How to start a business in Sweden – your first checklist

Setting up your business in Sweden

Starting a business in Sweden is easier than many expect, but if you’re new to the country or unfamiliar with how Swedish authorities work, the first steps can feel overwhelming. Whether you want to set up a business as a sole trader, register a company in Sweden as a foreigner, or explore small business ideas in Sweden, the process follows a clear structure. Understanding this structure early on will save you both time and money.

Sweden is known for its straightforward regulations, digital services and strong support for entrepreneurs — which means that starting a business in Sweden as a foreigner is often smoother than in many other countries. However, you still need to understand how to register your business with the Swedish Tax Agency, how to apply for F tax, what a business plan should include, and when you must register with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket).

If you are unsure how to start a business in Sweden, the checklist below gives you step-by-step guidance on how to open a company, what documents you need, and what to consider before choosing a business type. From finding the right business name to understanding the costs of setting up a limited liability company, this guide will help you navigate every stage of the process.

Whether you want to start a small online business or set up a larger company in Sweden, it’s a good idea to read through each step carefully — especially if you have never run a business in the country before. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know before you register your company and get started.

Starting a business in Sweden: the checklist

1. Write a business plan

When you start a business in Sweden, one of the most important first steps is to create a business plan (affärsplan in Swedish). This document gives structure to your ideas and helps you understand what your business will look like in practice. A well-written business plan can help you make better decisions, attract potential partners, and stay focused during the first months of running your business. It is also useful if you need to apply for loans or explain your concept to the bank.

In a business plan, you should clearly describe:

• What the main source of income will be — your core product or service and how it creates value.

• Who your typical clients or customers are — the target group you want to reach in Sweden or internationally.

• How you plan to market your business — for example through social media, online advertising, networking, or collaborations.

• Expected income, often presented in a budget of results.

• Expected costs, divided into fixed and variable expenses, also called a liquidity budget (likviditetsbudget in Swedish).

Even if you are starting a small business, taking the time to write a business plan will make the rest of the process easier. It’s also a good idea to update the plan as your business grows or changes direction.

2. Get a grasp of upcoming costs

When you start a business in Sweden, it’s important to understand the costs you may face before your company becomes profitable. Registering a company in Sweden is usually affordable — especially if you choose to start a company as a sole trader (enskild firma). But even if the registration itself is cheap, you still need to plan for the financial side of setting up a business in Sweden.

In the early stages, you need to cover your living expenses while your business is still growing. You may also need to invest in equipment, marketing, software, or other essentials depending on the type of business you want to run. These are normal start-up costs and should be included in your budget from day one.

Many people starting a business in Sweden as a foreigner or as first-time entrepreneurs choose to finance their start-up through personal savings. But there are other options: you can apply for bank loans, small business loans or dedicated start-up funding, for example through organisations like Almi, which supports new businesses in the country.

Understanding these costs early on will help you avoid surprises and make it easier to plan your cash flow as you start your business.

3. What you need to think about when choosing your business name

Your company name is your brand. It's an important detail in order to make it easy for your customers to find you – and for you to stand out from the competition. So choose your company name wisely; it should say something about what the business does, but at the same time not be too specific, making it harder to expand your proposition further down the road.

Also, make sure that the name hasn't already been taken. Google it and check it with Bolagsverket, the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Make sure that you're able to get a domain name that suits your company name, preferably with the .se suffix (TLD).

4. Choose the right company type

It's up to you to choose what company type your new business should be. In Sweden, the most common types are:

• Sole proprietorship, called Enskild firma or Enskild näringsverksamhet in Sweden

• Partnership/Joint-stock company, called Handelsbolag in Sweden

• Limited company, or Aktiebolag in Swedish

Some of these factors may influence your decision:

• Are you planning to run the business on your own or with associates?

• Are you selling products or services?

• How capital heavy is the business model, does it for example require large stock and warehouses?

• Do you have enough share capital available upon start-up?

5. You have to register your business and apply for “F tax”

Now it's time to get to work and register your company. Sole proprietorships only need to be registered at Skatteverket, the Swedish Tax Authorities, whilst limited companies and partnerships need to be registered at Bolagsverket (the Swedish Companies Registration Office) as well. And don't forget: Register your domain name before somebody else takes it!

If you start a sole proprietorship, you should also apply for “F-skatt” (F tax – for those whose only source of income is their business) or “FA-skatt” (FA tax – for those who also have employment “on the side”).

F and FA tax “for the self-employed” are forms of Swedish corporate taxation and mean that you are approved to pay your own taxes and social fees anytime a customer hires you to do a job. If you don't have F tax, the customer must take this into account when paying you. Basically, F tax takes this responsibility off the customer.

Applying for Swedish F and FA tax is free of charge and often the only thing required when starting a sole proprietorship. Besides the registration at Skatteverket of course.

6. Invest in an accounting software

In Sweden, every business is obligated to keep accounts (Bokföringsskyldighet) according to the Swedish Book-keeping Act Bokföringslagen. You could manage your own books or hire an accountant, but either way you'll need some kind of accounting software (ERP) in order to keep track of your numbers.

If you're new to Swedish, we'll recommend a software that not only follows Swedish laws, but also supports the English language.

7. Decide how you want to be paid

Ok, so, you've got a business idea and you know what your product or service is. But how will you receive payments? The smoother and easier it is to buy from you, the better the customer experience will be as a whole.

Many Swedish businesses offer their customers a variety of payment methods. Also, it's important to look at the possibilities to connect your incoming payments to your accounts in order to minimise the risk for errors and tedious manual work.

8. Check if you have to get specific permits and/or qualifications

Before you begin your new life as self-employed in Sweden, it's important to make sure you've got all the necessary permits. If you for example are planning to open a restaurant or handle animals, you can be certain that you need to apply for one or several permits. Some business areas also require formal qualifications, for example if you're planning to run your own business as an electrician.

Spiris can help you setting up your business in Sweden

If you’re feeling unsure about any part of the process - whether it’s registering your company, applying for F tax, choosing the right business type or keeping your books in order - Spiris can help you get started smoothly. Our tools and services are designed for entrepreneurs, freelancers and small businesses who want a simple, reliable way to manage their finances in Sweden.

With Spiris, you can:

• register and run your business with less paperwork

• manage bookkeeping and invoicing in one place

• get clear support in English

• avoid common mistakes when starting a business in Sweden

No matter if you’re setting up your first company or growing an existing one, Spiris gives you the structure you need — so you can focus on building your business, not on administration.

Ready to start your business in Sweden? Spiris makes it easier