Running a business in Åland

Åland has its own competence in the area of business activities and a business licence is required from the Government of Åland to conduct a business. Otherwise, the rules for setting up a company are largely those of Finland. Read more on the page Business in Finland. 

Before starting a business, you should find out what licences and registers are relevant to your type of activity. In addition to a notification of establishment to the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRS) and the Tax Administration, an Åland business licence is required from the Government of Åland. 

Depending on the legislative competence and the type of activity you want to start, it is the Government of Åland, the State Department of Åland or another authority that grants the authorisation.

You can find out more about starting a business in Åland in the guide Starta-eget. The guide provides you with more detailed information on how to plan and get your business up and running, choosing a company form, authorisations and registrations, and more. Åland Chamber of Commerce (Ålands Näringsliv), which produces the guide, is an umbrella organisation for the Åland business community. They can help you with all matters related to entrepreneurship in Åland free of charge. You can find comprehensive information on entrepreneurship in Åland on the Government of Åland's website.

Starting a business as a jobseeker

If you are a jobseeker with the Åland Labour Market and Student Services Authority (AMS) and are planning to start a business, you can receive employment support or continued unemployment benefits when you start your business.

If you are registered as an unemployed jobseeker with AMS, you may be granted employment support for starting a business. As a registered jobseeker, you are granted unemployment benefit and may retain it for the first four months of starting a business. Read more on the AMS webpage Starta eget.

All companies operating in Åland must apply for a business licence from the Government of Åland before starting operations. A business licence can be applied for after an application for establishment has been submitted and the company has received a business ID.

When doing business in Åland, the language of the business must be Swedish and the entrepreneur must have the right of domicile in Åland or five years' continuous residence in Åland.  In the case of general partnerships and limited companies, it is generally required that at least one of the partners or members of the board of directors has the right of domicile or has lived in Åland for at least five years without interruption.

Business licences can also be applied for temporarily. The Government of Åland may then waive the requirement of the company's domicile and the rules on the composition of the board of directors and the members of the company. Read more about Åland's business law on the Government of Åland's webpage Åländsk Näringsrätt.

Åland companies wishing to establish themselves or trade in the Nordic countries can get help from the Åland Chamber of Commerce. Among other things, they provide business and tax advice and act as an umbrella organisation for the Åland business community. Read more on the Åland Chamber of Commerce page on international trade.

On the Your Europe portal you can find out more about the rules for starting a business in another EU or EEA country.

You can find information on entrepreneurship in the other Nordic countries and who to contact if you have questions on the Info Norden website.