In order to register a business in Belgium, you must submit the Articles of Incorporation (in French, Dutch or German) at one of the FPS Finance's registration offices.
Articles of Incorporation
Depending company, you must draw up the Articles of Incorporation as Official Deeds or Private Deeds. Official Deeds (or Notarised Deeds), are drawn by a notary and are applicable to most common types of company. Private Deeds are written agreements established by the parties themselves or a third party.
In order to draw up the Articles of Incorporation, you will need to have a financial plan, proof that a bank account has been opened in the name of the company you are creating, and a report drafted by a company auditor.
The Articles of Incorporation must mention:
- the name of the company (including any abbreviations or acronyms)
- the legal form of the company
- the address of the registered office
- the date of the company's Articles of Incorporation
- the information (full name, address, ID) of the individuals authorised to administer the company
- the date of dissolution (if the company was founded for a defined period)
- the date of the annual general meeting
- the start and end dates of the financial year
- the amount of the company capital
- the identity of the director or manager
Businesses must register an extract from their Articles of Incorporation with the commercial court in the legal district in which their registered office is located. They must do so within 15 days following the founding of the company. A notary will register the articles with the Central Enterprise Databank (BCE/KBO), the commercial court and the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad).
After registration with the commercial court, the company will obtain corporate status and an enterprise number issued by the Central Enterprise Databank.
Businesses must also register their local VAT authority if they exceed a threshold of €5,580.