Starting a Business Info

Are you considering entrepreneurship? Start by watching this Business Helsinki's Starting a Business Info video in English. When becoming an entrepreneur many questions probably remain open to you. This info video will help you with taking your first steps as an entrepreneur in Finland.

Below you can find all the additional information and relevant website links related to the content of the video.

You can also find the timestamps of each topic in case you would like to review some topics again.

01:28 – Start-up Grant

You can find more information on the conditions of start-up grants on the Business Helsinki's website.

02:00 – 1. Licences and permits

More information on licences and permits:

• Permits and obligations - Suomi.fi
• Permits and facilities for businesses | City of Helsinki
• Guide to Entrepreneurship - Uusyrityskeskus

02:46 – 2. Business forms
03:23 – Sole Trader (Toiminimi):

• Online registration fee is 70 € (on paper also 70 €), year 2025.
• More information about Sole Trader registration and registration fees on PRH Trade Register’s website
• You may find a YouTube link to the video tutorial on how to file the start-up notification online on YTJ’s website

04:55 – Limited Liability Company (Osakeyhtiö, Oy):

• On-line registration fee is 280 € / 370€ (own documents / on paper), year 2025
• More information about Limited Liability Companies on PRH - Trade Register - Limited liability companies website

06:39 – 3. Company registration

• You can register your company online at www.ytj.fi/en
• For more information about filing notifications with the VAT, Prepayment and Employer Register, please visit the website of the Finnish Tax Administration at vero.fi

08:08 – Trade Register (Kaupparekisteri):                   

Register your company:

• YTJ - Private trader
• YTJ - Osakeyhtiö

Read more:

• PRH - Trade Register - Private trader

• Start-up notification for a private trader to the Finnish Trade Register (youtube.com)
• PRH - Trade Register - Limited liability companies

09:44 – Business ID-number (Y-tunnus):

• Read more: YTJ - Business ID

10:14 – Taxation:

Prepayment tax

• More information: www.vero.fi/en
• File your company's income and business expenses and any operating profit through MyTax service

11:05 – Value-Added Tax (VAT) – Arvonlisävero (ALV)

• Annual sales limit: Annual sales of under 20 000 € are not liable for VAT, year 2025
• Useful information about VAT: Value added tax - vero.fi

13:07 – 4. Social security, YEL

• Annual YEL income limit in 2025 is 9208,43 euros – Take entrepreneurs pension insurance (YEL) if your earnings exceed this.
• There is a new entrepreneur discount of 22% for the first 48 months.

14:48 – 5. Unemployment Security (Yrittäjäkassa)

• YEL income must be at least 15 128€ in 2025.  
• Entrepreneur Fund (yrittajakassa.fi)
• Kela.fi

16:15 – 6. Insurances

17:44 – 7. Accounting

More information:

• Partner Network | City of Helsinki
• Guide to Entrepreneurship – Uusyrityskeskus
• New business enterprise - vero.fi

19:57 – 8. Contracts
20:28 – 9. Residence permit?
More information:

• Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi/en)

20:58 – Together we will make your entrepreneurial dreams into a success!

Read more on our website, newsletters, and social media channels:

• Download the business plan and calculations templates and Guide to Entrepreneurship
• Participate in our free of charge trainings and events 
• Subscribe to our newsletters
• Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X
• Read more: hel.fi/businesshelsinki

Source: Guide Becoming an Entrepreneur in Finland 2024