networks that no one wants to expose as it is a pretty closed world if you want investors in your start-ups..
So the World you are talking about is Personal entrepreneurship companies..and not start-ups..which is a whole different ballgame..err world..

[Rick1]

Ever thought about going in politics here raamv? Everybody can do it here,swimmers,miss Finlands,singers, ralleydrivers etc. max. 8 months of 'work' and 12 months well paid. Also the first year paid holiday which you can forget when you are a 'normal' worker in so modern Finland

What I mean to say is, you make a big thing (woolly spoken) of a normal thing of people who want to start their own company because that is a way of not staying unemployed in this country. They were not talking of start ups,Oy's or other fashion items, just starting a toiminimi e.g.

[raamv]

Ever thought about going in politics here raamv? Everybody can do it here,swimmers,miss Finlands,singers, ralleydrivers etc. max. 8 months of 'work' and 12 months well paid. Also the first year paid holiday which you can forget when you are a 'normal' worker in so modern Finland

What I mean to say is, you make a big thing (woolly spoken) of a normal thing of people who want to start their own company because that is a way of not staying unemployed in this country. They were not talking of start ups,Oy's or other fashion items, just starting a toiminimi e.g.

Well, I dont think you are qualified to ask that question.. when you dont have a clue of what people are talking about here too..
TMI is one case, and Oy can be from 3 people to 30000 people..and Start-ups in Finland are OY .
When people start their own company, they need to understand what options are available...and my point was to point out that those options are never presented in any classes where you can learn about them..
So what have you contributed or can you contribute to this board that makes people aware of anything about Finland? instead of just nitpicking on my statements!! If you cant bear the fact that I do know more about Finland than many of foreigners and even many Finns, then go sit in the burning stone of the sauna to soothe yourself..

[Rosamunda]

TMI is one case, and Oy can be from 3 people to 30000 people..and Start-ups in Finland are OY .
When people start their own company, they need to understand what options are available...and my point was to point out that those options are never presented in any classes where you can learn about them..
So what have you contributed or can you contribute to this board that makes people aware of anything about Finland? instead of just nitpicking on my statements!! If you cant bear the fact that I do know more about Finland than many of foreigners and even many Finns, then go sit in the burning stone of the sauna to soothe yourself..

A TMI can also (in theory) have many employees, there is no law preventing it (only common sense, due to personal liability)

"Start-up" is not a legal term. It is just a neologism for a newly established company. A start-up is usually an Oy but it doesn't have to be. Startti-raha is available for TMIs (for example) as long as they are VAT registered.

The class I attended in Lahti explained these terms in a series of powerpoint slides (I think I have them on my PC still, if you want them). The consultant explained the pros and cons of each one. The differences are also explained in the first few chapters of Holopainen's book which I have quoted a zillion times. The TE-Keskus can advise on these issues too. And I expect the Helsingin Aikuisopisto course also includes a session on company registration and choices concerning capitalisation.

I would be interested to know which courses you have attended raamv. You seem to have had some bad experiences. It would be good to list them on here so we can avoid them. Care to share?

[raamv]

No courses Penny... Just practical experience from all sides of financing..
TE-Kekus is just the start of the equation..There are many out there depending on which industry you want to start a business
Most TMIs are satisfied with earning an income..
Most Start-ups ( Small OYs are content without making much profit) dont want to grow...
But then the ones that differentiate themselves are the ones that want to Grow and be something..and take risks..
This is where the amateurs differentiate themselves from so called entrepreneurs...( at least here, they seem to think so )..
Startti-raha is a commonly used terminology in the TE-kekus ( and there are TE-Keskus and TE-Keskuses.. )..
I can send you some PM regarding other Free courses offered by some entities that I cant name here..
As I said, It is still a closed world there and I ve not encountered many Foreigners there...except a select few from similar boards..

[Rick1]

[I would be interested to know which courses you have attended raamv. You seem to have had some bad experiences. It would be good to list them on here so we can avoid them. Care to share?

According to that Raamv it is better to study first consolidation accounting before you start your toiminimi

Might I remind you that Richard Branson has problems to read and is a very succesfull entrepeneur (he is not the only one!) but this does not work very well in this often nerd country where you have to be a doctor to be a 'succesfull' entrepeneur or selling ideas for batteries and get into court

[DMC]

Oy can be from 3 people to 30000 people

I guess you didn't mean those figures literally, because you don't need 3 people to start an Oy. Mine only employs me, and I am its only stakeholder.

[Rosamunda]

Startti-raha is a commonly used terminology in the TE-kekus.

Starttiraha is a living allowance for people setting themselves up a business. It is assessed by the Employment Office. It is attended to be used for normal living expenses (food etc) while the entrepreneur gets his business going. It is nothing to do with investment capital, in fact it CANNOT be used for registering a business (ie: the 2500€ share capital needed to start an Oy).

http://www.mol.fi/mol/en/99_pdf/en/92_b ... t_2006.pdf

[Pursuivant]

According to that Raamv it is better to study first consolidation accounting before you start your toiminimi

well I've studied business and accounting and my best advice for people starting a business has in most of the cases been "don't"... there was a few times I was getting into one but then the SWOT analysis went imbalanced on the WT

[Rick1]

It is good to have basis knowledge but there are too many things you do not learn at school to be a succesful entrepeneur (and I am not talking about toimitusjohtajat who do not have any risk).