Becoming an entrepreneur

According to surveys, almost half of today's young people are considering entrepreneurship as one option. The TE Office help new businesses with services such as a start-up grant and advisory services with regional partners.

Starting a business can also easily be combined with entrepreneurial training. TE Offices and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) offer training for those who want to become entrepreneurs or who already work as entrepreneurs.

You can get more information on training options from the TE Office and the ELY Centre.

Starting your own business requires a systematic approach

If you’re considering entrepreneurship as an employment option, consider the following:

  • Identify your competence which you can utilise as an entrepreneur alone or together with someone.
  • Turn your competence into a marketable product.
  • Utilise your professional skills and work experience when you become an entrepreneur.
  • Would you rather start a new company or purchase an existing one?
  • Consider opportunities for future generational or ownership changes in your network.
  • Consider cooperative entrepreneurship which would give you the opportunity to utilise your competence in a cross-sectoral manner.
  • Consider whether you should apply for business funding for start-ups.
  • Consider applying for the start-up grant that TE Offices offer to start-up entrepreneurs.
  • Ask for advice and guidance on your business from the regional business services in your area.

If you are planning to start a business, contact the TE Office in your area as early as possible. TE office workers can advice you on how to go from there.

If you begin business activities during your unemployment, the assessment for whether you are a full-time or part-time entrepreneur will not take place within the first four months following the launch of your business. As an unemployed jobseeker, you will be granted unemployment benefits during this time. If you receive income for your business activities during the four-month period, you will be paid an adjusted unemployment benefit. For more information, contact the payers of unemployment benefits:

Kela (kela.fi)

Unemployment funds (tyj.fi)

You can also find more information on entrepreneurship in the Suomi.fi online service in the section Establishing an enterprise.