What is NAVI?
NAVI – The New Entrepreneur’s Navigator is a free guide for anyone starting a business in South Karelia (Etelä-Karjala), Finland. It covers everything from registering your company to finding customers, managing finances, wellbeing, and local support services — in one place, step by step.
NAVI is produced by Etelä-Karjalan Yrittäjät (South Karelia Entrepreneurs) as part of the Yrittäjyyden äitiyspakkaus project (2025–2026), funded by Etelä-Karjalan liitto.
1. How do I get started?
Starting a business in Finland is straightforward. You register your company at the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) at prh.fi. The most common legal forms for new entrepreneurs are toiminimi (sole trader / private trader), osakeyhtiö (Oy, limited company), and osuuskunta (cooperative).
- Sole trader (toiminimi): Easiest to set up. You are personally liable for the business.
- Limited company (Oy): Requires €2,500 in share capital. Separates your personal assets from company assets.
- You can apply for starttiraha (start-up grant) from TE-palvelut if you are unemployed or transitioning from employment.
- Free business advice: Uusyrityskeskus (New Business Centre), BusinessMill, and local Enterprise Finland offices offer free consultations.
→ Enterprise Finland — Start a business
→ TE-services — Start-up grant
2. How do I find my first customers?
Your first customers are usually people who already know you — your network. Tell everyone what you do. After that, focus on two or three marketing channels rather than trying everything at once.
- Define who your customer is: age, location, problem they have, what they are willing to pay.
- Social media: Facebook and Instagram work well for local B2C businesses. LinkedIn for B2B.
- Google My Business: Register your business for free so customers can find you on Google Maps.
- Pricing: Price your product or service to cover all costs (materials, your own time, fixed costs) plus a margin. Use the NAVI pricing calculator (free download).
3. How do I manage money?
Finnish law requires all businesses to keep accounts (kirjanpito). Most small entrepreneurs use a licensed accountant (tilitoimisto). Costs are typically €80–200/month depending on transaction volume.
- VAT (ALV): The standard rate in Finland is 25.5%. You must register for VAT if your annual turnover exceeds €15,000.
- YEL insurance: Mandatory pension insurance for self-employed people. The amount is based on your confirmed income (YEL-työtulo). Register within 6 months of starting.
- Tax prepayments (ennakkoverot): Pay income tax in advance during the year via OmaVero at vero.fi.
- Free tools: Download the NAVI budget template and pricing calculator from this site.
→ Vero.fi — Tax information for entrepreneurs (in English)
→ OmaVero — My Tax (in English)
4. What do I need to agree and protect?
Protect yourself and your business with the right contracts and insurance before you need them.
- Always use written contracts — even with people you know. A contract protects both parties.
- Business insurance: At minimum, get liability insurance (vastuuvakuutus). If you have premises or equipment, add property insurance.
- GDPR: If you collect personal data from customers, you need a privacy notice and must comply with EU data protection rules.
- Intellectual property: If you create original work (design, text, software), it is automatically protected by copyright in Finland.
→ Suomen Yrittäjät — Contracts guide
5. How do I stay well as an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship can be demanding. Taking care of yourself is not a luxury — it is a business necessity.
- Occupational healthcare (työterveyshuolto): As a self-employed person, you can arrange voluntary occupational healthcare for yourself via Kela reimbursement.
- Peer support: Joining a local entrepreneur association gives you colleagues who understand your situation.
- Entrepreneur helpline: Suomen Yrittäjät offers a free advice line (0800 01 055) for members.
- Burnout prevention: Set boundaries for working hours. Take actual holidays. Your business depends on you being well.
→ Kela — Healthcare for entrepreneurs
6. Where can I get help in South Karelia?
You do not have to navigate entrepreneurship alone. South Karelia has an excellent network of business support services — and most of them are completely free for new entrepreneurs. Below is a full list of regional services, who they are for, and how to reach them.
6.1 City of Lappeenranta Business Services
For: businesses registering in or operating from Lappeenranta. Services: business advice, start-up guidance, information on available premises and local opportunities. Cost: free.
→ lappeenranta.fi/yrityspalvelut
6.2 BusinessMill
For: start-ups and student entrepreneurs connected to LUT University or LAB University of Applied Sciences in Lappeenranta. Services: business advice, mentoring, access to campus ecosystem, accelerator programmes. Cost: mainly free for early-stage entrepreneurs.
6.3 Kehy — Imatra Regional Development Company
For: businesses and new entrepreneurs in the Imatra region (Imatra, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti). Services: business advice, start-up guidance, development services. Cost: free for new entrepreneurs.
→ kehy.fi
6.4 Etelä-Karjalan Yrittäjät (South Karelia Entrepreneurs)
For: all entrepreneurs, including those just starting out. Membership gives access to advocacy, training, and member benefits. Local associations in: Lappeenranta, Imatra, Lemi, Luumäki, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale, Taipalsaari.
6.5 Uusyrityskeskus (New Business Centre)
For: anyone planning to start a business. Services: free start-up consultation — review of your business plan, profitability, legal form, and registration process. Cost: completely free.
.6 International House Lappeenranta
For: international residents in South Karelia. Services: advice and guidance on living and working in Finland, including entrepreneurship — available in English. Particularly useful for immigrant entrepreneurs.
→ International House Lappeenranta
LY Centre (Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus): grants for business development and investment. South Karelia Employment Area (administered by the City of Lappeenranta): handles start-up grant (starttiraha) decisions and entrepreneurship services. Apply via suomi.fi.
→ TE Services — Start-up grant
6.8 Other funders: Finnvera, Leader, Business Finland
Finnvera (finnvera.fi): state-owned financier offering small loans and guarantees for new businesses. Leader Länsi-Saimaa: rural development funding for Lappeenranta, Lemi, Luumäki, Savitaipale and Taipalsaari areas. Kärki-Leader: rural funding for Imatra, Parikkala, Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti areas. Business Finland Sprint: up to €100,000 for growth-oriented new companies.
7. How do I grow my business?
Once your business is running, the next step is sustainable growth — not just doing more of the same, but doing it smarter.
- Business Finland Sprint: Funding for product or service development for companies with growth potential. Apply at businessfinland.fi.
- ELY Centre (ELY-keskus): Development funding and advisory services for SMEs in the region.
- Hiring your first employee: You become responsible for paying employer contributions (sivukulut, approx. 20–25% on top of salary). Uusyrityskeskus can help you prepare.
- Internationalisation: If you want to sell outside Finland, Business Finland and Team Finland offer export support.
8. What kind of entrepreneur am I?
Entrepreneurship looks different for everyone. NAVI has specific guidance for different life situations:
- International entrepreneurs: Finland is welcoming to foreign entrepreneurs. You do not need Finnish citizenship to register a company. International House Lappeenranta provides services in English.
- Student entrepreneurs: You can run a business while studying. Check Kela’s rules on student benefit and entrepreneurship.
- Part-time entrepreneurs (sivutoiminen yrittäjä): You can keep your job and run a business on the side. YEL rules apply once your income exceeds the threshold.
- Women entrepreneurs: Etelä-Karjalan Yrittäjänaiset ry offers a local network and events for women entrepreneurs.
- Young entrepreneurs (under 29): 4H Etelä-Karjala lets you try entrepreneurship without a business ID. NYT (NY-toiminta) offers school-based entrepreneurship programmes. JCI Lappeenranta is a network for leaders and entrepreneurs under 40.
→ International House Lappeenranta
Useful Finnish terms for entrepreneurs
- Toiminimi (Tmi) — Sole trader / Private trader
- Osakeyhtiö (Oy) — Limited company / LLC
- Y-tunnus — Business ID number
- ALV (arvonlisävero) — VAT (Value Added Tax)
- YEL — Mandatory pension insurance for self-employed
- Kirjanpito — Bookkeeping / accounting
- Starttiraha — Start-up grant (from TE-services)
- Tilitoimisto — Accounting firm / accountant
- Liikevaihto — Turnover / revenue
- Kate — Gross margin / contribution margin
Project information
NAVI – The New Entrepreneur’s Navigator is produced by Etelä-Karjalan Yrittäjät ry (South Karelia Entrepreneurs) as the end product of the Yrittäjyyden äitiyspakkaus project. Project period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2026. Funded by Etelä-Karjalan liitto (Regional Council of South Karelia). All materials are free to use.
Download your free Budget Planner and Pricing Calculator Excel templates.
Both files include step-by-step explanations and practical examples to help you complete them with confidence.