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Find detailed information on how to start a business in your area
FINLAND
How to run a company in Finland?
Guide Scope: National
Guide Type: Official information & tips
In Finland, you can run a company by your own or with a group of people. Setting up a business is an easy process that has only a few steps:
- Make a business plan and apply for initial funding
- Choose company form and submit the registration form to the Patent and Registartion Office
- Apply for entrepreneur’s permits and notifications (trade-specific)
When starting or running a company, plenty of assistance is available. Free business advice is offered by
- Finnish Enterprise Agency
- Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY centres)
- Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices)
- Enterprise Finland
How to run your own association in Finland?
Guide Scope: National
Guide Type: Official information about Registration
In Finland, an association can be founded for a non-profit purpose by at least three founders. Founding members can be people who are over the age of 15 or organisations. The association’s chairperson and vice chairperson must be over 18 years old and resident in Finland.
Registering an association is not mandatory. However, registering the association to the Finnish Register of Associations provides benefits. A registered association is a legal entity, meaning it can enter into contracts in the name of the organisation and act as a single entity for legal purposes. A registered association is governed by the Associations Act. If an association plans to engage in actitivies which need to reported to tax registers, association needs to apply for a Business ID. All associations needs one ordinary auditor and one deputy auditor.
An unregistered association is a less formal group which is not registered. An unregistered association is not a legal entity and has no legal capacity: the individuals signing contracts will be personally liable for contractual obligations. Furthermore, unregistered associations are allowed to caryy out only limited fundraising.
Your Turn
Find detailed information on how to start a business in your area
How to run a company in Finland?
In Finland, you can run a company by your own or with a group of people. Setting up a business is an easy process that has only a few steps:
- Make a business plan and apply for initial funding
- Choose company form and submit the registration form to the Patent and Registartion Office
- Apply for entrepreneur’s permits and notifications (trade-specific)
When starting or running a company, plenty of assistance is available. Free business advice is offered by
- Finnish Enterprise Agency
- Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY centres)
- Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices)
- Enterprise Finland
How to run your own association in Finland?
In Finland, an association can be founded for a non-profit purpose by at least three founders. Founding members can be people who are over the age of 15 or organisations. The association’s chairperson and vice chairperson must be over 18 years old and resident in Finland.
Registering an association is not mandatory. However, registering the association to the Finnish Register of Associations provides benefits. A registered association is a legal entity, meaning it can enter into contracts in the name of the organisation and act as a single entity for legal purposes. A registered association is governed by the Associations Act. If an association plans to engage in actitivies which need to reported to tax registers, association needs to apply for a Business ID. All associations needs one ordinary auditor and one deputy auditor.
An unregistered association is a less formal group which is not registered. An unregistered association is not a legal entity and has no legal capacity: the individuals signing contracts will be personally liable for contractual obligations. Furthermore, unregistered associations are allowed to caryy out only limited fundraising.
