30 Profitable small business ideas in Sweden | Biztraction

 

Are you looking for profitable small business ideas to start in Sweden? We cover everything you need to know from the benefits of starting a small business to our top picks of businesses you can start in the tech sector and other emerging sectors. You can also learn about business ideas for countries like France, Italy, Denmark and more should you decided to migrate and start a business in those countries.

How easy is it to start a business in Sweden?

Starting a business in Sweden is more straightforward than in other European countries. Here, establishing businesses is seamless, straightforward, and less stressful.

Is Sweden a good business place?

Sweden is a great business place. And this is due to its strong economy, which allows business owners to flourish and grow.

In 2020, according to the World Bank Ranking, Sweden took 10th place out of 190 countries in terms of “Ease of Doing Business”. This is a commendable position, reflecting the ease of business in this nation.

Also, Sweden has the 4th most competitive economy and a high-performing economy. These great features make Sweden a delightful place for business owners, entrepreneurs, organizations, etc.

How can a foreigner start a business in Sweden?

Starting a business in Sweden is easy. And the following steps can be taken by a foreigner to start a business in Sweden.

To start with, you need to carry out your research about doing business in Sweden. You should conduct a feasibility study about how profitable your business idea would be, people’s attitudes towards the business idea in Sweden, etc.

You should also conduct competitor analysis to know the big players in the field you want to explore. You should also find out what works for this business, whether their location contributes to their success, etc.

Afterwards, you should decide on the business you want to launch. The types of businesses in Sweden include sole proprietorship, limited liability company, and trading partnership.

After deciding this, you need to get a permit to operate the business. Afterwards, you must register your business at the tax office, after which you will be given a unique corporate identity number.

Following that, you need to register your business name and logo. You can also move a step further to trademark the business name and logo. This is so that no one else could replicate it, and it would be yours forever.

After this, you can set out to launch fully. Get a space, employ high-quality, professional workers and begin to meet people’s needs through your products and services.

Business ideas to start in Sweden without money

Event planning business:

 

One of the business ideas that you can start in Sweden without money is an event planning business. This business requires you to plan and organize events, such as weddings, birthdays, in-house parties, etc.

This business can be launched without money, provided you possess event organization skills. As an event planner, you would be in charge of looking for vendors for events, such as food vendors, decorators, etc.

As an event planner, you can work with organizations, the government, etc. And you should be able to work within your client’s budget to deliver the kind of event they have in mind.

Child care business:

You can also start a childcare business, which could be in the form of a creche or even as a babysitter. A childcare business is a lucrative one that can fetch you money if you have the skills to relate with children and take care of them.

Launching a childcare business does not require much money. Instead, most of your clients would look out for your skills, expertise, and love for children.

Digital marketing:

Digital marketing is another lucrative business that can be launched in Sweden
Digital marketing is an umbrella term for every digital effort to market goods and services on the internet.

This includes marketing strategies such as SEO/SEM, social media management, content writing, email marketing, etc. This is also a great business idea that can be launched in Sweden without money.

Songwriting business:

As a songwriter, you can also make a living out of this skill. You could sell your songs to artists for a fee, or you could produce music by yourself.

This business only requires your talent and passion for music. And if you put in the work, you would reap the rewards in the business.

Franchise opportunities in Sweden

The following are the franchise opportunities that you can find in Sweden, and they include:

Bike Cafe:

 

The bike cafe is a mobile coffee shop that delivers high-quality coffee to its customers at a lesser price wherever they are. This is a thriving business, which has grown into the ownership of about 100 coffee bikes worldwide.

If you purchase a franchise of this company, you would be allowed to introduce various products to your business. This could include pastries, sodas, juices, snacks, etc. Also, you can supply coffee to your customers anywhere they are. This could be at work, at the park, beach, at home, etc.

It is a truly lucrative and promising franchise to buy. And the minimum cash required for this franchise is 13,00 EUR.

 

Vibe Marketing:

Vibe marketing is another franchise opportunity in Sweden. It is a digital marketing business that offers various digital marketing services. These services include social media marketing, email marketing, graphic design, animation, LinkedIn Advertising, etc.

If you purchase a franchise of Vibe Marketing, you would be part of a globally recognized and growing brand with exciting prospects for more excellent expansions. They have three franchise packages such as the part-time franchise, the full-time franchise, and the fast-track franchise. With Vibe marketing, you can pay a 50% deposit and the remaining franchise fee later, spread over 6-12 months.

Young Engineers Franchise:

The Young Engineers is an educational company that offers unique educational programs for children aged 4-15. It is an EdTech company focused on teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), in a creative and fun-filled manner. This is a franchise opportunity in Sweden.

One of their achievements includes breaking the World Guinness Book Of Records for the world’s tallest tower made from building bricks. And this was up to 36 meters in 2017.

They have the mantra of Build, Code, and Play. And the minimum cash required for this franchise is 3,000 EUR.

Tomasello Franchise:

This business involves skin rejuvenation treatments, hair removal, body treatments, and LED facials. They are specialized in permanent hair removal and other related beauty services.

The Nomasvello franchise allows you to work with a vibrant team of professionals without needing to be an expert in the field. The business can also be managed remotely, from anywhere in the world.

Smoothie Factory Franchise:

This company is an international retailer of natural fruit smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, and other healthy food. They are experts in providing their guests with authentic frozen yoghurt and juice cleanse programs, superfood bowls, etc.

The minimum amount required for this franchise is 212,000 EUR.

 

Websites to find businesses of the sale in Sweden

The following websites contain some of the businesses for sale in Sweden. They include:

Smergers.com:

Smergers is one website that lists businesses to be sold and franchised in Sweden. Currently, the website hosts about 79,500+ pre-screened businesses and investors from 900+ nations. And they bring business owners into contact with potential investors and buyers.

The website also has a global network of individuals and a fair valuation of businesses to buy and sell. Security is assured on the website, as every participant, such as business owners, investors, advisors, etc., is verified.

Exchangemarketplace.com:

Exchange marketplace is a booming website where you can find many businesses for sale in Sweden. The website is a large and growing one, where businesses to be sold are listed for people who are interested in buying.

The information found on the exchange marketplace website is highly reliable and verifiable. The website also has a secure messaging platform, where sellers can easily interact with buyers and make inquiries about businesses to be sold.

They also have a secured encrypted payment capture, ensuring your money is kept safe. It is a reputable website to use if you want businesses to buy in Sweden.

Millionmakers.com:

The Million Makers Website is another global, verified website for selling businesses. Businesses on the platform are verifiable, and business names are kept confidential for privacy’s sake.

The Million Makers lists businesses in various fields, such as beauty salons, food vans, automobiles, car washes, petrol stations, bakeries, etc. They also help to rent or lease business establishments in Sweden.

Easybuysellbusiness.com:

Easy buy sells a business is a website dedicated to the selling of businesses of various kinds. They showcase businesses in various fields such as IT, food, retail, consulting, etc.

The Easy Buy Sell Business website connects sellers to buyers to facilitate a smooth business transaction.

Tech business opportunities in Sweden

Drone Videography:

One of the tech business opportunities to start in Sweden is drone videography. This has to do with the use of drone cameras to shoot videos of high buildings or take snapshots from a high place.

You can start this business with a drone and a camera. Real estate agencies, individuals in the agricultural sector, etc., all need this to display their properties, farmlands, etc. It is a lucrative business, and you should take advantage of it.

Technical SEO:

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Hence, Technical SEO has to do with the technical part of Search Engine Optimization. It involves everything one needs to do to optimize the technical parts of a website for search engines.

It involves things such as making the website load fast, having a mobile-friendly website, etc.
It is a well-sought-after skill that can fetch you a lot of money, provided you are good at it.

E-book publishing:

Publishing books has gone beyond traditional paperback publishing. Individuals publish their books, journals, biographies, devotionals, etc., in electronic format. And this is where your skill is needed as an e-book publisher.

As an e-book publisher, you deploy your publishing skills to help people produce their books in an electronic format. You format the book, give it a beautiful layout and publish it on online platforms. Some platforms where you can publish e-books for sale include Amazon, Selar, etc.

Web Design:

Web design is another tech business idea that would flourish in Sweden. As a website designer, you are saddled with designing already developed websites.

Here, you would be required to work on websites, to make them look professional. Some of the services involved in web design include graphic design, SEO, UX design, copywriting, etc.

Fitness tech:

Fitness Tech is an ever-expanding and growing industry, which is lucrative. It involves the development of technology-induced devices to help people keep fit.

It also has to do with producing products such as fitness trackers, workout apps, smartwatches, etc. It is a profitable tech niche to delve into in 2022.

Benefits of doing business in Sweden

There are many benefits to enjoy if you decide to start a business in Sweden. Some of them are:

 

Friendly to startups:

One of the benefits of starting a business in Sweden is that it is friendly to startups. This country is open and helps startups grow. In comparison, after Silicon Valley, Sweden is the next in terms of having billion-dollar firms.

Now, in the two prominent states in Sweden, Gothenburg and Stockholm, many flourishing startups exist.
Also, since Sweden has a small market, startups can test-run their ideas there before expanding to more significant markets.

Open Economy

Sweden has an open and booming economy, which encourages innovation. Asides from the government’s efforts to develop various sectors in the nation, individual businesses are also thriving.

Sweden’s government also works with other nations, such as Brazil, India, etc., to support growing markets there. The economy is also open and allows for the importation and exportation of goods.

Innovation:

Sweden is a highly innovative and technologically advanced nation. The nation is highly placed in the Global Innovation Index and other relevant rankings.

The nation is also keen on research and development. And tremendous growth has been experienced in various endeavours, such as pharmaceutical development, biotechnology tools, medical imaging, orthopaedic implants, etc. Sweden is truly an innovation hub.

Ease of doing business:

Sweden takes the 10th position in the ranking of 190 countries in terms of ease of doing business. This shows how seamless and easy doing business in the nation is.

The nation provides processes that make doing business there easy. For example, there are provisions for online platforms for tax payment, applying for permits, and property transfer. These transactions are not done manually, removing manual applications and documentation stress.

Challenges of starting a business in Sweden

Even though there are benefits and advantages to starting a business in Sweden, some challenges would still be encountered when starting. Here are some of the challenges that you would encounter as a business owner in Sweden:

Complex labour law:

One of the challenges to be encountered when doing business in Sweden is the complex labour laws in place. Sweden has strict labour laws, which affect the way businesses are allowed to operate.

For example, there are procedures to follow before terminating an employee’s appointment. Also, even though there is no set minimum wage in place, trade unions have their standard, which determines the pay rate in their industry. And this is done to protect employees.

High individual tax:

There are high taxes on individuals in the nation. And this is one of the challenges encountered as a business owner in Sweden.

Sweden has a robust social service package for its citizens. These include parental leave, healthcare programs, etc. And all these services are financed with money from taxpayers.

Difficulty in recruiting from outside Sweden:

Due to the high tax rate on individuals in the nation, one may experience difficulty hiring talents from outside the region. This is because such talents may not be willing to work in a nation where their income would be highly taxed.

This would prove true with individuals from nations where they are not taxed heavily.

Weather:

The weather in Sweden may also pose a challenge to businesses. During the winter, the weather is usually harsh, and the temperature can drop to as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

High cost of living:

The cost of living in Sweden is also high due to its innovative and fast-paced nature. The cost of living in Sweden is estimated to be only 2% lower than that of the United States.

Evolving local laws:

The local laws in Sweden are constantly changing from time to time. And this could pose a challenge to foreigners starting a business in the country.

 

30 profitable small business ideas in Sweden

One can launch many business opportunities in Sweden to make money. The following are some of these profitable business ideas:

Affiliate marketing:

Affiliate marketing involves helping people sell products, services, courses, etc., to get an interest rate on every sale made through your referral. It is a lucrative business idea that does not cost you much since you don’t have to own the products sold.

It involves marketing the products and services of another person to earn a commission on every sale made. This business would surely flourish in Sweden, as it would be embraced by business owners to aid fast sales.

Proofreading and editing:

One of the businesses you can earn a comfortable living from is editing and proofreading. Many writers, brands, organizations, etc., need professional editors to edit and proofread their written content.

Thus, if you can position yourself as an expert in this field, you will surely get customers to patronize you. Tools also exist to help you with this. Some other tools include Grammarly, ProWritingAid, etc.

Lawn care business:

The lawn care business involves helping people take care of their lawns. This involves cutting, trimming, and general mowing work.

In Sweden, families are usually particular about how their lawns look. However, they may not have the time to fully care for it. Thus, they require the services of lawnmowers, and you can position yourself, as their go-to person, for lawn care.

Video editing:

Video content is very much consumed by many people these days. Thus, it is a skill in demand. If you possess professional video editing skills, you can do a business out of it.

Video editing involves working on already shot videos to make them usable for individuals, brands, businesses, etc.

Dropshipping:

One of the businesses that you can start is dropshipping. Dropshipping is the kind of business where goods are delivered to your customers directly from the manufacturer or another wholesaler.

In this business, you do not need to own the products. All you have to do is get orders from your customers, send them to the manufacturer, and the goods would be delivered to the customers as if they were from you. It is a low-cost business that would bring in lots of profits if you position yourself as a trustworthy brand.

Podcasting Agency:

Knowledge is not only contained in books, videos, etc. knowledge also comes in audio form. And that is how podcasting came to be. It is another lucrative business where you diffuse your thoughts into podcasts that people can listen to and learn from.

You can invite guests to talk on the podcast. You can conduct guest interviews and do many other things. Here, you can share thoughts about any topic of interest.

SEO Agency:

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is a business that has to do with writing content ranked by search engines, such as Google, Bing, etc. Search Engine Optimization is a vast marketing field that many companies use to get leads and convert them to customers.

If you decide to start an SEO Agency, you would need SEO Content Writers with core SEO knowledge. You can offer your services to individuals, brands, businesses, etc. It is a profitable marketing niche.

Catering Business:

If you possess good culinary skills, you can start a catering business. Here, you can cook food for events, such as in-house parties, wedding ceremonies, etc. And as a caterer, you can make a lot of money, which comes at little or no cost.

You can also cook for families who do not have the time to cook. Hence, you help them stock up on cooked food.

Cleaning Business:

A cleaning business involves cleaning people’s homes, office spaces, event centres, etc., at a price. It is a lucrative business that would thrive in Sweden due to the busy schedule of most people, which does not permit them to do many domestic chores. You can also clean event centres before and after events.

Boutique:

Owning a boutique in Sweden is another profitable business to venture into. And one important thing to do to make your boutique business flourish is to be in a strategic location where your target audience is.

You can sell items such as designer clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, etc. Owning a boutique would bring in a lot of profit for you in Sweden due to the love of Swedish citizens for fashion.

Real Estate Agency:

Opening a real estate agency in Sweden also proves to be highly profitable. A real estate agency is a business where you help people in the process of acquiring lands, houses, and other real estate properties.

As a real estate agent, you help people in verifiable sourcing information about a property, as well as in the acquisition and purchase process. You also provide the documents for these properties, ascertaining them as the legal owners of the properties.

Coffee cafe:

Coffee cafes are popular in Sweden, and this is due to the fast-paced lives led by the people. A coffee cafe is an outlet where various flavours of coffee are sold. Hence, if you can make good coffee, you can launch your coffee cafe business.

Also, you can make signature flavours and create a unique recipe that is original to you. The coffee cafe business doesn’t require much money to launch and is a profitable niche to invest money into.

Newspaper agency:

You can also start a newspaper house in Sweden as a business. Here, you would need to employ journalists, reporters, etc. And they would be in charge of news sourcing and publication.

You can start by editing the news reports to be published or employing an editor for that purpose.

Pet store:

As a lover of animals, you can open a pet store where you sell pet food, accessories, etc. You can also get involved in pet care and training as additional services to generate more money.

Sawmill:

Opening a sawmill business in Sweden is another profitable business that will bring in lots of profits. A sawmill is a place where wood, lumber, etc., are cut for various use.

Many people use wood for various purposes, such as making chairs, beds, cupboards, etc. Thus, a sawmill owner would make a lot of money, supplying individuals.

Foreign Language Training

You can also start a foreign language training centre in Sweden. As an expert in Swedish, English, and other international languages, you can train people who wish to communicate in these languages.

Foreign language training is a lucrative business idea, which allows you to use your knowledge to make money.

Boat rental:

The boat rental business is another lucrative business that would thrive in Sweden. And this is due to the large expanse of water available in the nation. Thus, people are eager to explore these water bodies for recreational and relaxation purposes.

So, establishing a boat rental business would require you to purchase strong boats, which people would rent to use on the water. You must ensure that your boats are always clean and strong to use.

Daycare or creche:

The daycare or creche business is one where you take care of children, from age 0 to 4, without their parents. However, you need to possess specific qualifications and certifications before you can operate a daycare as a business. You would also require a permit, allowing you to start the business.

A daycare or creche business would appeal greatly if you love children and are good at taking care of them. You can start from a small space and expand when you have more children to care for.

Knitting business:

A knitting business is another small-scale business you can launch in Sweden to get money. As a professional knitter, you can get knitting orders from individuals, schools, groups, etc., for knitted items.

And then you can knit various items, such as caps, sweatshirts, dresses, etc. It is a profitable business that brings much return on investment. It can also be established as a second income stream while you still work your regular day job.

Fragrance business:

The fragrance business is another kind of business you can get engaged in. Here, you would be involved in selling various kinds of fragrances, such as body sprays, perfume oils, perfume, roll-ons, etc.

It is a profitable business niche, as you can get customers of various ages and social classes. It can also be launched at a small-scale level and later expanded to a large business.

Leather products business:

The leather products business is the form of business where you use leather materials from animals and other sources to make various items. Nowadays, individuals love items made from quality leather materials. Thus, you can make leather shoes, belts, bags, etc.

The leather business is a lucrative one that will bring in lots of profit, provided you are good at your craft.

Poultry business:

You can also start a poultry business, where you rear poultry animals, such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc. You can sell the birds for meat and get eggs from them, which can also be sold for additional profits.

Vehicle wash:

A vehicle wash business involves washing people’s vehicles for a fee. Here, you can wash various vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks, trailers, etc. In this business, you would be required to wash the internal and external parts of these vehicles.

You could also get involved in washing rugs, canopies, etc., for additional income. You can also establish the vehicle wash business as a side business alongside your regular day job.

Fruit farm:

Establishing a fruit farm, where various kinds of fruits are grown, such as mangoes, apples, pineapples, bananas, pawpaws, guavas, etc., is also a great business idea. All and sundry love fruits, which are a vital part of a balanced meal.

Thus, as a fruit farmer, you can make money from growing, harvesting, and selling fruits harvested from your farm. You can also make natural fruit juice and sell it to make more money.

Organic food store:

An organic food store is a food store where natural food items are sold, such as fruits, vegetables, such as garlic, carrot, green peas, and dairy products, such as milk, cheese, etc.

Organic food stores are highly profitable, and they thrive well in Sweden. However, you need to be positioned in the right location, where residents value organic food items.

Vegan restaurant:

Not everyone eats meat, and vegan restaurants are established to cater to the food needs of such individuals. A vegan restaurant sells food which does not contain meat and animal dairy products.

People are gradually becoming vegans to lead healthier lives. Thus, if you start a vegan restaurant in Sweden, you will surely get many customers to patronize you. However, you need to be well trained and skilled in good vegan dishes that would appeal to your target customers.

Book store:

Owning a book store in Sweden is a profitable business. As a lover of books, you can decide to open a book store where you sell books of various kinds, ranging from fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, journals, etc.

Snow removal business:

Starting a snow removal business is a seasonal business that thrives during winter. However, during this time, the snow removal business is profitable because many people would require your services at that time of the year.

Your services would also be required at various places, such as residential homes, event centres, malls, etc.

Dance studio:

You can launch a dance studio in Sweden, where you teach people how to dance. This is a profitable business in the entertainment niche that will bring in lots of profit. You could also specialize in various kinds of dance, such as western, traditional, etc.

You could also train individuals, groups, couples, etc. However, you need to be positioned well to thrive in this business.

Hotel and Guest House

The hotel and guest house business is another profitable niche to invest your money in as a businessman/woman. Here, you would be able to rent out the rooms in the hotel or guesthouse to travellers, individuals on vacation, couples on honeymoon, etc.