Running a business

Here you will find help to find information about which Swedish agencies or EU institutions can answer questions about running a business in the EU, EU subsidies to businesses, posting staff in another EU country and EU rules for goods, services, competition and procurement. There are certain common rules for enterprise in the EU, but each country also has its own rules which you as a business operator must observe.

EU subsidies to businesses

Find various forms of funding for businesses

The EU provides funding to business operators and businesses through a number of EU programmes. On the Your Europe website, you can search for various forms of EU funding to businesses in Sweden.

Funding on the Your Europe website (in Swedish)

The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's EU programmes

The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth is responsible for various forms of funding to businesses and organisations that run or plan to run EU projects.

EU programmes on the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth website (in Swedish)

Advice on enterprise in the EU

Businesses wishing to internationalise

Enterprise Europe is a European network which gives advice and support to small and medium-sized companies wishing to internationalise their activities. The network in Sweden consists of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth along with various national and regional business organisations.

The Enterprise Europe website (in Swedish)

Information about rules for products and services

Businesses that trade in products and services within the EU can receive help from the National Board of Trade to find information, solve problems and influence legislation.

Shop in the EU on the National Board of Trade website (in Swedish)

Verksamt.se on starting and running a business

If you have any questions about starting, running or developing a business, or rules on exports and imports, you can visit the Verksamt.se website, which is run jointly by the Swedish Public Employment Service, the Swedish Companies Registration Office, the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.

The Verksamt.se website (in Swedish)

Competition and procurement in the EU

The Swedish Competition Authority on EU competition rules

The EU's competition rules are applicable as Swedish law, in parallel with Swedish competition legislation. The Swedish Competition Authority provides information and answers questions about current competition rules.

EU competition rules on the Swedish Competition Authority website (in Swedish)

Rules on procurement in the EU

Public procurement should promote free movement within the EU. The National Agency for Public Procurement provides information and answers questions about public procurement rules within the EU.

About public procurement on the National Agency for Public Procurement website (in Swedish)
Ask questions and search for questions and answers about procurement rules on the National Agency for Public Procurement website (in Swedish)

The Swedish Competition Authority follows up rules on procurement

The Swedish Competition Authority is the authority responsible for supervision of procurement legislation, that is, it is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules. The Swedish Competition Authority seeks to ensure efficient public procurement for the benefit of society and market actors.

Public procurement on Swedish Competition Authority website (in Swedish)

Recruit or post staff in the EU

Recruit staff from an EU member state

The Swedish Public Employment Service helps employers to recruit staff from other EU countries and provides opportunities for financial support when recruiting from abroad.

Recruit in Europe on the Swedish Public Employment Service website

About posting staff abroad

If your company plans to post staff abroad for work in another EU country, you are obliged to follow the rules that apply to posting staff abroad. You can read more about these rules on the Your Europe website, which provides advice to EU citizens and companies.

Posting staff abroad on the Your Europe website

The Swedish Work Environment Authority on foreign postings

Read more about foreign postings on the Swedish Work Environment Authority website.

Foreign postings on the Swedish Work Environment Authority website

Problem solving in the single market

SOLVIT can help

Contact the National Board of Trade's SOLVIT centre if you consider that an authority in another EU country has hindered you as a private person or company from exercising your rights in the EU single market.

SOLVIT on the National Board of Trade website