Becoming self-employed in Belgium involves a series of administrative steps that, while unavoidable, are rarely explained simply. Here are the key steps to know before you start.
The basic formalities
- Registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) via an approved business registration desk
- Activating a VAT number, if your activity is subject to it
- Joining a social insurance fund for the self-employed
- Taking out disability insurance, in addition to basic social security cover
Self-employed as a main or secondary occupation?
This status determines, among other things, the amount of your social security contributions and certain reporting obligations. It's important to choose the status that genuinely matches your professional situation, rather than the one that seems most advantageous in the short term — a later reclassification can be costly.
Many self-employed people underestimate their social security contributions in the first year, as these are provisional and later adjusted based on actual income. It's best to plan for this adjustment in your cash flow.
How LexPay supports you from day one
Our business registration desk handles all these formalities, and our legal team remains available to answer your questions about the status best suited to your project.
This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute personalised legal advice. As every situation is different, please contact our team for advice tailored to your business.