Many kinds of help and support available for entrepreneurs
The National Entrepreneur's Day in Finland is celebrated annually on 5 September. It aims is to support entrepreneurial activities and increase the appreciation of entrepreneurship. In this article, we have collected information about various services aimed at entrepreneurs.
Enterprise Finland Telephone Service
When you need help or advice as an entrepreneur, calling the Enterprise Finland Telephone Service is an easy way to get started. Whether you have been in business for a while or are just considering entrepreneurship – the Enterprise Finland Telephone Service offers support for all situations.
The service provides answers to typical questions related to setting up a company and shares information on the public business and employer services offered by various organisations, such as ELY Centres, TE Offices, the Finnish Patent and Registration Office, the Finnish Tax Administration, Business Finland and Finnvera. You can also get help with e-services if necessary. Depending on the problem, the telephone service can give you an answer to your question either during the call or direct you to the correct authority or service provider.
The Enterprise Finland Telephone Service is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4.15 pm at 0295 020 502.
Mobile call charges or local network charges apply, including the time you wait on hold.
If you would like to hear more about the Enterprise Finland Telephone Service, you can watch a TE-live broadcast on the topic. It introduces the service in more detail with Service Manager Marjo Öhmann.
- Enterprise Finland Telephone Service (suomi.fi)
- Yritys-Suomi -puhelinpalvelu on porttisi yritysmaailman palveluihin! (te-live.fi, in Finnish)
Financial guidance for entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur, reach out if you have financial concerns! The Yrittäjän talousapu counselling service provides confidential specialist support and advice free of charge. The counsellors offering financial assistance are trained experts specialising in corporate finances and business rehabilitation.
You can reach out if
- you are concerned about the profitability of your company,
- you are unable to pay your own salary,
- you notice that your bills are piling up,
- you are no longer able to pay back your loans and their interest, or
- your amount of work or sales have decreased and you don’t know what to do.
You can also contact the counselling service if you want to have a conversation about the future of your business in general or if you feel like you cannot cope with your financial issues on your own and are worried for your well-being.
During your first phone call, you will go over your situation with an expert. At the end of the call, you will receive concrete instructions on what to do next. If necessary, you will also receive the contact information of a local expert who can help handle your case and potentially find a mentor.
The Yrittäjän talousapu counselling service is available in English Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4.15 pm at 0295 024 882. Mobile call charges or local network charges apply.
Yrittäjän talousapu counselling service (ely-keskus.fi)
Financial Assistance for Entrepreneurs Forum in Tampere at Sokos Hotel Torni on 23 November 2023
The Financial Assistance for Entrepreneurs Forum features interesting talks and discussions about the financial and payment difficulties of entrepreneurs and their prevention. The event is intended for stakeholders of the Yrittäjän talousapu counselling service and all interested parties.
Ilmoittautuminen Yrittäjän talousapu -foorumiin 23.11.2023 (webropol.com, in Finnish)
TE Office services for entrepreneurs
TE Offices also offer services for entrepreneurs, providing help and advice for the entire life cycle of a company. If you need support to secure your livelihood in the early stages of your company, you can apply for a start-up grant from the TE Office. As your company’s financial situation changes, you can get help from the change security specialists at the TE Office.
Contact your local TE Office when you need advice or help with recruitment, development or change of personnel or starting a business. The TE Office can for example help you prepare a job advertisement and publish it. You can also get support for the recruitment process with job offers and jobseeker presentations. If you want to develop your company or your employees’ competence, you can contact the TE Office.
Paikalliset TE-toimistot (toimistot.te-palvelut.fi, in Finnish)