# How to register a toiminimi (sole trader) in Finland, step by step

Registering as a private trader is one €75 notification to PRH and one free notification to the Tax Administration. Here is each step of the Finnish-only YTJ service, translated, with the rules checked on 8 Oct 2026.

- URL: https://siltanova.com/register-toiminimi-finland/
- Format: How-To · Business
- By: SiltaNova Editorial
- Published: 14 Oct 2026
- Publisher: SiltaNova (https://siltanova.com), Finland

## Short answer

To register a toiminimi, file a start-up notification for a private trader at ytj.fi, sign it with Finnish e-identification and pay PRH's €75 fee. Then file a separate, free notification of changes so the Tax Administration has your details. Online filing needs a Finnish personal identity code; otherwise use paper form Y3.

## Key takeaways

- PRH's fee for a private trader's start-up notification is €75 in 2026, online or on paper. Notifications to the Tax Administration are free.
- Online filing needs a Finnish personal identity code and Suomi.fi e-identification, and the YTJ service is in Finnish and Swedish only.
- Registration in the Trade Register is mandatory only in some cases. Otherwise you can register with the Tax Administration alone, free, but without name protection.
- If your permanent residence is outside the EEA, you need a permit from PRH before you file.

A toiminimi (yksityinen elinkeinonharjoittaja, private trader) is the simplest way to run a business in your own name in Finland. To register a toiminimi, you file one start-up notification in YTJ, the joint service of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) and the Tax Administration (Vero). The online service is in Finnish and Swedish only, so this guide translates each step of PRH's own process chart and checks the rules against PRH's current pages. If you are still choosing a company form, read our comparison of toiminimi and Oy first.

## Do you have to register a toiminimi in the Trade Register?

Not always. PRH says registration in the Trade Register is mandatory in two cases: when the Accounting Act requires you to file your financial statements with the Trade Register, and when your permanent residence is outside the European Economic Area (EEA). [1]

In other cases you can register with the Tax Administration alone, free of charge. Vero says self-employed people can start their activity in MyTax and get a Business ID (Y-tunnus) there. [9] PRH gives two reasons to register anyway: your business name is protected only once it is in the Trade Register, and an enterprise mortgage is available only to registered traders. [1] If you would rather invoice through a billing service than run a business of your own, see our guide to light entrepreneurship in Finland.

**€75** PRH fee for a private trader's start-up notification in 2026 (Source: [PRH price list, updated 1 Jan 2026](https://www.prh.fi/en/kaupparekisteri/hinnasto/kasittelymaksut/startup.html), 8 Oct 2026)

![Hands on a laptop keyboard with a bank code card and a phone beside it, on a wooden desk; the screen shows a blurred online form.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/aqux11kd/production/3414620cfa5f8b4680e77019741ccf9e6da4a7ca-1672x941.png)
*Filing online needs electronic identification, such as bank codes. AI-generated scene; it does not show the real YTJ service.*

## What do you need before you start?

- You must be at least 18, or 15 with your guardian's consent, not bankrupt, and your legal competency must not be restricted. [1]
- To file online: a Finnish personal identity code and Suomi.fi e-identification, such as online banking codes or a mobile certificate. [4] [5]
- The details of the business: a name and up to two alternatives, the registered office (the municipality), a description of the line of business, and the address and contact details that will be public. [1]
- €75 for PRH's processing fee, paid in the online service. [3] [5]

If your permanent residence is outside the EEA, you need a permit from PRH before you file the start-up notification. Residence decides, not citizenship. You apply by post with a free-form letter in Finnish or Swedish; the permit costs €150 plus a €6.50 invoicing fee, charged afterwards, and a certified copy of the decision goes with your notification. [8] PRH says people from Ukraine with temporary protection do not need this permit. [1] A residence permit is a separate matter; our guide to the Finnish startup permit covers one route for founders.

## How do you choose the company name?

The name must differ clearly from names already registered and must not be confused with protected names or trademarks. You do not have to add "Tmi" or "Toiminimi" to it. You may use your own family name, but another person's name needs their permission. PRH warns that generic words make a weak name and that an inventive name is easier to register and protect. [7]

## How do you register a toiminimi online at ytj.fi, step by step?

You file in the [YTJ online service](https://asiointi.ytj.fi/YTJAP/?culture=en-US&contentlan=2) and choose the start-up notification for a private trader (yksityinen elinkeinonharjoittaja). The steps below follow PRH's process chart, with the Finnish screen names translated. The chart dates from 2019, so names and layout may differ slightly today. [2]

Time: PRH says the Business ID can be checked about 2 working days after filing online
Tools: Finnish personal identity code, Suomi.fi e-identification, €75 for the PRH fee
1. **Ilmoituksen taustatiedot (background information)** Enter the person PRH can contact for additional information about the notification. The service shows a summary of what you are filing.
2. **Ilmoituksen sisältö (content of the notification)** Fill in the business name (toiminimi), the registered office (kotipaikka, a municipality), a description of the line of business, and the business address and contact details.
3. **Sisällön hyväksyminen (approving the content)** Check every detail before you approve. After approval the notification moves to signing.
4. **Sähköinen allekirjoitus (electronic signature)** The trader signs with Finnish e-identification. At this point you also choose whether future notifications reach you electronically only, or on paper as well.
5. **Maksu ja lähetys (payment and sending)** Pay PRH's €75 processing fee and send the notification. According to the chart, anyone can make the payment.
6. **Kuittaus ja ohjeet (receipt and instructions)** The receipt shows your Business ID (Y-tunnus) and a registration number, with a link onward to the Tax Administration. Save it.
7. **Erillinen muutosilmoitus Verohallinnolle (separate notification to the Tax Administration)** File a separate, free notification of changes so the Tax Administration registers your details. The next section shows how.

PRH's 2019 chart also says that an agent, such as an employee of an accounting firm, cannot file a private trader's start-up notification in the online service, and that the trader signs it personally. [2] We could not confirm this on PRH's current pages, so check it with PRH before you rely on an agent. PRH says you can check your Business ID about two working days after filing online. [5]

## Why do you file a second notification to the Tax Administration?

PRH's chart tells private traders to file a separate, free notification to the Tax Administration after the start-up notification. [2] Vero's current page says that once you have a Business ID, you request the registrations you need through YTJ or MyTax. [9] The chart gives these steps:

1. Save the Business ID from your receipt.
2. Open "Yrityksen tietojen muutokset" (changes to company details) from the receipt or the service's front page.
3. Enter the Business ID and choose "Aloita uusi muutosilmoitus" (start a new notification of changes).
4. Choose "Ilmoitan toiminnan aloittamisesta Verohallinnolle" (I notify the Tax Administration that operations are starting) and complete the form. [2]

Which registers you need depends on your business. Our guide to [starting a business in Finland](https://siltanova.com/start-a-business-in-finland/) covers VAT and the prepayment register, and as a private trader you may also need YEL entrepreneur's pension insurance.

## How long does registration take, and how do you follow it?

You can follow your notification in [Virre](https://virre.prh.fi/), PRH's information service, and look up your Business ID in the YTJ search. [1] [2] On 5 Oct 2026, PRH was processing online start-up notifications filed on 28 Sep and paper notifications filed on 11 Aug. [6]

The Trade Register entry and the Tax Administration's entries are not made at the same time. If something is missing, PRH asks for a supplement by post. [2] Once you are registered, PRH sends you a free extract from the Trade Register. [5]

![Hands seal an envelope containing a printed form on a desk, with a pen and a mug beside it.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/aqux11kd/production/f3281eaa6f42188c29ad74323625819f6f1d275f-1672x941.png)
*Sending a paper form by post. AI-generated scene; it does not show the real form.*

## Can you register on paper instead?

Yes. Paper form Y3 registers a private trader with both PRH and the Tax Administration, and you enclose the receipt for the €75 fee. If you have no Finnish personal identity code, paper is the route, with a personal data form attached. [10] Paper notifications take longer to process than online ones. [1]

*Sources: PRH and YTJ pages, checked 8 Oct 2026. Processing times are PRH's figures for 5 Oct 2026.*

|  | Online at ytj.fi | Paper form Y3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Language | Finnish and Swedish | [Filling-in instructions in English](https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/notifications/instructions-for-filling-in-start-up-notification-forms-on-paper/instructions-for-filling-in-start-up-notification-y3.html) |
| Identification | [Finnish personal identity code and Suomi.fi e-identification](https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/online-at-ytj.fi/tipsforonlinefiling/howtosignnotificationsonline.html) | Signature on the form; personal data form if you have no Finnish identity code |
| [PRH fee, 2026](https://www.prh.fi/en/kaupparekisteri/hinnasto/kasittelymaksut/startup.html) | €75, paid in the service | €75, receipt enclosed |
| Tax Administration | Separate free notification of changes | Registered with the same form |
| [Processing on 5 Oct 2026](https://www.prh.fi/en/processing-times/kasittelyajat.html) | Notifications filed 28 Sep | Notifications filed 11 Aug |
| Where to start | [YTJ online service](https://asiointi.ytj.fi/YTJAP/?culture=en-US&contentlan=2) | [Form Y3 instructions](https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/notifications/instructions-for-filling-in-start-up-notification-forms-on-paper/instructions-for-filling-in-start-up-notification-y3.html) |

> **Checked on 8 Oct 2026** This guide rests on PRH and YTJ pages read on 8 Oct 2026 and on PRH's 2019 process chart. Fees, processing times and screens change, so check the linked pages before you file.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does it cost to register a toiminimi?

PRH's start-up notification for a private trader costs €75 in 2026, online or on paper. An auxiliary business name costs another €75. Notifications to the Tax Administration are free. If you live permanently outside the EEA, PRH's permit adds €150 plus a €6.50 invoicing fee.

### Can I register a toiminimi without a Finnish personal identity code?

Not online: the YTJ service needs a Finnish personal identity code and Finnish e-identification. You can file on paper with form Y3 and attach a personal data form. If your permanent residence is outside the EEA, you also need PRH's permit before filing, and PRH asks for a copy of your passport.

### Is it enough to register a toiminimi with the Tax Administration only?

Often, yes. Trade Register registration is mandatory only if the Accounting Act requires you to file financial statements there, or if you live permanently outside the EEA. Registering with Vero alone is free, but your business name is protected only once it is in the Trade Register.

### How long does toiminimi registration take?

PRH says you can check your Business ID about two working days after filing online. Entry in the Trade Register takes longer: on 5 Oct 2026 PRH was processing online notifications filed on 28 Sep and paper notifications filed on 11 Aug. Check PRH's processing times page for the current figures.

### Is the YTJ online service available in English?

No. The online start-up notification is in Finnish and Swedish only, which is why this guide translates each screen. If you would rather work in English, YTJ publishes English instructions for paper form Y3, which registers you with both PRH and the Tax Administration.

## Sources

1. [Private trader](https://www.prh.fi/en/companiesandorganisations/yrityksen_perustaminen/privatetrader.html), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
2. [Yksityisen elinkeinonharjoittajan perustamisen vaiheet (2019)](https://asiointi.ytj.fi/YTJAP/Perustaminen/ohjeet/yeh_perustamisen_vaiheet_fi.pdf), PRH / YTJ (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
3. [Start-up notification fees](https://www.prh.fi/en/kaupparekisteri/hinnasto/kasittelymaksut/startup.html), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
4. [How to sign notifications online](https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/online-at-ytj.fi/tipsforonlinefiling/howtosignnotificationsonline.html), YTJ (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
5. [General information on filing a start-up notification](https://www.prh.fi/en/companiesandorganisations/yrityksen_perustaminen/perusilmoituksen_tekeminen.html), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
6. [Processing times](https://www.prh.fi/en/processing-times/kasittelyajat.html), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
7. [Guidelines on business names](https://www.prh.fi/en/companiesandorganisations/yritystennimet/nimiohjeet.html), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
8. [Permit for persons living permanently outside the EEA](https://www.prh.fi/en/companiesandorganisations/yrityksen_perustaminen/privatetrader/permit_to_persons_living_permanently_outside_the_eea.html), Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
9. [Start-up notification](https://www.vero.fi/en/businesses-and-corporations/business-operations/setting-up-a-business/start-up-notification/), Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
10. [Instructions for filling in start-up notification Y3](https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/notifications/instructions-for-filling-in-start-up-notification-forms-on-paper/instructions-for-filling-in-start-up-notification-y3.html), YTJ (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
11. [Company types in the online service at ytj.fi](https://www.ytj.fi/en/index/online-at-ytj.fi/company-types-in-the-online-service-at-ytj.fi.html), YTJ (accessed 8 Oct 2026)

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Cite as: SiltaNova Editorial, “How to register a toiminimi (sole trader) in Finland, step by step”, SiltaNova, 14 Oct 2026. https://siltanova.com/register-toiminimi-finland/