Background information

Virksomhedsguiden (The Business Guide) has replaced the former Start-up Guide to Growth (Startvækst) although it is mostly by name only.

The new instrument has a little broader scope than the former one. Newly added themes in the Business Guide is a guide for companies about how to act in relation to COVID-19, including possibilities for compensation and a theme called 'Get ready for Brexit'.

The Business Guide covers start-up and new enterprises, and it is finalised to provide a guidance through the landscape of duties, difficulties, and possibilities connected to starting a business.  

Content of measure

The internet portal 'Virksomhedsguident.dk' offers entrepreneurs a step by step guide about what to remember and keep focus on in relation to start a new enterprise.

The most important sections are:

• Describe your business idea thoroughly;

• Investigate the market;

• Have a reality check of your economy;

• Get attention though digital marketing;

• Decide the corporate form of the business;

• Find a suitable location; and

• Get to know the rules and agreements regarding having employees.

The portal contains references to all significant public services. This includes initiatives, funding and programmes designed to support growth, innovation and development among private businesses. The internet portal provides a guide for relevant start-up events in different parts of the country. Furthermore there is a new guide focused on where to get support in the local area.

Virksomhedsguiden is an activity under the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen) the Danish Business Authority belongs to the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs (Erhvervsministeriet)

Cooperation with banks, accountants and lawyers. The Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs (Erhvervsministeriet) is the responsible ministry.

Use of measure

In 2022 there were relevant evaluations of the Business Guide. However, an example of a positive experience can be found at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), there is special focus on start-ups with an innovative businees idea. Reseachers and and senior student at DTU established 87 start-ups in 2018.

The Business Guide provides a general overview on how to generate enterprise growth and development both in the national and the global market. This includes a very detailed dictionary of, for instance, activities such as 'payment of employees', ICT measures policies or explaining tax rules.

In 2023 the business promotion system (erhvervsfremmesystemet) was evaluated. It is challenging to conduct an accurate economic impact assessment of the Business Guide, partly because the majority of the traffic cannot be attributed to specific companies. However, the high number of annual visitors and a return rate of approximately 30 percent indicate overall user satisfaction.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Employees in standard employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds Other

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Unknown

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sources

• 01 October 2019: Start up, Denmark (startupdenmark.info)
• 01 October 2019: Erhvervsstyrelsen arbejder for at gøre det ansvarligt at drive virksomhed i Danmark (erhvervsstyrelsen.dk)
• 01 October 2019: Small business act - database of good practices (ec.europa.eu)
• 01 October 2019: EU- praktisk guide til at gøre forretninger i EU (europa.eu)
• 01 October 2019: Virksomhedsguiden (virksomhedsguiden.dk)