Gen­eral In­for­ma­tion on how to start a busi­ness with the Finnish Trade Reg­is­ter
Log in to the on­line fil­ing at ytj.fi

Most businesses come into being through registration at the Finnish Trade Register. You must file a start-up notification for the company with the Finnish Trade Register.

As a private trader (often referred to as ‘toiminimiyrittäjä’ in colloquial Finnish), you can file a start-up notification with the Finnish Trade Register. According to Finnish law, in some cases you must register as a private trader with the Finnish Trade Register. 

You can also report a business to registers kept by the Tax Administration, which are the VAT Register, the Prepayment Register, the Employer Register, and the register of bodies liable for tax on insurance premiums. Read more about these notifications on the Tax Administration web site.Avautuu uuteen välilehteen ​

Companies must file their notifications and applications online with the Finnish Trade Register from 1 January 2026. This does not apply to private traders, associations or foundations.

On this page:

Start-up notification using the online service at ytj.fi

File your start-up notification using our online filing service at ytj.fi, if possible. Please note that the service is available in Finnish and Swedish.

The following company types file a start-up notification using the online service:

  •  Housing company
  •  Limited liability company
  •  Mutual real estate limited company
  •  Private trader
  •  Public limited company

You can file notifications in the online service at ytj.fi if you meet all the following requirements:

  • You are aged 18 or over.
  • You have a Finnish personal identity code.
  • You have one of the authentication methods provided by the Suomi.fi identification service, such as personal internet banking codes or a mobile certificate.

Start-up notification using online forms

If you cannot submit your start-up notification using the online filing service at ytj.fi, use our online form to send form Y or the application with attachments to the PRH.​

Private traders can file notifications using paper forms

Private traders as well as associations and foundations registered in the Trade Register can file notifications with the Trade Register on paper Y forms and their appendix forms and send them by post. 

Fees and payment

The amount of the fee depends on the type of the start-up notification.

If you file your notification using our online filing service at ytj.fi, you pay the handling fee in the online service.

If you file your notification using our online forms, pay the handling fee in advance and enclose the receipt. For further details, please read our payment instructions.

When the notification for private trader is delivered in person to the PRH customer service point in Helsinki, the fee can also be paid by card. See the payment methods and contact details of the service point. 

Please note that the fees cannot be paid to the tax offices.

Business licences

For more information on licensed businesses and those subject to notification, please visit the web site Suomi.fiAvautuu uuteen välilehteen.

Anyone who runs a licensed business, either as a private trader or as an organisation, has to report a granted business licence for entry into the Trade Register. If no licence has been granted by the time of filing the start-up notification, it can be reported later by filing a notification of changes. Please send a copy of the granted licence along with the notification.

Monitor the progress of your notification

​See the processing times in the Finnish Trade Reg­is­ter.

You can monitor the processing status of your notification to the Finnish Trade Register via the Notification Search in the Virre Information Service.Avautuu uuteen välilehteen​

If you don't know your Business ID yet, use the Register Search in Virre.

Business Identity Code (Business ID, "Y-tunnus")

A Business ID (“Y-tunnus" in Finnish) is accorded to a business as soon as its notification is entered in the Business Information System by either the PRH or the Tax Administration.

You can check any Business ID in the Company and organisation search at ytj.fiAvautuu uuteen välilehteen (please enter the company name as search key) approximately two working days after you have submitted the notification or posted it. 

Trade Register extract

As soon as the start-up notification has been entered in the Trade Register, the person or business who filed the notification receives a Trade Register extract free of charge. The extract contains the details entered in the Trade Register. 

If the start-up notification has been filed by an organisation or changes have been made to the articles of partnership, articles of association or the by-laws of an organisation, a copy of these documents will also be sent to the customer along with the Trade Register extract.

You can also download a Trade Register extract free of charge in our Virre Information Service.Avautuu uuteen välilehteen 

Further instructions on filing your start-up notification

Please note our instructions according to the type of the business: 
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