Starting Your Own Business
Are you on your way to becoming an entrepreneur?
Are you considering entrepreneurship or developing your own business idea? Are you planning to apply for start-up funding? We offer advice services for new entrepreneurs to help you take your first steps towards a successful business.
Personal business advice
Our service is personal, confidential, and free of charge for aspiring entrepreneurs. We support you in developing your business idea and starting your business, as well as afterwards. Book an appointment for personal advice!
Contact details for advice for new entrepreneurs
- Anu Kurkilahti-Haartemo, anu.kurkilahti-haartemo@raisio.fi, +358405309563
- Camilla Pihlman, camilla.pihlman@raisio.fi, +358407788750 (start-up grant)
How to get started?
Do you have a business idea or have you found an interesting business to buy?
From business idea to business plan
A business idea describes how your company plans to implement the basis of its business in practice. A good business idea is original, easy to implement, and leads to profitable business. When you start developing your business idea, it is a good idea to draw up written plans and, if possible, try out your ideas in practice. You can and should modify your business idea as needed. Our advisory services will help you clarify and refine your business idea.
Once you have confirmed that your business idea is a good one, draw up a business plan based on it. This will force you to think about your business idea systematically and ensure that there is sufficient demand for it.
When drawing up your business plan, prepare profitability and financing calculations. These will help you ensure that your business will be profitable and that you have enough money to start it up.
Financing
A company's financing usually consists of its own and external capital. You can obtain support for your livelihood as a start-up grant, financing for business investments and working capital, for example, from banks and Finnvera in the form of loans or guarantees, and apply for discretionary grants from Business Finland, ELY Centers, and other sources.
However, the support offered by Business Finland and ELY Centers for business financing usually applies to companies that are already operating. To secure financing, prepare a thorough financial statement and business plan. Companies operating in rural areas can apply for Leader business support for investments, starting up or developing business operations. We help you review different financing options in our business advisory services and provide support in mapping out financing options.
Start-up funding is discretionary support for new entrepreneurs. Its purpose is to support the entrepreneur's livelihood in the early stages of full-time business operations, when the income from the business is still low. Start-up funding is granted for six months from the date you start as a full-time entrepreneur or expand your part-time business into a full-time business. Start-up funding is applied for electronically via the Työmarkkinatori online service.