How to start a business

1. Get acquainted with the necessary material or order the start-package home
EnterpriseHelsinki’s online-founding guide (in Finnish) for prospective entrepreneurs.

• Business Plan and business calculations (financial, profitability and sales estimates).
• You can order the start-package free of charge by filling out the contact form. The start-package includes also a printed version of the founding guide.

2. Sign up and participate in the Entrepreneur? - Info session
At the Entrepreneur? –info session we go through all the common themes for all entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship, business idea, preliminary business plan, profitability calculation, business forms, taxation, public services, insurance, etc. The info session provides a basic picture of the entrepreneurship and the ground for a preliminary business plan.

> More: "How to start a company?" information sessions

3. Make a preliminary business plan and business calculations

> Business Plan

A business plan is essential for a prospective entrepreneur. You will need it when you come to counselling and when you apply for loans, funding, start-up grant, etc. to explain to that the business advisor or financier what the business is about. Important thing is that it shows:

• What you sell?
• To whom you sell?
• How the business works?
• Competition?
• Risk management

Keep in mind that the models do not have to be slavishly followed, but can be applied according to your own business.

4. Book an appointment to our startup counselling

• Phone: (+358) 9 310 36360

Personal consultations will focus on your particular concept and issues that concern you. The meeting with our business advisors are strictly confidential and free of charge. Please reserve approximately 1-2 hours for the counselling session.

• First we identify your situation, your skills and your suitability and motivation to become an entrepreneur.
• We discuss and ask questions designed to clarify how you intend to act as entrepreneurs.
• We go through the preliminary business plan, calculations, profitability, start-up funding needs and potential funding sources together.
• We also sort through marketing, insurance and tax issues, company form and the choice of this and the necessary contacts with the authorities.

We do not necessarily have time to go through all the details on one occasion, and will often have to agree on a further meeting. If necessary, we will also guide you to an expert in our network

5. What about the future?

As a client to a business advisor you can continue for as long as you feel necessary. Even after that you founded your company it is still possible to use our services:

• EnterpriseHelsinki’s entrepreneur courses
• Develop your business in a incubator?
• Consultation before problems lead to consequences