Noor & Sven(39)

I met Sven in a hostel in Lisbon — he from Kalmar, I from Utrecht. After two years of long-distance I moved to him. Kalmar is a coastal city of 70,000 inhabitants in southeast Sweden, known as the sunniest city in the country. When Sven's parents wanted to sell their old house by the sea, we saw an opportunity: start a bed & breakfast.

Running a B&B in Sweden requires registration at Skatteverket as an enskild firma or aktiebolag. We chose a handelsbolag (partnership), so we're both owners. Registration at Bolagsverket cost 900 SEK and was done within a week. The livsmedelsverket (food authority) had to inspect our kitchen — that was the biggest hurdle, but after a small renovation we got approval.

I got my personnummer quickly as the partner of a Swedish citizen — three weeks. Folkbokföring opened the door to everything: BankID, bank account, healthcare through Försäkringskassan. What surprised me is that as an entrepreneur in Sweden you have the same social rights as employees: sjukpenning (sick pay), föräldrapenning and pension accrual, provided you earn enough.

Our B&B, located on the coast with views of the island Öland, runs at full capacity from May to September. We have four rooms and serve a Swedish breakfast with local products. In peak season we earn enough to live on for the whole year. In winter we renovate, take courses and enjoy the quiet.

Kalmar is a hidden gem. Kalmar Castle is a fairy-tale castle from the twelfth century, the city center is cozy with cafés and shops, and Öland — accessible via a six-kilometer bridge — is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The beaches are wide and empty, even in summer. After the bustle of Utrecht it feels like permanent vacation.

The challenge is winter. November to February is quiet — few guests, short daylight, and sometimes lonely. But we've built a network through the local företagarförening (entrepreneurs' association) and the Dutch Association in Sweden. Our advice: start small, test your concept in summer, and ensure a financial buffer for winter. A B&B in Sweden isn't quick profit, but a way of life.