Started a company? Let us scam you!
Starting a Sole Proprietorship – A Learning Experience
Starting my own business was both an exciting and educational process. At first, it felt a bit intimidating, but in the end, everything went surprisingly smoothly – thanks to the invaluable help of a knowledgeable friend.
However, the biggest surprise was realizing how many different entities wanted a piece of my newly founded company. The first nuisance was various services that politely requested my business details and, for a "reasonable fee" (300 euros per year), offered to register my company in all kinds of random business directories, such as Helsinki Entrepreneurs or Uusimaa Regional Business Network. The catch? These calls initially sound like they’re from official registry administrators simply verifying your details for public records. But no – it's all one big scam.
Another common way to phish information and sell "YOU NEED THIS TO SUCCEED AS AN ENTREPRENEUR" services is through the company's official email. I never imagined I’d have to block around ten phishing or spam emails a day right after registering my business.
Just imagine if the same resources used to exploit new entrepreneurs were instead directed toward helping them acquire customers? That might be too much to hope for.
The purpose of this rant? If you're starting a business, never say "yes" on the phone unless you receive a written offer via email. And get yourself a wrist brace – you'll need it for blocking endless spam emails.