It is advisable for the applicant of the start-up grant to contact the expert of their employment area before submitting the application.
"It is advisable for the applicant of the start-up grant to contact the expert of their employment area before submitting the application," says expert Arja Rintanen from Jyväskylä's Business Development and Employment Services.
The counseling, decision-making, and payment related to the start-up grant were completely transferred from TE services to municipalities at the beginning of this year. Arja Rintanen, the start-up grant expert of Jyväskylä City, says that financial support for the initial phase of the company is of interest, as applications and inquiries have been coming steadily to the Jyväskylä-Muurame employment area throughout the beginning of the year.
The conditions for granting the start-up grant, its amount, and maximum duration are defined by law (Act on the Organization of Employment Services 380/2023).
- The law provides guidelines that we need to review during the processing of the start-up grant application, Rintanen notes.Experts investigate, among other things, whether the planned business activity has the conditions for continuous profitable operation and what the competitive situation in the employment area is in the sector to which the business activity is directed.
Authorities review both the planned business activity and the applicant's qualifications. Sometimes there are clear obstacles to the start-up grant in the applicant's situation. The grant cannot be awarded if the applicant is already in the position of an entrepreneur or a full-time student whose studies are still significantly incomplete.
- The condition for granting the start-up grant is also that, for example, the necessary financing, premises, and permits are in order. To arrange these, the employment authority can, upon separate request, give permission to obtain a business ID before submitting the start-up grant application. The applicant must also have sufficient entrepreneurial skills.With the law that came into force at the beginning of the year, practices related to the start-up grant have changed compared to before.
- The most significant change is probably that business activity can be started after submitting the start-up grant application to the employment authority. Previously, one had to wait for the decision on the grant. By starting the business activity before the start-up grant decision, the entrepreneur operates at their own risk, as the decision can also be negative.Who can apply for the start-up grant?
The start-up grant has been easing the initial phase of business activity since 1984. The start-up grant can be applied for by a person transitioning to full-time continuous business activity from any life situation. A person expanding part-time business activity to full-time can also apply for support.
The amount of the start-up grant in 2025 is 37.21 euros per day, or about 740 euros per month. The support is paid for a maximum of five days a week and is taxable income. The start-up grant can be awarded for a maximum of 12 months and is applied for in six-month periods.
"The start-up grant brings relief to everyday life at the beginning of business activity," says expert Arja Rintanen.
- If the entrepreneur submits a continuation application after the first six months, we will then review how the business activity has started and whether there are conditions for continuing the start-up grant, Rintanen clarifies.The start-up grant is applied for through the Job Market Finland e-service. The customer is always contacted when the application has been taken into processing.
According to Rintanen, sometimes authorities are also asked whether a person who has previously had business activity can receive the start-up grant.
- Previous business activity is not an obstacle, but in such a case, we investigate, among other things, how long it has been since the business activity ended and how similar the planned business activity is.It is advisable for those planning to apply for the start-up grant to contact the start-up grant expert of the Jyväskylä-Muurame employment area as early as possible.
- At that stage, we can review the business idea and the current situation of the person aiming to become an entrepreneur, Rintanen states.Counseling and guidance
The start-up grant experts of the employment area work closely with Keski-Suomen Yritysidea, which provides business establishment counseling.
- If necessary, we direct the applicant of the start-up grant to the establishment counseling of Keski-Suomen Finland Yritysidea to finalize the business plan and calculations. Other services offered by Keski-Suomen Yritysidea are also utilized as needed.
Rintanen's job also includes bringing out the realities.
- There are situations where the applicant's entrepreneurial skills are not sufficient or the planned business activity does not have the conditions for success in its planned form. In such cases, we encourage and guide the customer to services related to developing the business idea and improving their entrepreneurial skills. The start-up grant may still be possible later when the applicant has developed their skills and refined their business idea further, Rintanen notes.
For more information about the start-up grant in the Jyväskylä-Muurame employment area:
- https://elinkeinopalvelut.jyvaskyla.fi/en/yrityspalvelut/starttiraha
- Arja Rintanen, +358 40 132 8640, arja.rintanen@jyvaskyla.fi
- Jouni Puura, +358 40 587 7520, jouni.puura@jyvaskyla.fi
