Head of practice
Head of Corporate Law and Fintech Practice. Expert in the creation and reorganization of companies, support of M&A transactions, as well as legal support for opening and running a business in the EU, Asia, and North America.
Company registration in Finland
In 2025, Finland ranked among the top 5 most stable economies in the EU according to Eurostat, as well as among the top 10 countries with favourable conditions for innovative business. This is why an increasing number of Ukrainian entrepreneurs choose Finland for relocating IT companies, manufacturing projects, logistics operations and R&D centres. According to Business Finland, the number of applications from Ukrainian companies increased by 38% as of the first half of 2025.
Prikhodko & Partners provides turnkey support for business registration in Finland — from selecting the legal form to accounting and tax structuring.
Main taxes payable in Finland
Finland has one of the most transparent and stable tax systems in the EU. The main taxes are:
Corporate tax (Corporate Income Tax, CIT)
20% — a fixed rate, one of the lowest in Scandinavia.
VAT (Value Added Tax, VAT)
- 24% — standard rate
- 14% — food products, hotels
- 10% — books, cultural events
For IT companies and SaaS projects, VAT applies under the OSS/MOSS rules.
Dividend tax
- 7.5–28% depending on the recipient’s residence and ownership interest.
Social contributions
These consist of:
- pension contributions (TyEL) — ~17%
- health insurance — 1.5%
- unemployment insurance — 0.52%
In 2025, Finland simplified the payment of social contributions for small companies: a reduced rate applies to startups during the first 24 months.
Stages of company registration in Finland
Registration is carried out through the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) and the Vero tax administration.
Stage 1 — Selecting the company form and checking the name
Availability is checked through YTJ.fi.
For example: in 2025, our client was registering a company for logistics activities — PRH suggested changing the name because of its similarity to a public authority.
Stage 2 — Preparing the constitutional documents
Depending on the type of company: Articles of Association, Share Capital Statement, Founders’ Details.
Stage 3 — Submitting the application through YTJ
Registration cost — €2,240–3,380 online.
Average timeframe — 7–14 days.
Stage 4 — Tax registration (VAT, CIT, Employer Register)
If staff recruitment is planned, tax registration is mandatory.
Stage 5 — Opening a bank account
Non-residents may be refused without a substantiated business model. In 2025, banks became stricter due to updated AML regulations.
Typical document package (with examples)
For legal entity registration, the following are required:
- Founders’ passports. For Ukrainians — additionally, a translation and apostille.
- Proof of Address. Finnish banks often require an additional document — a utility bill or a certificate from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
- Constitutional documents. Articles of Association; Shareholders Register; Decision on Incorporation.
- Description of the business model. In 2025, PRH may require evidence of genuine economic substance. Example: an e-commerce company had to provide an agreement with a logistics centre in Helsinki.
- Proof of source of funds. Particularly important for non-residents — banks request KYC information for each founder.
Finnish equivalents of an LLC, JSC and sole proprietorship
Finland has a simple and clear system of legal forms:
LLC — Osakeyhtiö (Oy)
Equivalent to a Ukrainian LLC.
- minimum capital: €0
- the most popular form for IT, e-commerce and logistics
- may have one founder
Public company — Oyj
Equivalent to a JSC.
- suitable for IPOs and major investments
- minimum capital: €80,000
Sole proprietorship — Toiminimi (Tmi)
Equivalent to a Ukrainian sole proprietorship.
- the simplest format
- the owner is liable with all their assets
- popular among freelancers and local consultants
Limited partnership
- for family businesses
- one partner bears unlimited liability
Our law firm provides turnkey support to clients, ensuring full compliance of the business with Finnish legislation.
Legal support
- selection of the legal form
- preparation of constitutional documents
- submission of the application to PRH and Vero
- representation before public authorities
Example: registration of a FinTech startup with a Ukrainian founder in 11 days.
Tax and CFC consultations
- tax structuring
- analysis of tax consequences for non-resident founders
- setting up accounting policies
Accounting services
- VAT registration
- filing financial statements
- payroll service
- preparation of the annual tax return
In 2025, 78% of our clients chose a comprehensive support package to avoid bank refusals and account blocking due to AML requirements.
Support with opening a bank account
Practice shows that a non-resident usually receives a bank request for:
- tax residence
- proof of source of funds
- commercial contracts of the future company
We prepare the complete package in advance, reducing the account opening timeframe from 25 days to 8–10 days.
Company registration in Finland is one of the most advantageous ways to enter the Scandinavian market. Transparent rules, low corporate tax, digitalised public services and stability make Finland one of the most attractive EU jurisdictions in 2026.
Prikhodko & Partners helps Ukrainian entrepreneurs complete every stage quickly, correctly and with minimal risk — from company registration to accounting support and establishing appropriate substance in Finland.
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