How much is the start-up grant in 2026
The start-up grant equals the basic unemployment allowance, i.e. 37,21 euros per day, and is paid for five days a week. The City of Helsinki estimates the monthly amount at about 800 euros. Support is granted in six-month periods, for a maximum of 12 months. A continuation period is applied for before the first period ends.
The start-up grant is taxable income. According to Helsinki's guidance, 25 % is withheld from it if no tax card change has been made for the grant. Child benefit, housing allowance and social assistance do not reduce the start-up grant, but income other than from business activity, such as wages or a study grant, may reduce it.
Who grants it and to whom
Since the beginning of 2025, the start-up grant has been awarded by the employment area of your own region, i.e. a municipality or a joint municipal area. The support is discretionary, and employment areas' appropriations vary. For example, the Southern Häme employment area was able to grant only the first period in 2025, but in 2026 also the second.
The start-up grant can be received by an unemployed person, someone moving into entrepreneurship from paid work, studies or home care, and a part-time entrepreneur expanding to full-time operation. You do not need to register as a jobseeker. The business form can be any.
Because practices vary by region, check the instructions, processing times and any limits on the budget situation on the website of your own employment area before you agree on a start date.
What is assessed in the application
The decision is based on an overall assessment. For the applicant, professional skills and entrepreneurial readiness, the current situation, and the absence of tax debt or payment defaults are considered. For the business, the business idea, market, profitability and financing are assessed. In heavily competitive sectors, support is generally not granted.
The start-up grant is not granted if the business secures a reasonable livelihood from the outset or if other income covers living costs.
- Business plan and sales, financing and profitability calculations
- Tax debt certificate from OmaVero
- Statement that the necessary funding has been arranged
- Up-to-date CV
- If necessary, preliminary agreements, the premises lease and permits
Timing: application first, company second
The start-up grant is not granted if you have already started full-time business activity before the application has been received. It cannot be applied for retroactively. Helsinki recommends submitting the application about four weeks before the planned start. You can start full-time activity once the application has been submitted, but then you start at your own risk.
The application is made in the Työmarkkinatori Asiointi service with Suomi.fi credentials. Before applying, it is worth booking a free business advisory appointment, for example at your local new enterprise centre.
Advice and continuation period
Before applying, it is worth going through your business idea with a business adviser. Advisers at employment areas and new enterprise centres help free of charge with mapping your situation, coaching on the business plan, filling in the application and checking the attachments. In Helsinki advice is also available from Yritys-Suomi's telephone service.
The decision on an extension period looks at actual income statements and balance sheets, a report on how the business has progressed and, if necessary, an interview. If sales during the first six months have been very low or the business has made a loss, an extension may not be granted. Keep your bookkeeping up to date from the start and document customer acquisition, quotes and contracts.
The first payment application is accompanied by, for example, a trade register notification or an extract from the prepayment register, the articles of association or partnership agreement where needed, and a change tax card. Because the start-up grant is paid afterwards, the first payment arrives at the earliest about a month after starting. Set aside your own buffer for living costs at the start.
Alongside the start-up grant: start-up funding
The start-up grant is personal support for living costs and is not meant to finance business purchases. Equipment, inventory or premises refurbishment require other funding, and arranging it is also a condition for being granted the start-up grant. In 2026 a Finnvera loan for micro-enterprise growth is at most 50 000 euros, priced at 6-month Euribor + 4,5 % plus a 1,5 % handling fee, at most 500 euros. The loan is intended for starting and operating businesses with no more than nine employees.
The bank, Finnvera and the employment area read the same business plan, so your calculations should be consistent across all applications.
Payment and YEL
The start-up grant is paid retroactively each month on a separate payment application. In Helsinki the application must be submitted within two months of the end of the period, or the payment lapses. When applying for a continuation period, an income statement and balance sheet for the actual period are attached.
A full-time entrepreneur usually has to take out entrepreneur's pension insurance (YEL) as well. In 2026, YEL insurance becomes mandatory when estimated work income is at least 9 423,09 € a year and the activity has continued for four months. A new entrepreneur gets a 22 % reduction in the YEL contribution for 48 months. You can find other financing options for a new business and current application rounds in Tukitutka (Grants Radar).
Frequently asked questions
Can the start-up grant be applied for retroactively?
No. The application must have been received before full-time business activity begins, otherwise the support is not granted.
Is the start-up grant taxable income?
Yes. Start-up grant is taxable income, and without a change tax card 25% is withheld from it.
How long can you receive start-up grant?
At most 12 months in two six-month periods. An extension period is granted only if the activity has progressed and does not yet yield sufficient income.
Calculate it yourself
Ready-made tools
- Grant application template · Application template, budget template and checklist
- Invoice template and invoice register · Invoice with all mandatory details, VAT breakdown, reference number and outstanding receivables
Sources
- City of Helsinki: What is start-up money?
- City of Helsinki: 5 things you need to know about start-up money
- Job Market Finland: The start-up grant gives security at the start of a business (24.3.2026)
- Job Market Finland: Southern Häme employment area can grant the start-up grant for a second period too (30.12.2025)
- Job Market Finland: You can receive a start-up grant to secure your livelihood (24.2.2026)
- Eläketurvakeskus: Self-employed persons (YEL 2026)
- Finnvera financing for small businesses 2026
The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.