FAQ – Financing for different situations and forms of business

Finnvera can only start providing loans and guarantees when your company has started its business operations. We will assess your company's ability to service its loans on the basis of turnover and the performance plan. Without turnover or orders, it is impossible to make any such assessment. An exception to the above is Finnvera's Start Guarantee for credit granted by the bank.

The primary forms of financing for a start-up in the product development phase are its own investments and venture capital investments as well as Business Finland, which funds the development of innovations aimed at growth, internationalisation and new business. (www.businessfinland.fi)

You can apply for private venture capital investments through FiBAN (Finnish Business Angels Network).

You can apply for funding for business development from the ELY Centre for your region.

In a business acquisition, the buyer sets up a new company that acquires the other company's business or parts of it (machinery and equipment, premises, personnel, trade name, etc.).

The company's financial and legal liabilities are not transferred to the new owner.

In an acquisition of shares, the buyer purchases the shares or the majority of shares in a company. The acquired company will usually continue to operate under its old name and business identity code. The financial and legal liabilities of the acquired company will remain unchanged.

The acquisition method should always be on a case-by-case basis and experts should always be consulted during the planning stage. Advice is available from actors such as Enterprise Agencies, regional business companies, entrepreneurs' associations, accounting agencies and brokers specialising in company acquisitions.

Read more about company acquisitions and published guides on the matter (Buyer's Guide, Seller's Guide) can be found at www.suomi.fi/company website.

For advice on Finnvera financing in connection with company acquisitions contact our customer service, at +358 29 460 2582. Please note that we cannot provide advice on other aspects of company acquisitions.

Read more about the financing of corporate acquisitions on our website Start and Growth > About the change of ownership.

As a company form, a cooperative is eligible for Finnvera financing, provided that the cooperative conducts business and its activities are geared to making business profit. Non-profit or non-commercial corporations are not eligible for Finnvera financing.

The sectors excluded by legislation include agriculture proper, forestry and property development in construction as well as real estate investing. These restrictions apply to all company forms.

You can apply for financing for a cooperative by submitting a financing application in our online service. A bank or other provider of financing may also apply for Finnvera Guarantee on behalf of a cooperative.

For other financial needs related to taxi entrepreneurship, we recommend that you contact your bank. It is possible to obtain Finnvera's guarantee for the funding granted by the bank if the project would not otherwise be arranged.