Starting a business in Belgium in 2026 involves dealing with obligations that have radically changed since the removal of basic management knowledge requirements in Wallonia and Brussels, and the implementation of mandatory electronic invoicing. The regulatory environment now rewards entrepreneurs who structure their management from day one, not those who regularize afterward.
Electronic invoicing B2B in Belgium: a constraint that influences tool choices
The law of February 6, 2024, requires VAT-registered businesses to issue and receive structured invoices via the Peppol network for domestic B2B transactions. A simple PDF sent by email is no longer sufficient. This obligation also applies, at least for receipt, to small businesses under the VAT exemption scheme.
We recommend addressing this issue even before choosing the legal status. The reason is technical: the management software must be Peppol compatible from the issuance of the first invoice. Selecting accounting software after registration risks starting with an incompatible solution and having to migrate during active operations.
The royal decree of July 8, 2025, provides for progressive fines: 1,500 euros for a first offense, 3,000 euros for the second, and 5,000 euros from the third. For a self-employed person in the launch phase, these amounts directly impact cash flow. Proof of serious preparation can be crucial in case of an audit during the transition phase, according to the Order of Chartered Accountants and Certified Accountants of Belgium.
Francophone resources like oserentreprendre.be help identify obligations specific to each region and guide software choices before registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises.
Legal form and self-employed status: deciding between SRL and individual
The SRL (limited liability company) remains the preferred legal form for setting up a company in Belgium since the reform of the Companies and Associations Code. It no longer requires a fixed minimum capital, making it accessible, but this accessibility is misleading.
The obligation to draft a detailed financial plan remains for any SRL. This plan must demonstrate that the equity is sufficient to cover the activity for at least two years. In the event of bankruptcy within the first three years, the founder may be held personally liable if the financial plan was clearly insufficient.
For a self-employed person starting a service activity with minimal investments, the individual business offers a quicker start and lower administrative costs. However, personal assets are not separated from professional assets.
Concrete criteria for decision-making
- If the activity involves recurring financial commitments (inventory, equipment, commercial premises), the SRL protects personal assets and structures cash management
- If the projected turnover remains modest in the first year and the activity relies on intellectual services, the self-employed status avoids notary fees and publication obligations
- If multiple partners are involved in the project, the SRL formalizes each person’s rights and prevents conflicts through its statutes
Business plan in Belgium: what audits actually check
Competing articles repeat that a business plan must be written. We observe that the relevant question is not whether to create one, but what a court or funding body is actually looking for in it.
In the event of early bankruptcy of an SRL, the commercial court examines the financial plan filed with the notary. It checks three points: the consistency between revenue projections and fixed costs, consideration of an unfavorable scenario, and the adequacy between initial equity and working capital needs.
An overly optimistic financial plan is more dangerous than having no plan at all. It constitutes evidence of negligence if the assumptions are not based on any verifiable market data. We recommend documenting each assumption with an identifiable source: supplier quotes, industry studies, competitor pricing grids.
Elements to include in the financial plan
- Monthly cash flow projection for 24 months, not just an annual income statement
- Identification of the break-even point with the number of clients or services needed to cover fixed costs
- Quantified pessimistic scenario: extended client payment terms, conversion rates lower than expected, launch delays
- Detail of initial investments, including costs related to compliance (Peppol software, mandatory insurance, quarterly social security contributions)
Social contributions and insurance: items that starters underestimate
In Belgium, every self-employed person is affiliated with a social insurance fund and pays provisional quarterly contributions from the first quarter of activity. These contributions are calculated on a flat-rate basis in the first years, then adjusted based on actual income. The adjustment can result in a significant contribution call two to three years after the launch.
Professional liability insurance is not always mandatory depending on the sector, but it becomes a prerequisite for securing certain B2B contracts. Guaranteed income insurance covers work incapacity, a risk that new self-employed individuals systematically overlook.
From a tax perspective, the choice between actual regime and flat-rate expenses directly influences net profitability. An accountant specialized in supporting starters can optimize these decisions from the first declaration, rather than correcting mistakes in the second year.
The removal of basic management knowledge requirements in Wallonia and Brussels has simplified access to self-employed status. This simplification does not reduce operational complexity: it shifts it to daily management, where every decision regarding invoicing, social coverage, or legal form has measurable financial consequences from the first months of activity.
