START A COMPANY / EUROPE
How to register a company in Finland
Finnish companies are registered with PRH. An Oy can start with no minimum capital and costs EUR 300-400 in registration fees. Sole traders pay about EUR 75 or can register free via the tax office.
- REGISTRY
- Patentti- ja rekisterihallitus PRH (Finnish Patent and Registration Office), Trade Register and YTJ
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- €75 (≈ £64)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Non-residents can found an Oy. At least one ordinary board member must live in the EEA unless PRH grants an exemption. Sole traders (toiminimi) must be EEA residents. Online signing needs Finnish eID or Katso; otherwise use a paper filing with notarised signatures.
SOLE TRADER
Toiminimi: Toiminimi (private trader / sole proprietorship)
Freelancers and small traders wanting the simplest start with no capital.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 owner (EEA resident)
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1-5 days
Steps
Decide the business name and check it against the Trade Register.
Submit the start-up notification (perustamisilmoitus) via YTJ online with eID, or register with the Tax Administration only (OmaVero) if no Trade Register entry is needed.
Pay the PRH fee of about EUR 75.
Get a Business ID and register for prepayment and VAT with the Tax Administration.
Take out YEL pension insurance (self-employed pension) within 6 months.
Open a business bank account and set up bookkeeping.
Documents
- Finnish personal identity code or ID
- Finnish eID or Katso credentials
- Business description
- Bank account details
Official fees
PRH start-up notification about EUR 75 (EUR 70 online per one source); free through OmaVero if no Trade Register entry.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | €75≈ £64 | DIY: PRH start-up notification fee |
| With an accountant or agent | €400≈ £340 | Accountant sets up tax, VAT and bookkeeping, about |
| Full service | €1,200≈ £1,000 | Accountant with first-year bookkeeping and advice, about |
Every year
- Annual income tax return
- VAT returns monthly, quarterly or yearly by turnover
- YEL pension contributions
- Bookkeeping and tax prepayments
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: whether fee is EUR 70 or 75.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
Oy: Osakeyhtiö (private limited company)
Start-ups and small companies wanting limited liability and flexibility with no minimum capital.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 board member (EEA resident); managing director optional
- Minimum capital
- None (EUR 0 allowed)
- Time
- 1-2 weeks
Steps
Choose a company name and check it in the Trade Register.
Draft the memorandum of association (perustamissopimus) and articles of association, signed by all founders.
Pay in the share capital, if any, and keep proof of payment.
Appoint the board; sign with eID or file with certified signatures.
Submit the registration notification to PRH via YTJ and pay the fee of EUR 300 (guided) or EUR 400 (own documents).
Register with the Tax Administration for VAT and employer duties; receive the Business ID.
Report beneficial owners in the YTJ system and open a company bank account.
Documents
- Memorandum of association
- Articles of association
- Proof of capital payment (if any)
- Board members' ID details
- Beneficial owner details
Official fees
PRH fee EUR 300 (guided YTJ package) or EUR 400 (own documents) for 2026; no notary needed.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | €300≈ £260 | DIY: PRH registration fee via guided YTJ package, excluding any share capital |
| With an accountant or agent | €1,000≈ £860 | With an accountant or agent preparing documents, about |
| Full service | €2,500≈ £2,100 | Law firm, registered address and bank help, about |
Every year
- Annual financial statements filed with PRH within 2 months of approval
- Corporate income tax return (20%)
- VAT returns
- Payroll and employer filings
- Update beneficial owner details in YTJ
Good to know. Minimum capital abolished since 2019; one source says EUR 0 capital possible in 2026.
PARTNERSHIP
Ky: Kommandiittiyhtiö (limited partnership)
Small ventures where one partner manages and others invest with limited liability.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 2 partners (1 general and 1 limited)
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1-2 weeks
Steps
Agree a partnership agreement among general and limited partners.
Submit the registration notification to PRH via YTJ.
Pay the Trade Register fee.
Register for VAT and employer duties with the Tax Administration.
Open a bank account.
Set up bookkeeping.
Documents
- Partnership agreement
- Partners' ID details
- Business description
Official fees
PRH registration fee about EUR 330 (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | €330≈ £280 | DIY: PRH registration fee, about |
| With an accountant or agent | €1,000≈ £860 | With accountant set-up and agreement, about |
| Full service | €2,200≈ £1,900 | Lawyer for agreement and registration, about |
Every year
- Annual financial statements
- Partners' income tax returns
- VAT returns
- Partner pension insurance
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: Ky registration fee.
After you register
- Register for VAT with the Tax Administration; the exemption threshold is EUR 20,000 turnover (unverified for 2026).
- Register as employer and arrange employment pension (TyEL) and accident insurance for staff.
- Take out YEL pension insurance if you are self-employed.
- Open a business bank account with the Business ID.
- Record beneficial owners in YTJ.
- Check sector permits and notifications with the municipality or authority.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Europe
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.