For more information on different company forms and establishing a business in Finland, see also the web sites Invest in Finland and EnterpriseFinland.
Today, most businesses must be registered at the Trade Register. A Start-Up Notification must be submitted for a new business, containing basic information on the business and the trade it carries on.
Following businesses are invariably obliged to file a Start-Up Notification:
a private trader who
carries on a licenced trade; or
who has a permanent place of business, i.e. premises separate from his/her own residence; or
who has in his/her employment a person other than his/her spouse or child or grandchild who is underage or otherwise under his/her guardianship.
general partnerships and limited partnerships
limited companies
housing companies (The Start-Up Notifications of housing companies are handled at the Local Register Offices.)
co-operatives
mutual insurance companies
savings banks
mortgage associations
insurance associations
public businesses
tenant-owners' societies
non-profit organizations and foundations that, for the purpose of carrying on a trade, have a permanent place of business or employ at least one person
foreign traders who establish a branch in Finland
European economic interest groups and interest groups registered elsewhere that establish a place of business in Finland
Societas Europaea
European Cooperative Societies
However, persons engaged in agriculture or fishing are not under obligation to file a notification.
general partnerships and limited partnerships
limited companies
housing companies (The Start-Up Notifications of housing companies are handled at the Local Register Offices.)
co-operatives
mutual insurance companies
savings banks
mortgage associations
insurance associations
public businesses
tenant-owners' societies
non-profit organizations and foundations that, for the purpose of carrying on a trade, have a permanent place of business or employ at least one person
foreign traders who establish a branch in Finland
European economic interest groups and interest groups registered elsewhere that establish a place of business in Finland
Societas Europaea
European Cooperative Societies
A Start-Up Notification can be submitted even by a business not obliged to do so. For example, an enterprise mortgage used as a security for a loan can only be registered on the property of a registered business enterprise. Registration is the most efficient way of protecting the trade of a business enterprise.
The Start-Up Notification must be filed before start of operation.