How to Register a Finnish Limited Company in 2026
Simpler than most people expect
Until 2019, registering a Finnish limited company (osakeyhtiö) required €2,500 in minimum share capital. That requirement was removed. Today a Finnish limited company can be registered with as little as €1 — or even without cash capital if non-cash assets are contributed instead.
No notary is required. The online registration through YTJ takes a few hours to complete, and the company is typically in the register within one to two weeks.
What you need before registering
Founders and shareholders
A limited company needs at least one founder, who can be an individual or another company. Single-owner companies are completely standard in Finland.
Articles of association
The articles of association (yhtiöjärjestys) is the company's founding document. It must include at minimum:
- the company's name (toiminimi)
- registered domicile (e.g. Helsinki)
- line of business (toimiala)
The line of business can be written broadly — for example "the company carries out business activities across various sectors" — which gives flexibility later. A narrow definition can restrict what the company can do.
Board of directors
The company must have a board of at least one member. In the simplest structure, the founder is the sole board member and may also act as managing director — or the company can operate without a managing director if it's small enough.
Share capital
No minimum share capital is required, but some amount must be registered. A common approach is €1–2,500. Share capital is paid into the company's bank account before registration, or immediately after.
The registration process step by step
Step 1: Submit the registration notification through YTJ
A Finnish limited company is registered with the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) online at ytj.fi. You'll need:
- Finnish bank credentials or mobile ID to log in
- Details of founders and board members
- Articles of association content
- Share capital amount and number of shares
- Financial year start and end dates
- Auditor information (not required for small companies)
The registration fee payable to PRH is €240 (2026, online application). Paper applications cost more.
Step 2: Open a business bank account
Share capital must be deposited into the company's account. In practice this means opening a business bank account either before registration or immediately after.
Many banks will open an account based on founding documents before the Y-tunnus is issued. Some require the Y-tunnus first. It's worth asking the bank in advance.
Holvi — NoCFO's own banking service — is one option for a business account. NoCFO Flex is free, NoCFO Business costs €25/month, and both connect automatically to NoCFO bookkeeping.
Step 3: Wait for the Y-tunnus
PRH processes online applications in 1–2 weeks typically. Once the company is registered, you receive a Y-tunnus (business ID), which appears in YTJ. The Y-tunnus is required for all official business activity, contracts, and invoices.
Step 4: Register with the Tax Administration
Registration with PRH does not automatically enrol you in the Tax Administration's registers. These are done separately through OmaVero or YTJ:
- Prepayment register (ennakkoperintärekisteri) — required if you want clients to pay invoices without deducting withholding tax
- Employer register (työnantajarekisteri) — if you plan to hire employees
- VAT register (ALV-rekisteri) — mandatory once annual turnover exceeds €20,000, optional below that
What to sort out straight after registration
Registration is just the starting point. Before the company can operate properly, several things need to be in place.
Bookkeeping. A Finnish limited company is required to keep double-entry accounts from the very first day. Bookkeeping must start from the beginning — including recording formation costs.
YEL insurance. If you work in the company and your estimated annual work income exceeds €9,423.09, YEL pension insurance must be taken out within six months.
Annual general meetings. A Finnish limited company must hold an annual general meeting to adopt the financial statements and decide on dividend distribution.
Shareholder agreement. If there are multiple founders, a shareholders' agreement (osakassopimus) is worth drafting immediately. It covers share transfer conditions, decision-making, and employment terms.
Total first-year costs depend mostly on YEL contributions and accounting — the registration itself is relatively inexpensive.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a Finnish limited company in 2026?The PRH registration fee is €240 for an online application. No minimum share capital is required, so registration can cost as little as €240 for the filing itself.
Do you need a notary to register a Finnish limited company?No. In Finland, a limited company can be registered entirely online through YTJ without a notary.
How long does registration take?Online applications are processed within 1–2 weeks. The Y-tunnus (business ID) is available in YTJ once processing is complete.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement?No. Finland removed the minimum share capital requirement in 2019. Share capital can be €1 or more.
Can one person register a Finnish limited company?Yes. Single-owner limited companies are completely standard in Finland. The same person can be the sole founder, sole board member, and managing director.
What is the difference between articles of association and a shareholders' agreement?The articles of association (yhtiöjärjestys) is a mandatory public document registered with PRH. It contains the company's basic information. A shareholders' agreement (osakassopimus) is an optional private agreement between shareholders covering decision-making, share transfers, and other arrangements.
What happens if I don't start bookkeeping immediately?A Finnish limited company is legally required to keep double-entry accounts from the first day of operation. Delayed bookkeeping creates compliance risk and makes the year-end process significantly harder to manage.
The short version
Registering a Finnish limited company is done online through YTJ. The registration fee is €240, no minimum share capital is required, and no notary is needed. Processing takes about 1–2 weeks. Immediately after registration, start bookkeeping, open a business bank account, register with the Tax Administration, and take out YEL insurance.
NoCFO is built for newly registered Finnish limited companies — bookkeeping, invoicing, and payroll in one place from day one. Get started free →