I want to start a company.

A business advisor will help you evaluate your plan, make the necessary calculations, and find out what you should do before starting a business. Business advice is free and confidential. The discussion does not oblige you to start a business.

Business Riihimäki (also Hausjärvi and Loppi) business advice contact information >>
Contact information and appointment booking for business advice at the Häme New Business Centre (Janakkala)>>

As an immigrant, you can also ask for help from integration services. In the Riihimäki region or In Janakkala (link opens in a new window)

 

Answer the following statements yes, partially or not yet

• I can clearly explain what product or service I am selling.
• I know who my first potential customers are
• I have discussed my idea with potential clients.
• I know which customer problem or need I am solving.
• I know my main competitors and alternative solutions.
• I know why a client would choose me.
• I have planned the price of my product or service.
• I have estimated the company's income and expenses.
• I know how much money I need to start a business.
• I have investigated any possible permits and qualification requirements.
• I've been thinking about which business form would suit my situation.
• I have found out how business activities affect my income and benefits.
• I have spoken with a business advisor.

What do your answers tell you?

Mostly “yes”
Your plan is already quite advanced. Next, review your business plan, calculations, financing, and start-up procedures with a business advisor.

Mostly “partially”
You have a good starting point. Next, choose two or three things to clarify before deciding to start a business.

Mostly “not yet”
Don't rush into registering your business. Start by identifying your customers' needs, making a business plan, and doing calculations. A business advisor will help you get started.

A business plan is your own playbook. It helps you clarify to yourself and potential partners how your business will operate, find customers, and make money.

The plan may include, for example:

• Why are you starting a company and what is the company's mission?
• What do you do (product or service)?
• Who do you work for (customers and their needs)?
• Lead from the previous: What value do you bring to the customer, can you translate the benefit you provide into a few euros?
• Market situation (competitors, alternative ways for customers to fulfill the need, market area and its business potential)
• How do you stand out from the rest?
• What is your desired corporate image? (how do you want people to talk about you or see you)
• How do you market?
• How do you make a sale?
• Pricing (Ask yourself: am I pricing the product according to the market, according to production costs, or according to the value I provide to the customer? What is the profitability with this pricing?)
• How do I do it? (practical organization of the activity)
• Own expertise and its development
• Possibly necessary employees and partners
• Risks, their significance for operations and their management
• How does the company's finances work? (financing, cash flow)
• Is the activity profitable?
• Objectives (clear, time-bound and measurable goals from the start-up phase onwards)

You do not need to have a business plan ready before your first consultation. You can come to the consultant without a plan or with an unfinished idea.

Templates (remember that these are to support thinking, not to be filled out as such)

• Link: Suomi.fi – Business plan (and related services)
• Link: Business plan and calculations for the New Business Center

With the help of calculations, you can find out whether the business can generate sufficient income and how much money is needed to start the operation.

Profitability calculation

The profitability calculation tells you how much a company needs to sell in order for revenue to cover:

• your desired income level
• company fixed costs
• costs of producing products or services
• insurances
• taxes
• other business expenses

Estimate sales realistically. Not all working time is usually billable time.

Download for yourself: Basis for financing and profitability calculations (New Business Center, Excel)

Financial statement

A financial calculation tells you how much money you need to start your business and where the funding will come from.

For example, consider:

• machinery and equipment
• tools and software
• Business premises and rental deposits
• permits and registrations
• initial inventory and materials
• communications and marketing
• insurance (note: YEL)
• financial Management
• working capital

Download for yourself: Basis for financing and profitability calculations (New Business Center, Excel)

Cash flow statement

The cash flow statement tells you when money comes into the company's account and when the company's payments are due.

A company may be profitable according to calculations but still run into difficulties if customers pay their invoices later than the company's own expenses are due.

Download for yourself: Cash flow statement template (New Business Center, Excel)

There may be several different grants and financing options available for starting a business.

The availability of funding or support may be affected by:

• company location
• from the industry
• company size
• necessary purchases or investments
• whether it is a start-up, experiment or development

It is worth starting to explore subsidies and financing with a business advisor.

Business support in Finland 2026, link >>

Startup money supports the entrepreneur's livelihood

Start-up allowance is a discretionary support intended to secure the personal income of a full-time entrepreneur in the initial stages of business operations. The amount of the start-up allowance is the same as the basic daily allowance; it is EUR 37,21 per day (2026) and can be received for a maximum of five days a week.

Starting money:

• paid to the entrepreneur, not the company
• not intended for machinery, equipment or other investments
• does not replace the company's working capital
• the possibility of starting money should be investigated before starting a full-time business

For example, the following may be needed to assess the start-up capital:

• business plan
• profitability calculation
• financial plan
• a report on the entrepreneur's skills
• statement from a business advisor.

Link: EHTA (Southern Häme Employment Area) instructions on start-up funding

Rural business subsidies 

• entrepreneurship experiment support (€2500, expert services and rental costs)
• part-time business start-up support (€5000, excluding salary costs)
• start-up support for full-time business activities (€7500, excluding salary costs)
• support for design and expert services (€1000)
• investment support (20%, total cost estimate €5,000-100,000)
• planning support for change of ownership (€5000, after the measures have been implemented)

Leader business support can be applied for by micro-enterprises employing less than 5 person-years, regardless of the form of business.

Hausjärvi, Loppi and Riihimäki – Leader funding Emo Ry >>
Janakkala – Leader funding Linnaseutu Ry >>

Find out before applying

Ask a business advisor or financier:

• Is the support suitable for my company?
• Is the company located in an eligible area?
• Is my planned measure eligible for support?
• What costs are acceptable?
• How much own financing is needed?
• Can other public support be used for the same project?
• When can the project start?
• What attachments are required for the application?
• How is the support paid?
• What reporting and documentation is required?

Compare business forms on the Suomi.fi online service at this link>>

The company form affects, among other things:

• the entrepreneur's personal liability
• for taxation
• decision-making
• company administration
• to withdraw money from the company
• to take on new owners
• to obtain financing.

Toiminimi

A business name may be suitable for a situation where:

• you act alone
• the operation is quite small-scale
• financial risks are low
• you want an administratively simple business form

The sole proprietor is personally liable for the company's commitments.

Limited company

A limited liability company can agree to a situation where:

• the activity involves more financial risks
• the company has several owners
• the goal is growth
• the company needs external financing
• The company's finances want to be more clearly separated from the owner's personal finances.

Cooperative

A cooperative can suit a situation where several people want to sell services, try something, or use common resources together.

General partnership and limited partnership

These forms of business are established as a partnership between at least two people and may involve personal liability for the company's obligations.

Discuss the company form with a business advisor and, if necessary, an accountant.

Not all business activities can be started with just a business ID.

The activity may require, for example:

• permission from the authorities
• making a notification
• registration
• approved premises
• hygiene skills
• liquor license
• transport permit
• security documents
• environmental permit
• professional qualifications
• Designation of a responsible person.

Find out the requirements before renting a business space, making major purchases, or starting operations: Suomi.fi – Company permits and obligations >>

A foreign citizen can also establish a company in Finland. The permits required depend on citizenship, place of residence and residence permit.

If you are not a citizen of Finland or another EU or EEA country, find out:

• Does your current residence permit allow you to be an entrepreneur?
• Do you need an entrepreneur's residence permit?
• Do you need separate official permits?
• Can you act as a responsible person for the company?
• How does business activity affect your residence permit?

Check your own situation with the Finnish Immigration Service or a business advisor before starting operations.

A good company name is:

• easy to remember
• easy to write and pronounce
• sufficiently individual
• suitable for the company's operations
• usable in different languages
• suitable for websites and social media.

Check:

• Is a similar company name already registered?
• Is the name or part of it registered as a trademark?
• Is a suitable domain name available?
• Are social media usernames free?
• Does the name have an undesirable meaning in another language?

The PRH makes the final decision on the registrability of the name in connection with the processing of the notification of establishment.

Links:

• PRH's name service
• Traficom FI domain name search

Notice of establishment 

Starting a company is easy: You fill out the company establishment form on the ytj.fi online service and open a bank account. After this, you are an entrepreneur and have a business ID.

Link to the company formation notice (all company forms, includes price lists and instructions)

Notifications to the tax authorities
When setting up your business, you can also register with other necessary registers, such as the VAT register, the prepayment register and the employer register. This will also make your life easier, as you can do this in the same session and login.

Taxpayer's instructions for company founders >>

All companies must keep accounting records of their business operations. The entrepreneur or company management is responsible for ensuring that the accounting is properly maintained.

Accounting separates the company's and the entrepreneur's own money, income, and expenses.

Taxation is based on accounting. Value added tax is paid based on the sales revenue of the business. Income tax is paid on the result shown in the accounting, to which adjustments have been made in accordance with tax laws. (vero.fi)

• Make sure your accounting matters are taken care of – we recommend an accounting firm or a competent accountant
• Ensure that receipts and vouchers (dated and numbered) regarding business activities are compiled and stored.

Useful links (opens in separate windows):

• Read more, vero.fi instructions on accounting, financial period and tax period >>
• New entrepreneur tax information 2026 PDF >>
• New entrepreneur instructional videos (YouTube) >>

 

While you are waiting for the registration decisions, open a bank account for your company. You will usually receive the decisions 3-4 weeks after submitting the notification of establishment. You can start invoicing once you have received the registration decisions.