How To Start

When planning a new business, you should consider the following points:

Do you believe in your business idea?
Which markets will your idea serve?
Will you be able to produce and distribute you product to your customers?
How are you going to conduct a market research, how about financing?
How do you handle stress, do you enjoy taking risks?
Do you possess the competence needed and do you know what it means to be an entrepreneur?

Business Idea

It all begins with a business idea. We will help you to specify and refine your idea and plan a profile for your company activities. Book an appointment to Startia

Business Plan

A business plan describes how you are going to realize you business idea and defines specific goals for you business activities. Planning these carefully before commencing is a good idea.

Your business plan should include what you do, what you have to offer, who are your customers, which market you want to address and what are you advantages and disadvantages compared with your competitors.

LISSU is an interactive web-based tool with which you can write your business plan. It also enables comments from business advisors and other persons connected with your plan. Registration is required for using LISSU - user name and password are available from Startia.

Select Form of Enterprise

When you set up a company, you should carefully weigh which is the most suitable form of enterprise for you and your situation. Factors affecting which form of enterprise is selected are for example the number of people establishing the business, the need for capital and its availability, responsibilities and decision-making, continuity of operations, profit sharing and covering losses as well as taxation. Read more on forms of enterprise

Register you Business

After choosing a name for your business and filling in the necessary documents, you need to register your business. This is done by filing a Start-Up Notification to the Finnish Trade Register. Read more on how to register your business

Apply for Necessary Licenses and Permits

Before operations are commenced, it is important to check whether a special license or declaration is needed for the business. Specific requirements on the entrepreneur himself or herself, premises or business operations, can also exist. Read more on licenses and notifications

Look for Business Premises

Many entrepreneurs set up their business and work from home, while others have an immediate need for business premises. What are your needs? Which is more important - that the premises are centrally located or that you have a loading platform and plenty of parking space? Do you need office, storage space or personnel facilities? Business premises for rent or sale in the Vaasa region (in Finnish)

Note that your premises have to fill the authorities' regulations. These vary according to what kind of business you are going to run in the premises.

Protect your Business Idea

If you wish to protect your business products, do consider applying for a patent, design right or trademark from the National Board of Patents and Registration in Finland.

If you have made a technical invention, you may apply for a patent. Your company name or logo will be protected with a trademark. For a product with a special design, you can apply for a design right to protect the appearance of the product.

The purpose of these is to secure your own investment in product or in research and development. At the same time, you are protected against imitators and competitors, and it is also easier to attract sponsors. Patent rights can be sold or licenced.

Insure yourself and your business

Your home insurance will not cover your business, so go through what kind of insurance you and your business will need. Contact an insurance company and discuss the alternatives. Read more on insurances

Now your business is up and running, congratulations!

Questions, problems, anything you need assistance with? Contact us. We are here for you throughout the entire life cycle of your business.