There was so much useful information presented by team members, like: What kinds of business networks and associations should we join? From what channels we can call on the financial support for the business? From where can we do the property renting for events and employee hiring? How to find and build up an effective team? or when we start business, what kinds of obstacles, mistakes or risks can happen?
In the fast-changing world as nowadays, it is very important that people can connect to develop their networking which may bring not only some valuable advisories from leading specialists of the associations, but also many opportunities to their business. Finland has created an open business supporting environment which offers the available and vast connecting opportunities to enterprises. Joining in some networks and associations is the good way to develop the networking. Some of the options an entrepreneur can consider like: Fiban, The Hub or the enterprise agencies like Ensimetri which freely offer supportive business community platforms where can bring useful advisories about everything people need to know to get started with the business or some association that you should not dissemble, like: Suomen Yrittäjät, Finnish Software and E-business Association, or The women Entrepreneurs of Finland. All of these associations can play many roles, for example: in influencing to political decision- makers and public to improve enterprises’ environment, can give advices if needed concerning to legislation or economy, social and operating conditions in Finland, or even offer advices as the specialists in some their professional fields.
Then when people have a great business idea and have learned to develop business from your networking, they can put into accounts the very important part: Financial. A newbie of business usually needs to gain financial for their business dreams. TE office has the program to support start-ups by Starttiraha, a start-up grant program to encourage new business and promote employment or people can try their luck with Entrepreneurship in EU’s program. Possible consideration can also be getting granted from Foundation Grants like Runar Bäckström foundation or Kone foundation. However, as far as I know, some entrepreneurs have also earned the grants from internet community where people granted them money when they felt inspired or interested in the business ideas or products.
And then, when having money ready in ‘pocket’, another important step to do is to find suitable property renting companies and hire employees if needed. The webpages of Toimitila, Lumo, Habita or some universities like from Akatemia’s essay bank can offer a lot of options for renting the property. In order to hire employees, using the third party like head-hunter companies or entrepreneur can choose to hire people themselves. Having team which are not only talented and qualified for the job, but also can share the same values to other members of company is very crucial. Mother of Emilia, a successful entrepreneur has shared a very good tip to find the right person for the company in the interview, based on very little details like: how the applicant say hello, shake hands, or make eyes’ contact. This effective way helps find if applicants and interviewers can have good connection or sympathizing for the first sight. The interview also needs to discover if applicants are excited and motivated to work for companies.
“Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” – Richard Branson.
There are always opportunities, together with obstacles and risks. Not controlling well those can bring to the entrepreneurs shocked mistakes or failures. Considering what business pros and cons and what kinds of obstacles and risk is possible to happen can help the entrepreneurs have better vision on the business pathway. These were hard questions for my team but also very interesting and useful to figure out. We have found out from internet data and from the interviews of some survival entrepreneurs.
Finland provides a legal and bureaucratic activities easier and safer in most other countries and makes paying taxes less costly by reducing the labour contribution rates for employers and applying online portal, MyTax for enterprise to fill in income tax returns more efficiently. In addition, business regulations and protection of property rights, labour market regulations, tax systems, construction permit processing facilities, power supply, property registration, credit, enforcement of contracts and solving insolvency … boosts business environment. However, start-up process in Finland requires more time than in other countries which average is 9,3 days while in Finland is 17 days. Possible obstacles when starting a business in Finland can be listed like acquiring the new customers by earning their interest and trust, capital issue, problem of getting the right team who are talented and suitable as well as keeping them great and motivated to work with you and obstacle comes from inside fear.
Starting a business are not as what can happen in people’s dreams. The entrepreneur must be aware and ready for having mistakes and even failures. Those mistakes can be: wrong belief that your business idea can change the world, failure to evaluate and pair with your co-founders, being too rush to test market if the products are possible options to customers or not having real vision and actions approaching the market.
Doing business is like when many people are in the same boat, driving a boat over big waves but keeping stable is not anything easy. I think beside big commitment, sharing same values, people need to learn to put away their ego for the sake of mutual benefits, common goals of team. The most valuable lesson comes from real experience. I think when it is time and enough resources, belief and willpower, dream will come true.
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