Hi there and welcome!

I’m Shaena, a Canadian living in Sweden, and I started my own business in March 2023. After going through 4 redundancies in 3 years, I was lucky to have the right people in my corner who told me about a program that could help me get the support I needed to start something of my own.

If you’ve found yourself here, chances are you’re curious about how to start a business or you’re navigating a similar situation—whether it’s redundancy, a career change, or just wanting to take control of your future.

Since I’ve been sharing this program with others, I wanted to write about my experience and the resources that made a difference for me.

I hope this gives you the tools and confidence to start your own journey!

Good luck, Shaena

My Journey Through the Starta Eget Program

After being laid off from Telia, I found another role at Oneflow. When I was later laid off from that job too, I decided to make a major change. Thankfully, TRR (which I had initially accessed after Telia) allowed me to return for support within two years. This time, they introduced me to the Starta Eget Program, a chance to build something of my own. With Jonas, a consultant I worked with through TRR, guiding me, I navigated the program step by step.

The Process

The Starta Eget Program helps unemployed people turn their business ideas into reality. It’s a structured but complex process, and I broke it down into manageable steps.

1. Getting Started

   Arbetsförmedlingen provided a clear checklist: I needed to submit a CV, a business plan, and three detailed budgets (start-up capital, profit for Years 1 and 2, and a 12-month liquidity budget). Using templates from Nyföretagarcentrum was mandatory. Jonas (see details below) helped me craft a strong business plan, which was a game-changer.

2. Navigating Arbetsförmedlingen

   Contacting Arbetsförmedlingen was frustrating at first. It took time and persistence to connect with my eventual contact, but once I did, things started to move forward. My contact explained exactly what I needed and helped clarify the process.

3. Submitting Documents

   By early February 2023, I submitted my CV, business plan, and budgets. There were some hiccups—like issues with the budget file format—but after some reformatting, everything was accepted.

4. EGT Assessment

   Arbetsförmedlingen passed my application to EGT for evaluation. They reviewed my business idea, and within a week, I got the green light! Their feedback was positive, and I was ready for the next step.

   

   You might meet this lovely lady on your journey…

5. Applying for F-Skatt

   The next requirement was to register for F-Skatt (F-tax) through Skatteverket. This approval is essential for running a business in Sweden. It took about 2–6 weeks to process, but once it came through, I was officially ready to move forward.

6. Final Approval

   With all the necessary documents submitted and F-Skatt in hand, Arbetsförmedlingen completed their review. I began focusing on building my business with their support.

7. Program Completion

   By September, I had finished the Starta Eget Program and decided to fully commit to my business. It was a huge milestone and a moment of pride.

   Say hello to https://www.tjena.io/