Can't seem to find a suitable job, and the walls are closing in on you? How about taking the reins and becoming a light entrepreneur with the Truster light entrepreneur billing service? You create your own job just like that, without a business ID. Is it possible?
Yes! It pays to be active. It may even turn out to be the best decision you ever made in your working life. You can easily become a light entrepreneur even if you are unemployed. If you do it right, your unemployment benefit will not be affected and you will avoid any nasty surprises.
If I try light self-employment, can I still get unemployment benefit?
Usually yes, at least to some extent. But act smart! Once you have registered with the TE Office as an unemployed jobseeker, you can in principle work as much as you want as a light entrepreneur during the first four months. The TE Office does not yet check whether you are a full-time or part-time light entrepreneur. In any case, the TE Office will not go into the matter retrospectively. Kela or the unemployment fund may still adjust the amount of support according to your earnings.
The amount of work matters
After four months as an unemployed jobseeker, the TE Office will check your situation again. Do you work as a light entrepreneur full-time or part-time? In general, light entrepreneurship is seen as a sideline. You will then receive at least some unemployment benefit. For the periods when you do not work at all, you will of course receive full benefit.
If the TE Office thinks that your light self-employment is your main job and that you could not take up a full-time job at the same time, you will no longer receive unemployment benefit.
Is it OK to do just one job?
Please do! A job of less than two weeks does not deprive you of unemployment benefit and you do not have to report it to the TE Office, whether it is full-time, part-time or even round-the-clock. You can also have several jobs if they all last less than two weeks and are clearly separate.
You do have to declare your income from light self-employment, and this may affect your unemployment benefit. But that shouldn't matter, as long as you get a nice salary for meaningful work. Or do you?
ABC of unemployment benefits
What were the unemployment benefits again? I'm sure you've heard of these, but let's go over them again.
When you are an unemployed jobseeker, Kela pays you a basic daily allowance. If you belong to an unemployment fund, you will receive earnings-related daily allowance, which includes a wage-related component in addition to the basic daily allowance. To get both, you must have been in employment for at least six months in the previous 28 months. If you do not meet the employment condition, you may still be entitled to labour market subsidy.
How does light entrepreneurship fit in? If in doubt, don't be left to wonder alone. We are happy to help and advise you. Your local TE Office can also tell you what you should do in your particular situation.
If you do find your dream oak
Excited about a job vacancy, and you manage to get it? Or get to study your dream job? Great, congratulations! If, for one reason or another, you decide that light entrepreneurship is not for you, or you have other plans, that's perfectly OK. You can put the Truster Light Entrepreneurship Service on hold at any time.
But don't forget light entrepreneurship altogether! Even if you have an attractive gig or assignment, you can do it as a light entrepreneur alongside your day job or studies. Remember to check that your tax rate is enough to cover all your income.