It’s rather easy to establish a new company in Finland nowadays, but I wanted to do it in an old fashioned way and do all the necessary paperwork. Was I successful in establishing the company and did I celebrate it in appropriate ceremonies? Yes, yes.

In Finland we have a wonderful website for startups – perustayritys.fi. It’s a website in which you can establish a new company online. Just click next, next, next and soon you’re finished without any paperwork. Sounds attractive? Not to me. I wanted to do this in an old fashioned way.

At first I had a meeting in bank. I chose Nordea to be my company’s bank because I have had a good experience with them in my personal matters. I had all the necessary paperwork done in advance, so it was rather easy to have a new bank account and submit the needed share capital in it.

With a receipt of the share capital payment I headed to National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland in Kamppi, Helsinki.

I founded it quite interesting that before me there were four other persons or groups and every one of them were also establishing new companies. It was Thursday noon in July! Is there some sort of startup boom going on?

I was a little nervous while waiting for my turn. I was nervous because while I was very confident I had the needed papers with me I was troubled if I was missing something.

Finally I had my turn at the desk. Luckily I had done my homework with honor and everything was in order. They said that it takes eight days to have company name registered but the VAT ID should be visible on Monday. That wasn’t enough for me, so I asked is there a way I could get the VAT ID immediately. VAT ID equals the identity of the established company. “It would cost you 7 euros to get it immediately” said the officer. I didn’t hesitate and so he made a few clickety-clicks and soon printed me a certificate with the VAT ID. I can’t explain the feeling but as you guess, it was quite high :).

Now as I had my company established it was time to celebrate. What could a better way to celebrate it than go to sailing with couple of great pals and a few cans of beer.

I had a splendid time sailing and the weather was with us. We even had a chance to use spinnaker.

Great! Let’s be in touch as the story continues.