How to register your Business in The Netherlands

Validate Your Online Business Idea

Thoughtful black woman, deeply engrossed in journal thinking, meticulously sketches in her notebook

Before you start a new online business, you need to make sure your idea is really good. Even though starting online is easier, it still costs money. So, you have to check if people really want what you're offering.

Ask yourself these questions:

Does your product or service solve a problem that many people have?

Are people ready to spend money to solve this problem?

How hard will it be to reach the people who need your solution?

To determine the viability of your business idea, consider key questions to avoid investing in a potentially unsuccessful venture. Once validated, crafting a comprehensive business plan is essential for anticipating challenges and strategizing for future expansion.

Good to learn

Do you know Canvas Model?

The canvas model is a visual tool for entrepreneurs to plan and analyze key aspects of their business, like value proposition and customer segments.

Get your Free Canvas document

Who is your costumer?

Identify the specific groups of people or organizations you aim to serve.

What is your unique value?

Define the unique value your product or service provides to your target customers.

How will you communicate?

Determine how you will reach and communicate with your customers.

How will come the revenue?

Identify the different ways your business will generate income.

How much do you need to invest?

Calculate the expenses associated with running your business, including fixed costs (e.g., rent, salaries) and variable costs (e.g., materials, marketing).

What do you need to start?

List the essential assets your business needs to operate successfully, such as equipment, technology, or skilled employees.

Decide on your business structure

Choosing the right business structure is crucial as it determines the legal and tax obligations you'll face. For small business owners, common options include:

Simplest form but lacks limited liability

Quick and easy setup

Fiscal advantages for starters

Read about eenmanzaak on kvk site

If you want to work independently with other professionals, you can form a professional partnership called a maatschap, where partners share a common name and are equally responsible for debts.

Partners are equally liable for possible debts of the company

Partners work on a more or less equal standing

Each partner brings equity to the maatschap, e.g. labour, cash or goods

Is based on financial gain, shared accordingly by the partners.

Read about maatschap on business.gob.nl

It is equivalent to the private limited company.

No personal liability

Suited for complex business management

Attract investors

Build capital

Read about Besloten Vennootschap on kvk site

If your idea serves charitable goals and unites individuals for common causes.

Has no minimum start-up capital

Read about Stichting on kvk site

Not sure which Dutch legal structure?

If you're uncertain about which legal structure to choose for your business in the Netherlands, check the tool that Business Gov made for you. It will assist you in assessing key factors like liability, staffing, and taxes, offering tailored advice based on your preferences and requirements.

Check the best legal structure for you

Think Your Business Name

Choose a distinct business name available for registration, domain, and social media, while also checking trademarks to avoid legal complications using resources like the EUIPO or national trademark offices such as BOIP for the Netherlands.

Avoid infringing on existing trademarks to sidestep legal troubles.

Intellectual property rights protect your creations like photos or inventions. If someone misuses them, act fast. Determine your rights, assess the situation, and consider legal action.

Design rights

Trademark rights

Patent

Trade Names Act

Trade Secrets Protection Act

Protecting ideas and concepts

Read about how to Protect your work on kvk site

Ensure the name of your future business is available for registration across online platforms: domain name, and social media username. If unavailable, consider variations or different domain extensions.

Overwhelmed deciding and planning for the best name or domain?

We can help.

Schedule a meeting with us

Keep in mind

Avoid False Self-employment

Both contractors and clients must determine if their arrangement constitutes employment or self-employment to prevent false self-employment. This can result in tax issues and loss of benefits. Both parties share responsibility for ensuring correct classification.

Learn about False Self-employment on the KVK site

The Webmodule Beoordeling Arbeidsrelatie consists of a number of questions to determine if the assignment calls for hiring an independent agent or not. The tool is in dutch but you can find an explanation in english.

Model Agreements

Model agreements are tools for clients and contractors in the Netherlands to ensure their business relationship is not mistaken for false self-employment. These agreements, provided by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, offer standard templates for different types of arrangements:

General model agreements: suitable for most non-employment business relationships.

Sector or profession-specific model agreements: tailored for specific industry standards or conditions.

If these model agreements don't suit, parties can create their own and have it assessed by the Tax and Customs Administration. Intermediaries must also adhere to the DBA Act and can use mediation or intermediation model agreements. If clients and contractors reach an agreement independently, they must use the appropriate standard model agreement for their activities.

Check if you need a Model Agreement

To the Employment Status Checker

Next steps

Once you've made sure your business follows all the rules, the next steps are creating a business plan and giving a look to your brand. Together, a good plan and strong branding can help make your business successful.

Important

Business Plan

A business plan is like a map that helps you figure out where your business is going. It includes things like who your customers are, how you'll sell to them, and how much money you'll make.

Learn how to build a business plan

Marketing

Branding

Branding is about making your business look and feel special. It involves things like designing a logo, picking colors and fonts, and deciding what your business stands for.

Learn about branding

KVK:

Register your online business in the Netherlands