How to Register a Company in Belgium (2025): Step-by-Step Process & Requirements

Registering a company in Belgium is a structured process, but it can be straightforward if you follow the following steps.

1. Check your eligibility to start a business in Belgium.
2. Choose the right legal structure for your company (e.g., BV, NV, sole proprietorship).
3. Open a professional bank account in your company’s name.
4. Select an official business address in Belgium.
5. Pick and register your business name after checking its availability.
6. Draft a business and financial plan (required for most company types).
7. Register your company with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and get your registration number.
8. Register for VAT, apply for necessary permits, and join a social insurance fund.

The company registration process costs around €3,280 and takes approximately 10 days. We have discussed the entire registration process in detail below.

Why Company Registration Is Important

Company registration is a crucial step in starting a business in Belgium. It gives your business legal standing and opens the door to several operational, financial, and legal benefits. 

Here’s why company registration is needed:

• Legal identity: Separates your personal and business assets
• Limited liability: Protects personal property in case of business losses (for BV, NV)
• Credibility: Builds trust with customers, banks, and investors
• Access to banking: Required to open a professional business account
• Tax compliance: Allows VAT registration and fulfills legal obligations
• Government support: Makes your business eligible for subsidies and schemes
• Hiring: Required to register with NSSO for hiring employees
• Contracts: Enables you to sign contracts in the company’s name

Step by Step Guide to Register a Company in Belgium

Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide along with additional requirements and steps to help you through the process.

Step 1: Check If You’re Eligible

Ensure you meet Belgium’s conditions to operate as a self-employed individual or launch a company. You must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have full civil and political rights
• Is not legally incompetent or under supervision
• Is not banned from self-employment

Nationality & Professional Conditions

• EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: No professional card is required. However, if entering a regulated profession, have your qualifications recognized.
• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: A professional card is mandatory unless exempt.

Activity-Based Conditions

Depending on your business type or region:

• You may need proven entrepreneurial skills in Wallonia and Brussels.
• Liberal and intellectual professions have specific rules.
• Additional licenses or authorizations may be needed for some sectors.
• You may need to fulfil conditions to start self-employment activities.

Step 2: Assess How You’ll Start

Your personal circumstances influence how you start. In simpler words, you need to know how you’ll start your business if you’re:

• an employee starting a secondary occupation
• on unemployment benefits
• receiving disability benefits, as per region-based conditions for Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia
• an assisting spouse
• a student in Flanders, Brussels, or Wallonia

Step 3: Choose a Legal Structure

You can register any of the following types of business entities. Detailed information about each company type, along with a comparison table, is provided later in this article.

• BV (Besloten Vennootschap/SRL) – flexible, for SMEs
• NV (Naamloze Vennootschap/SA) – large-scale operations
• SC (Cooperative) – member-focused model
• Partnerships – general, limited, and shares-based
• Foreign Entity – branch or representative office

Step 4: Open a Professional Bank Account

All businesses must open a professional bank account in Belgium. This is:

• Mandatory for companies and must be in the company’s name
• Recommended for sole proprietors to keep personal and business funds separate
• Needed early for covering setup costs

Setup Time: ~2 days
Card Delivery: ~7 days

This account must appear on all invoices and documents alongside your enterprise number.

Step 5: Choose an Enterprise Address

Every Belgian business needs an official address, known as the “seat.”

Sole Proprietorship

• The seat is usually your home address.
• If the business goes into debt, your personal assets can be seized unless you've protected your primary residence via a notarial declaration of unseizability. Only covers future debts.

Company

• Has its own legal identity and address.
• Limited Liability Structures (BV, NV): Personal assets are protected unless the business is undercapitalized and goes bankrupt within 3 years.
• Address changes must be published in the Belgian Official Gazette.

Step 6: Pick a Business Name

Guidelines

• Sole proprietors can use their personal name or trade name.
• Companies gain legal protection for their name upon company registration in Belgium.

Protection Types

• Trade name: Protected from the moment it’s used publicly
• Company name: Officially recognized upon court registration
• Trademark: Must be registered with BOIP for full legal protection

Name Availability

• Search the BOIP database for trademarks.
• Check the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) for existing business names.

Step 7: Draft a Business and Financial Plan

This step is mandatory for companies and highly advised for sole proprietors. 

Business Plan

• Goals and strategy
• Target market
• Services/products
• Team and vision
• Risk analysis

Financial Plan (Required for BV, NV, and CV)

• Funding sources
• 12- and 24-month income projections
• 2-year budget
• Opening balance sheet
• Forecast assumptions

The financial plan can be used to determine the founder's liability in the event that the business goes bankrupt within three years. You may be held personally accountable if the original assets are determined to be blatantly inadequate.

Step 8: Define Your Economic Activities

Belgium uses NACE codes to classify business activities. You'll need to register them correctly with the CBE.

Updates

• You can add or remove NACE codes at a business counter.
• Updates must be made within one month of new activity.
• You may incur fees for updates.

Establishment Units

You must register at least one establishment unit, the location where you operate:

• For sole proprietors: usually your business address
• For companies: the registered seat

An established establishment unit's address can be changed independently:

• through the My Enterprise app
• by visiting a certified business counter that charges for this service

Step 9: Get Your Qualifications Recognized

For EEA nationals, some professions are regulated and require recognized diplomas. To check this, visit:

• EU database
• Be-Assist
• Accredited business counters

Then, if needed, register on the Competence Recognition platform to get your qualifications recognized.

Step 10: Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE)

This step gives your business its 10-digit company business registration number.

Sole Proprietorship

Register via an accredited business counter in Crossroads Bank for Enterprises and provide NACE codes to receive a 10-digit company registration number.

Company

1. Bank certificate is required for NV (starting capital), BV/CV (sufficient capital). Bank confirms deposit in company’s name. 
2. Articles of Association must include the founders’ identity, company name, purpose, general meeting rules, and internal rules.
3. The Deed of Incorporation must include name, address, purpose, capital, and rules. For limited liability (PLC, LTD, and SCOP), notarial deed via civil-law notary is needed. For unlimited liability (partnerships), parties must sign a private deed.
4. Submit the deed to the business court within 30 days. For limited liability, notary files physically or via startmybusiness.be. For unlimited liability, partners file via eGRIFFIE (FR), in person, or via business counter.
5. Register the deed. For limited liability, notary registers at FPS Finance within 15 days. For unlimited liability, partners register within 4 months.
6. Register UBO. Legal reps register Ultimate Beneficial Owners via MyMinfin within 30 days. Non-Profit (VZW/IVZW) register via FPS Justice site (FR). Foreign companies open Belgian branches online (FR) using eID or physically at the business court office.

Step 11: Register for VAT

If your business offers taxable goods/services, VAT registration is required.

• Sole Proprietors: Register online or via a paid counter
• Companies: Notary will handle VAT activation during registration

Your VAT number will be the same as your registration number company.

Step 12: Apply for Relevant Permits

Permits depend on your sector and activity as per NACE codes. You can apply for these regionally or through a business counter.

Step 13: Join a Social Insurance Fund

All self-employed persons, directors, and partners must join a social insurance fund. It provides:

• Healthcare
• Family allowances
• Maternity benefits
• Pensions
• Bankruptcy protection

You must also join a health insurance fund at the same time. You can self-register or use a business counter. 

Step 14: Register as an Employer (NSSO)

If you plan to hire employees:

1. Register with the National Social Security Office (NSSO) via WIDE.
2. Declare new hires via DIMONA.
3. Submit quarterly wage declarations via DmfA.

Types of Companies in Belgium

Belgium offers several company structures to suit different business needs and sizes; here are the main types you can choose from:

• BV (Besloten Vennootschap/SRL): The BV, also known as the SRL in French, is a flexible private limited company structure suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It offers limited liability protection, meaning your personal assets are generally protected from business debts. There is no minimum capital requirement, and it can be set up by one or more individuals or legal entities.
• NV (Naamloze Vennootschap/SA): The NV, or SA in French, is designed for larger businesses or companies planning to raise capital through public or private investors. It requires a higher minimum capital and at least one shareholder. The NV structure is commonly used by bigger corporations and provides limited liability to its shareholders.
• SC (Cooperative): The SC is a cooperative company structure focused on collective ownership and shared benefits for its members. It is ideal for businesses that are jointly owned and managed by multiple stakeholders, such as worker cooperatives or groups with a social purpose. Members can enter and exit more flexibly than with traditional companies.
• Partnerships: Belgium recognizes several types of partnerships, including general partnerships (VOF/SNC), limited partnerships (CommV/SCS), and partnerships limited by shares. Partnerships allow two or more individuals or entities to share management and profits, but liability can be unlimited or limited depending on the type.
• Foreign Entity: International businesses can operate in Belgium by opening a branch office or establishing a representative office. This allows foreign companies to conduct business in Belgium while maintaining their original legal identity, but they must still comply with local registration and tax requirements.

Comparison Table: Types of Companies

Costs of Registering a Company in Belgium

The approximate total cost of registering a company in Belgium is €3,280. This cost typically includes:

• Legal documents: Preparation and drafting of necessary documents such as Articles of Association, company bylaws, and shareholder agreements.
• Notary services: Fees for mandatory notarial deeds, which are required for certain company types like BV or NV.
• Taxes and registration fees: Charges for registering your company with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and other administrative costs.
• Annual legal address charges: Costs for maintaining an official business address, which is mandatory for all companies in Belgium.

Company Registration Timeline

The process for company registration in Belgium takes up to 10 to 20 days to complete, depending on the legal form and required documents.

• Prepare documents and business plan (1–2 days)
• Open a business bank account (1–2 days)
• Draft and sign the deed of incorporation with a notary (1–2 days)
• Register the company with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (1 day)
• Register for VAT (1 day)
• Apply for any required permits or sector licenses (1–3 days)
• Join a social insurance fund (1 day)
• Register as an employer with the NSSO, if hiring (1 day)

Conclusion

For company registration in Belgium, check eligibility, choose a legal structure, and assess your starting point based on personal circumstances. Then, open a professional bank account, pick an address, select a business name, and draft a business and financial plan. Also, define activities using NACE codes and register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. Then, get qualifications recognized, register for VAT, apply for permits, and join a social insurance and health fund. 

If hiring, register as an employer with NSSO. Furthermore, costs total around €3,280, and registration takes about 10 days.