To begin with
From your first registration to your first invoice. Arrange this before your activity begins.
“Write down for yourself why this plan exists, who it has value for, and which first step you are willing to take without applause.”
On this page
1. Your status, registration and permits
Have a recognised enterprise counter manage your activity and KBO registration and check which permits are needed. Discuss main occupation, secondary occupation or student self-employed status with your social insurance fund. A secondary occupation is not a free choice without conditions.
I am still studying. Can I already undertake business?
Under certain conditions, the student self-employed status exists. Have age, study conditions and income assessed. Check separately the effects on social contributions, health insurance, taxation and Groeipakket.
2. Social security and health insurance fund
Join a social insurance fund no later than the start and arrange your health insurance fund. Provisional contributions can be recalculated later based on your actual income. A low initial contribution is therefore not necessarily your final cost.
Am I as self-employed protected in the same way as an employee?
Social rights and conditions differ. Ask specifically about illness, disability, parenthood and pension. Do not assume that you automatically receive unemployment benefits when you stop your business.
3. VAT, bank account and bookkeeping
Have it determined whether your activity is subject to VAT, exempt or under a special scheme. Use a separate business bank account to keep overview. Agree who processes invoices, submits returns and monitors deadlines.
I invoice little. Do I then have no administration?
Even a small activity can have registration, bookkeeping and fiscal obligations. Ask before your first invoice which arrangement applies. An exemption in one area does not remove other obligations.
4. Correct invoicing in 2026
Since 1 January 2026 Belgium has a requirement for structured electronic invoicing for many domestic transactions between VAT-liable enterprises. A PDF by email is not sufficient for this. There are exceptions: have the application checked for your business.
I work exclusively for private individuals. Is e-invoicing then irrelevant?
Not necessarily. Your outgoing consumer invoices and your incoming business invoices require separate assessment. Use the official information and have your accountant confirm what you need to be able to receive.
5. Contracts, insurance and working from home
Describe your services, price and payment arrangements clearly. Check professional liability and other sector-specific insurances. For working from home, consider rental conditions, zoning, municipal regulations and fire insurance. Also think about privacy and security regarding personal data.
Is my family insurance sufficient for my business?
Do not assume so. Family insurance is intended for private life. Present your exact professional activities to an insurance advisor and ask which professional risks need separate coverage.
A next step, at your own pace.
See what is already arranged and choose what you want to address now.
Open your checklist →Frequently Asked Questions
FROM READING TO PREPARATION
Already a first answer.
Where do I start if I become independent for the first time?
Start with what will change soon: your home, work, income or family situation. Open the related guide and use the checklist to make a list of what is arranged and what still needs an answer.
Must I arrange everything at once?
First distinguish between arrangements with a date and issues you still want to investigate. Keep contracts and confirmations together. Ask the relevant service which information they need and note the next step.
Can I involve a parent or trusted person?
You can review the information together and prepare your questions. Indicate who you want to involve in a conversation. It helps if you formulate in advance what you want to achieve and what you have doubts about.
EASY PREPARATION
A checklist for your next step
Choose your topic. You will see what helps and what you can explore together with the office.
Useful websites
View sources and practical websites
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP
You do not have to figure it out alone.
First your situation
Explain what is happening, who is involved and what you want to avoid.
Weighing possibilities
We discuss your questions, the available documents and the consequences of possible choices.
Your next step
We record what you want to have drafted and what follow-up belongs to it.
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