Starting a Company
If you are planning on starting a company, the info events for entrepreneurs are the place to be. At these events, experts share useful tips for planning business activities, and from there, you have the chance to book a one-on-one consultation with the business advisors of the Enterprise Agency, or the Business Center if you have an innovative idea or plan on taking your business international. The programs of educational institutions are also a good path to entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship infos and advice
If you are starting a business or have one that is just getting started, you can get expert help from the business advisors of the Enterprise Agency of Kuopio (Kuopion seudun Uusyrityskeskus). They have extensive experience in entrepreneurship and many lines of business. The business advisors can help you, for instance, to analyze the potential of your business idea or guide you through the process of writing a business plan and other tasks involved in starting a business. You can also get help with e.g. profitability calculations, registration, writing a business plan and funding applications, and applying for a start-up grant. More information about the Enterprise Agency of Kuopio
More information about Entrepreneurship infos on the website of the Enterprise Agency
Book a one-on-one meeting with a business advisor: Enterprise Agency: +358 17 288 2000, or see the direct contact details on the website of Business Kuopio.
Aiming for innovative ideas and going international
Start-up counselling for innovative ideas or businesses planning on going international is provided by Business Center North Savo.
Organized by the Business Center, Havuja#!@&%&! is a program that boosts new business ideas and their maturing into future success stories. The program offers its participants new ideas, personal coaching, methods and networks for the commercialization of innovations, development of business activities and internationalization. Find out more about the Havuja#!@&%&! program.
Contact:
- Marja-Leena Laitinen, Business advisor, City of Kuopio, Business Development Services & Business Center, marja-leena.laitinen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 718 2044
- Maarit Manninen, Business promotion officer, City of Kuopio, Business Development Services & Business Center, maarit.manninen@kuopio.fi, +358 44 718 2087
Browse our plan and contract templates
If you want to speed up the process, you should write a business plan if you haven’t done so already. Templates for drawing up and refining your plans can be found at BusinessPilot and the Enterprise Agency.
A business plan defines the purpose of your business and helps you clarify your business idea and how you will put it into practice. The bigger your goals, the more detailed your business plan should be. More information on the website of Suomen Yrittäjät (in Finnish)
Contract, calculation and other templates for running a business and other advice can be found in BusinessPilot.
Here is a shortcut to contract templates and other forms (in Finnish) if you are a starting a business or running a business.
Transfer of ownership and franchising
The ownership transfer service is aimed at entrepreneurs and private persons who are planning on buying or selling a company or business activities or planning transfer to the next generation. The service is free of charge and does not require membership of any entrepreneurial organization. It is aimed at all businesses in North Savo regardless of their legal form and industry. The service is provided by Savon Yrittäjät together with Business Joensuu. Contact Savon Yrittäjät: Mia Simpanen, project manager, +358 44 368 0505, mia.simpanen@yrittajat.fi / Niko Knuutinen, service advisor, +358 50 560 0604, niko.knuutinen@yrittajat.fi
Franchising, on the other hand, refers to long-term, contractual cooperation between two legally and financially independent businesses, the franchisor and the franchisee, where the franchisor grants the franchisee the right to use its business concept under predetermined instructions for an agreed period of time in a particular region or place in return for a financial compensation. Advice is available from the Enterprise Agency: +358 17 228 2000
Growth Community
The aim of the growth and innovation partnership in North Savo, coordinated by the Kuopio Region Chamber of Commerce, is to facilitate a vital culture of growth entrepreneurship within the province. This will help accelerate the establishment of new startups and the creation of research-based business ideas in the region. Supporting the reform of the business sector and the growth in the number of export companies is also crucial. Read more about the Growth Community and contact Tiina Hartikainen, tiina.hartikainen@kuopiochamber.fi, +358 44 513 2904
See also North Savo Startup Ecosystem (2021–2022).
Programs of educational institutions
One potential path to entrepreneurship can be found in the programs provided by educational institutions. Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Savo Vocational College, among others, provide qualifications and studies in entrepreneurship:
There are several study modules at Savonia UAS where you can study entrepreneurship and the development of a new business – whether you are interested in developing your skills or have a business idea you would like to explore or test, or business activities you would like to drive forward. Read more about what Savonia has to offer: Entrepreneurship and innovation skills – Savonia UAS (in Finnish). Contact information Savonia UAS
Education to obtain a further vocational qualification in entrepreneurship is organized jointly by Savo Vocational College, Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Business Center North Savo. The further vocational qualification in entrepreneurship is worth 150 competence points and, during the program, the experts at Business Center offer sparring for students on at least two occasions or according to the student’s needs. Read more about the further vocational qualification in entrepreneurship (in Finnish). Contact information Savo vocational college
Further information
One phone call: +358 17 182 089