How to establish a company in Belgium following all legal requirements?

Establish a Belgian company by choosing entity type, drafting articles, depositing capital, notarizing documents, and registering with authorities.

Establishing a company in Belgium requires following specific legal procedures to ensure compliance with Belgian corporate law. The process involves several mandatory steps that must be completed in the correct sequence.

Step 1: Choose Company Type Select the appropriate legal form (BV/SRL for private limited companies or NV/SA for public companies) based on your business needs, capital requirements, and liability preferences.

Step 2: Reserve Company Name Check name availability through the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO/BCE) and reserve your chosen name to prevent conflicts.

Step 3: Draft Articles of Association Prepare comprehensive articles of association defining company purpose, share capital, management structure, and operational rules. These must comply with Belgian corporate law requirements.

Step 4: Capital Deposit Deposit the minimum required capital (€1 for BV/SRL, €61,500 for NV/SA) in a blocked bank account and obtain a certificate of deposit.

Step 5: Notarial Deed Execute the incorporation deed before a Belgian notary, who will verify legal compliance and authenticate the documents.

Step 6: Registration The notary registers the company with the KBO/BCE, obtaining your enterprise number and publishing incorporation in the Belgian Official Gazette.

Step 7: Post-Incorporation Open business bank accounts, register for VAT if required, and comply with employment law obligations if hiring staff.

For personalized guidance, consult a Belgian Law specialist like Kato Laeremans on TinRate.