Are you planning to start a business? Then the first step is always to register in the Dutch Commercial Register at the Chamber of Commerce (CoC). Only after your registration with the CoC and getting a kvk number, can you officially call yourself an entrepreneur. In this article, we discuss what the Dutch Trade Register is, when you need to register with the Chamber of Commerce and how to prepare for it.
The Trade Register lists all companies and legal entities in the Netherlands. Other organisations participating in economic life are also registered. Everyone has open access to this register, which is therefore consulted millions of times a year. The Trade Register lets you know who you are doing business with, who is allowed to sign on behalf of the company, and whether there is any bankruptcy.
What is listed in the Trade Register?
When you go to register with the Chamber of Commerce, your name, and contact details are recorded. You will also be given a unique CoC number after registration, which will be listed in the register. You can also read who is responsible for the company and where it is located.
some data is only available to authorised persons, such as lawyers or notaries.
Details in the Dutch Trade Register are:
Company name;
Contact details (address, tel. number, e-mail, etc.);
Place(s) of business;
Type of activities;
Number of employees;
Trustee in bankruptcy.
You can look up companies and organisations in the Trade Register by searching by company name, address or via the unique Chamber of Commerce number. Using the Trade Register is completely free of charge. If you want to receive more extensive information, such as annual accounts, in addition to basic information, you will have to pay a fee.
Almost every entrepreneur is obliged to register with the Chamber of Commerce. However, there is still room for interpretation between what is a hobby and what is a business. It often lies together with your tax considerations. We have listed several criteria below. If you meet all the criteria, we advise you to register as a sole proprietorship or other type of legal form with the Chamber of Commerce:
You provide products and/or services;
You invoice costs and charge an hourly rate;
You participate in economic transactions;
If you start a webshop, you must register immediately to comply with online regulations;
You started your business no later than one week ago.
Do you want to avoid being bothered by advertising and telemarketers after you register? Then register with the Call-me-not register.
You pay a one-off fee of € 51.95 for registering your company with the Chamber of Commerce. You must pay this amount there by debit or credit card. No cash is accepted at the Chamber of Commerce. There is no annual mandatory fee; this obligation was abolished in 2013.
To properly prepare for your registration with the Chamber of Commerce, we have listed a few steps for you to go through.
The very first thing you need to think about is your company name. Often, the importance of a good company name (and domain name for your website) is greatly underestimated by entrepreneurs. A bad company name can make people doubt the quality of your products or services. More and more people are choosing to buy a quality domain name including a logo.
A logo
A logo is the most distinctive part of your business, next to the company name. For many start-ups, it does not seem to be a priority, yet a logo plays a very important role. As with the company name, a bad logo can make potential customers doubt its quality. A convincing brand is THE starting point for starting your business.
establish a domain name that matches your company name.
When registering in the Trade Register, you must specify a legal form for your company, i.e. a legal form. A legal form decides, among other things, whether you run the business alone or with others and whether you will be held liable for any debts of the company. In the Netherlands, the following legal forms exist: sole proprietorship, BV, NV, VOF, CV, partnership, association, foundation and cooperative. Choose a legal form that suits your situation, discuss with your accountant what is the best option for you to maximise your tax benefits.
After you have chosen your legal form, you need to register all interested parties (UBOs). UBO stands for Ultimate Beneficial Owner. This is someone who ultimately owns or controls an organisation. This can also include multiple people (UBOs). People who fall under this category have more than 25% of the shares in a BV. Always check carefully whether your legal form requires you to register UBOs.
Next, you will make an appointment at the Chamber of Commerce to register your company permanently. Making an appointment is done entirely online via the registration form on the website. Fill in the form as comprehensively as possible, then the on-site registration at the CoC itself will go a lot faster.
What should I bring with me to the CoC?
After you have completed the above steps, you need to bring the following items with you to the Chamber of Commerce: company name, choice of legal form, proof of identity (ID or passport) and your debit or credit card to pay the one-off fee of €51.30.
Then go through the following steps:
It is also important to bring the rental or purchase agreement with you. Of course, this only applies if you are based in business premises. Do you have several branches? Then take all agreements with you to the Chamber of Commerce. Each branch will be given a unique branch number consisting of 12 digits. If you do not have business premises, then you can skip this step.
Having a business account is incredibly useful as a starting entrepreneur. It allows you to keep your business income and expenses clear and separate. It is not mandatory to open a business account, but we still advise you to keep private and business accounts separate. This way, the accounts will be a lot clearer, and you will know better what you are spending, whether you can invest or still need to save.
An accountant or bookkeeper brings you a lot of peace and convenience. It not only provides peace of mind in the company, but also in your head. Outsourcing your bookkeeping has a lot of advantages. You no longer have to think about piles of receipts and invoices.
By outsourcing your bookkeeping to an experienced bookkeeper, you can be sure that the bookkeeping is flawless. This will help you avoid possible fines from the tax authorities. Moreover, a good bookkeeper will alert you to any tax benefits that you may be missing out on. This will save you a lot of money immediately.
Thanks to our large national network, there is always a bookkeeper available in your area. It is important that the bookkeeper (or accountant) matches your wishes and that there is a personal click. That is why we offer a free service for entrepreneurs to compare bookkeepers.
Start your request by filling in the form below, and we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss your request. You will then receive up to three quotes from accountants that match your needs and requirements.
Our service is completely free and without obligation for you as a business owner.
