What is the Trade Register and do I have to join it?

The Trade Register is an official and public register of Finnish companies managed by the National Board of Patents and Registration. The information in the Trade Register is therefore public.

From the register it is possible to obtain the company's trade register extracts, articles of association (such as articles of associations), financial statements and trade register notifications with their annexes. The identification information used in the Trade Register is the business ID number.

What does it mean to join the Trade Register?
Joining the Trade Register means that when you join, you get protection for your name, which means that no one else can use the same business name to run your business. You will also be visible on the Virre information service of the Patent and Registration Office (PRH).

If your activity is also a slightly larger business, it is worth joining the register if only because your customers might be surprised if your business name is not listed in any register.

If you are a sole trader (i.e. a private trader), registration is only necessary if one or more of the following conditions are met in your business:

• You are engaged in a licensable business, i.e. you need a license from a public authority to carry out your activities.
• You need a permanent establishment for your business, i.e. a business premises separate from your home.
• You employ outside workers, i.e. other than your spouse or your minor children or their descendants.

For each company, at least the following information must be entered in the Trade Register:

• The name of your company,
• Your name, the municipality where you are domiciled or the municipality where the business is managed.
• The sector of your business
• Who is/are the representative(s) of the company,
• The address of the undertaking, and
• In addition, depending on the type of company, other entries may be made in the Trade Register.

You can register with the Trade Register via the YTJ. If you already have an existing, non-activated old business ID, you can apply to the Trade Register by submitting a change notification on the website of the YTJ.

NOTE! UKKO Light entrepreneur with business ID does not report your Y-identification to the Trade Register. You can set up a business ID through us and register it with the Trade Register yourself.