Starting a business in Helsinki

Thinking about becoming an entrepreneur?

Do you have a rough business idea that needs refining or that you would like to discuss? Helsinki’s entrepreneurship advisory services offer personal and confidential help to refine your business idea in Finnish, English, Swedish, Estonian, Russian and Arabic. Our entrepreneurship advisors answer your questions and tell you what you should consider before starting a business or light entrepreneurship if that is the right fit for you.

Before booking an appointment, please make sure you know what planning to become an entrepreneur includes. You can find basic information on things like the different forms of entrepreneurship and preparing a business plan from NewCo Helsinki’s guides.

Explore basic information about entrepreneurship

Book your business advisory session

Do you live outside Finland?

Not to worry, the city will help you to start a business in Helsinki also when the idea is developed outside Finland. The Helsinki Partners Business Advisors service helps you navigate the Helsinki ecosystem, introducing the key players in the market and giving practical advice on how to localise your operations.

Starting a business on the Helsinki Partners website

Entrepreneurship info events

Helsinki organises entrepreneurship info events where experts give essential basic information on entrepreneurship and how to apply for a start-up grant. During the events, we systematically go through all the things you need to consider when starting as an entrepreneur. The event provides answers to questions like what are the options for becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business, what are the stages of starting a business, what influences the choice of business type and how to finance your business. The info events are held in Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian, Estonian and Arabic.

Kuvituskuva: palaveri — Photo: Marek Sabogal , N2 Albiino

Start-up grant for customers of the municipal experiment

New entrepreneurs can apply for a start-up grant from the TE Office or municipality. More information on the start-up grant is available on the TE Office pages.

The City of Helsinki awards entrepreneur start-up grants for customers of the municipal experiment in Helsinki. You must apply for a start-up grant before establishing your business. The grant cannot be awarded if the full-time business activities have already started before the decision on the grant is made. Company funding and any business premises must be organised before the application is submitted.

If you are a customer of the municipal employment experiment and have any questions or need help with completing the start-up grant application, please e-mail at starttiraha@hel.fi .

Help from business liaisons

The City’s business liaisons perform grassroots work with Helsinki-based businesses, chart businesses’ needs and seek solutions for them. The liaisons focus in particular on businesses’ land use, space and permit matters, along with labour and know-how needs and the development of early-stage entrepreneurship and business co-operation.

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Business development

There are training courses, events and personal coaching for new companies to develop their business activities.

Growth and startup activities

Startups, investors, companies and other Finnish and international ecosystem actors can use city services to find the networks and information they need in Helsinki and elsewhere.

External resources

Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce

Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce offers practical and topical information and support for business activities, including counselling, training and professional literature.

Helsingin Yrittäjät

A website for Helsinki entrepreneurs with training, events and news about the region.

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