A record number of 1 345 new companies were founded in Keuke's operating area in 2020. What is causing this trend? 

COVID-19 has affected people in a multitude of ways. Having more leisure time has made people stop and think if now is the time to realise their dream of becoming an entrepreneur. At the same time, a whole new kind of demand has entered the market that new entrepreneurs wish to meet with their business ideas. More and more people wish to work on their own terms and entrepreneurship is a brilliant way of achieving that.

The first years are often a time of learning and uncertainty for a new company. How can one prepare for this? 

It is not possible to prepare for everything, but good planning can help avoid many pitfalls. We at Keuke wish to encourage entrepreneurs to think about different scenarios and find solutions to them. This reduces uncertainty and shortens reaction time if a challenging situation presents itself.  

A fresh entrepreneur would do well to focus on networking, as the advice of more experienced entrepreneurs is often worth more than gold. In the early stages it is also crucial to secure adequate funding as it might take some time for the business operations to pick up steam.  

Running your own company can feel lonely at times. What kind of support is available for new entrepreneurs? 

Local entrepreneur organisations and industry-specific associations are great channels for networking and finding peer support. To support entrepreneurs, Keuke has created a network of specialists (Asiantuntijapörssi) that new entrepreneurs should also take advantage of. Entrepreneurs may also share their experiences with a mentor.

It is also important that entrepreneurs take care of their own recreation: do something entirely different on your time off, meet new people, focus on the family and do things that you feel give you energy and resources for everyday life and running the business. 

What are the issues that a new entrepreneur should especially focus on during the first year?

A new entrepreneur should especially learn to do their work methodically and systemically. This can be difficult at first, but it saves a significant amount of time in the long run.  It is also good to realise that the company is something you have to take care of. You must regularly market your products and services to ensure that the company's workload remains stable and keeps bringing in income to cover expenses.

To support sales and marketing we can offer the Startti Plus service, which is enabled by TE Services. It is a free-of-charge specialist service for recipients of start-up assistance and those who have started their business operations while on unemployment benefits.

When and why should the entrepreneur turn to Keuke’s specialists for help? 

You should contact us at Keuke immediately when a question concerning entrepreneurship begins to occupy your mind. Sometimes it is hard to find a solution or gain an understanding of an issue on your own, but when the matter is brainstormed together the solution often presents itself a lot easier. The sooner  the entrepreneur contacts Keuke, the sooner the issue is solved.