Setting up a BV as a recruiter: how to go about it

Anyone who becomes an independent recruiter almost always works through their own BV. At Shortlist, it’s actually the rule. And for good reason: if you bill solidly, you pay a good deal less tax through a BV than as a sole trader. So setting up a BV is usually your first step. How you get from billing to your bank account through your BV is covered in How much does an independent recruiter earn?

But first, that BV has to exist. It’s less complicated than it sounds, provided you know what needs to happen and in what order.

The steps

1. Draw up a financial plan. It’s mandatory for a BV. In it, you show that your BV has enough money to start, for at least its first two years: where the money comes from, an opening balance sheet, balance sheets after 12 and 24 months, a budget of your income and expenses, and the assumptions you’re working from. Have your accountant draw it up; they know the rules.
2. Pay in your starting capital. There’s no minimum capital any more, but your BV does need enough equity to start, and your financial plan shows that. You pay it into an account in your BV’s name and ask your bank for a certificate. Contribute your capital in cash: then you can later pay out dividends at the lower VVPR-⁠bis rate.
3. Have the deed drawn up by a notary. You set up a BV with a notarial deed. The notary writes the articles of association with you: your BV’s name, what it does and how it works. You bring your financial plan and the bank certificate, and you sign at the notary’s office.
4. Let the notary do the rest. They file the deed with the court registry and arrange publication in the Belgian Official Gazette. Your BV exists from the moment the deed is filed.
5. Apply for your enterprise number and VAT number. You do that through a business counter. Your enterprise number doubles as your VAT number. You invoice your fees to Belgian clients with 21% VAT.
6. Add yourself to the UBO register. It records who owns your BV. You do that online, via MyMinfin.
7. Join a social insurance fund. As a company director, you’re self-⁠employed and pay social contributions. That’s how you build up your pension and get cover if you fall ill.
8. Set up your invoicing via Peppol. Since 1 January 2026, every invoice to a Belgian company has to go electronically via the Peppol network. So choose accounting software that can handle that from the start.

What does it cost?

These are the public prices a business counter quotes:

Where VAT applies, it’s included in the price, and your BV can reclaim that VAT. Your notary or accountant may charge a little more or less, so ask for a quote in advance. After that, you pay your accountant every month: count on about €300.

After incorporation: don’t forget this

Your BV exists, but there are a few things you need to get right from the start:

• Pay yourself a salary. If you want the low 20% corporate tax rate, your BV has to pay you at least €51,000 a year (in 2026), including your benefits in kind. In the first four financial years of a new BV, that condition doesn’t apply yet.
• Do the two tests before you pay out a dividend. Your BV may only pay out if it’s still in good health afterwards. The net asset test checks that your equity doesn’t turn negative. The liquidity test checks that your BV can keep paying its debts over the next twelve months. As a director, you’re personally liable if you pay out when that isn’t the case.
• Keep a share register. It records who holds which shares. For a BV with one owner, it’s quickly done, but it’s a must.
• Sort out your insurance. Above all, guaranteed income insurance. Which policies you need is covered in What insurance do you need when you’re self-⁠employed?

Choosing a good accountant

Your accountant becomes one of the most important people in your business. Choose one who:

• understands company directors: someone who knows how to combine your salary, your dividend and your pension smartly, and doesn’t need to look up VVPR-⁠bis or an IPT (individual pension commitment),
• works digitally: with accounting software that sends and receives invoices via Peppol, and where you can follow your figures yourself,
• charges a fixed price: so you know where you stand, with no surprises by the hour,
• explains things to you: a good accountant doesn’t just do your tax return, they also tell you why.

How it works at Shortlist

At Shortlist, you set up your BV through our regular partner Baker Tilly, in your first weeks. Still looking for an accountant? We’ll introduce you to one. And we send your invoices to clients, via Peppol, so you can bill instead of doing admin. What else you get from us is covered in Why work with Shortlist?

Frequently asked questions

How much capital do I need to put in?

There’s no legal minimum any more. You put in what your BV needs to start, and your financial plan has to show that. Contribute it in cash and you qualify for VVPR-⁠bis.

How long does it take?

With a financial plan and an appointment with the notary, it can be done in a few weeks. After signing, the notary has up to 15 days to file the deed.

Can I start as a sole trader instead?

You can, and it’s simpler and cheaper to start. But you pay personal income tax on all your profit, up to 50%. If you bill solidly, you usually keep more through a BV. Discuss it with your accountant.

Do I have to charge VAT as a recruiter?

Yes. You charge 21% VAT on your fees for Belgian clients.

This is general information, not personal legal or tax advice.

You’ll find all the steps at a glance in our guide Becoming an independent recruiter in Belgium.

Sources

• The steps to set up a BV: VLAIO, setting up a company (in Dutch).
• Steps and costs: Partena Professional, setting up a BV (in Dutch).
• E-⁠invoicing via Peppol, mandatory since 1 January 2026: VLAIO (in Dutch).
• Dividends and the distribution tests: Lexgo, profit distribution in a BV.
• Minimum director’s pay for 2026: Attentia (in Dutch).