Public Business Support and Funding

TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS CHAPTER STARTING UP A BUSINESS IN FINLAND NEXT CHAPTER INDUSTRIES REQUIRING A BUSINESS LICENSE OR NOTIFICATION Finland has freedom of trade, which means that you may engage in business operations that are lawful and in accor- dance with good practice without requiring a business li- cense from the authorities. However, in certain industries, a business license is required to protect the community, the environment and consumer safety. In other fields, no- tifying the authorities is sufficient, and an official busi- ness license is not required. Before commencing operations, it is always important to check whether a special business license or declaration is needed and what other requirements apply in your chosen field. Business licenses are granted by local authorities (municipalities and cities) and regional administration offices along with government departments, local environ- mental protection authorities and other licensing author- ities. A business license is generally granted for a fixed period, and it can be revoked if the person does not comply with the provisions of the license. Application for a business license is usually subject to a charge. In some cases, a business license is needed from many different authori- ties. For example, in the catering industry, hygiene certifi- cation and licenses to serve food and alcohol are required, and declarations must be made to the health inspector, the rescue services and local building supervision author- ities, amongst other things. It's always important to check whether a license is needed in your operations. 23

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