Start-up grants promote the establishment of new businesses and employment by providing for the livelihood of an entrepreneur starting a business.
How to apply for a start-up grant
You can apply for a start-up grant with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment Employment and Economic Development Office (ELY Office), which makes the decisions concerning start-up grants. In addition to the preconditions for receiving a start-up grant, the ELY Office will consider the applicant's need for financial support.
Adress:
Asemapäällikönkatu 14
00520 Helsinki
>> Read more about ELY Offices
Decision-making
When preparing its decision, the ELY Office may ask a third-party expert to assess, for example, whether the applicant meets the prerequisites for acting as an entrepreneur, whether the business concept is profitable, and what the competitive situation looks like in the sector concerned.
The decision on a start-up grant is usually made for two periods, the maximum length of each being six months. If, after two periods, the need to provide for the livelihood of the entrepreneur is still deemed to be real, a start-up grant can be granted for a third period, but for a maximum of six months. Hence, a start-up grant can be granted for a maximum of 18 months in total.
For 2009, the average grant is approximately 590 euros per month.
Start-up grant application forms
- Available at ELY Offices
- Online at www.suomi.fi > eServices and forms
Preconditions for receiving a start-up grant:
- The applicant is assessed to be sufficiently qualified for the intended enterprise activities.
- The company to be established meets the preconditions for operating profitably.
- The enterprise activities were not launched before the decision to issue a grant was made.
- The person receiving a start-up grant is not simultaneously receiving other state aid for his or her own wage costs.
- The enterprise activities would not be launched without the start-up grant.
- The start-up grant does not result in distortion of competition in the sector.
- The applicant has the experience or training needed in enterprise activities.
- Training can be undertaken even while the support is being given.
Restrictions on receiving a start-up grant
No start-up grant will be made if the livelihood of the person starting up an enterprise is secured by other means – e.g., wage income or various types of aid, benefits, or
allowances. Further provisions on this are contained in the Government decree issued on benefits included in public employment service (1346/2002).
Entrepreneur training helps in getting started
Flexible combinations of starting up an enterprise and obtaining entrepreneurial training are possible. Employment and Economic Development Offices and Employment and Economic Development Centres (ELY Centres) offer training for prospective entrepreneurs and for people working as entrepreneurs. Further information on training offered for entrepreneurs is available at ELY Offices and ELY Centres.
Prior to applying for a start-up grant, you should contact an expert at the TE Office for further information on issues related to establishing an enterprise.
Extension to the start-up grant
The application concerning an extension to the start-up grant must be submitted
to the ELY Office no later than one month before the end of the ongoing start-up grant period.
