Getting your startup

formalities done

Lieven Fiers Bizcamp Antwerp

Zenito Ondernemingsloket Dec. 2010

1

Thomas Edison

“Succes is 10% inspiration and 90% transpiration”

A succesfull start-up is 20% inspiration, 40 % transpiration and 40% preparation.

My 20 minutes-program:

• 1. Figures

• 2. Examples of formalities

• 3. My advice for start-ups

1. Figures :

63 000*

* Figures gathered by Unizo

1. Figures :

63 000start-ups in Belgium in 2009

- Flanders : 37 000 - Brussels : 8 000 - Wallonia : 18 000

Greatest number of start-ups = in the province of Antwerp (18%)

* Figures gathered by Unizo

1. Figures :

2. In what sector ?- business services 18%- retail trade 12%- building industry 11%- hotel, restaurants, bar 7%- wholesale trade 5%- Services for persons 5%- transport 4%- recreation, culture 3%- informatics 3%

1. Figures :

3. What juridical form for the start-up?

55% = one persons business

45% = companies (29% bvba – sprl)

4. gender : 62% ♂ - 38% ♀

5. 10% takes an employee in the first year

1. Figures :

6. 1069 faillites in the month of sept. 2010

Especially the fallout-ratio for young businesses is very high:

- after 3 years : 22%- after 5 years : 33%

2. Formalities and procedures

FACT : Starting-up in Belgium is difficult:- overregulation !!- start-up in 3 days (Minister Q) is an illusion - formalities and procedures are different

for each single activity

- overview (N/F/E/D)?

www.business.belgium.be

2. Formalities and procedures

Top 5 important formalities:

1. Environmental licence : for business with great effect on the environment (air, sound, effluents, smell, danger for contamination, ...).

- 3 categories. - can take several months - regional competence

More info? http://www.vlao.be

2. Formalities and procedures

2. in the case of Companies : establishment accountant mostly via a notary (except for VOF, GCV, CVOHA)

this implies : Statutes establishment act by the notary registration of this establishment act (Tax Administration) deposit of the establishment act at the Tribunal of Commerce

= the official start of your company= creation of a business number for the company

publication in the Staatsblad/Moniteur

2. Formalities and procedures

3. Inscription in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE)

by the one-stop shops for businesses (‘ondernemingsloketten’):- creation of the business number (= ‘VAT-number’,

0123.456.789) for the one person businesses

- activation of the business as a commercial enterprise or a liberal profession in the CBE: adresses, commercial name, activities

- for commercial businesses : evidence of the business management knowledge and (sometimes) professional knowledge = very important issue !

2. Formalities and procedures

3. Inscription in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE)

- about the business management knowledge

- about the professional knowledge : in some sectors of activities, such as builmding industrie, garage and sell of vehicules, beauty care, restaurant, ...

2. Formalities and procedures

3. Inscription in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE)

- in common for both (knowledge business management and professional knowledge):

- How to prove it? Diploma or proved experience (2 pieces)- By who? entrepreneur or a relative/partner- exceptions, e.g. in case of take-over of a business

Attention! foreign diploma or foreign experience = complication: procedure of declaration of equivalance, translation, ...

2. Formalities and procedures

4. Activation VAT (BTW/TVA)

= inscription as a VAT –taxpayer (unless profits are under 5580 EUR/year (‘small company’)

= choose a VAT scheme (e.g. quarterly, monthly, ..)

2. Formalities and procedures

5. copyright laws- SABAM, e.g. music in the public parts of your

business/office- also when music for your own staff (if >8

persons)- telephone – response tape/wait music- REPROBEL: photocopies

www.sabam.be

2. Formalities and procedures

Many others:

- Autorisation Food Agency: selling/stocking food or food recipients- Itinerant trade and stall keepers- Registration and recognition as an entrepreneur (building services)- Transport Licence and authorisations- ‘dienstencheques’companies- Import/export licence- Taxi permit- inscription in the professional institutes (liberal professions)- hotel or bed 1 breakfast- selection, interim and headhunting activities- ...

2. Formalities and procedures

Extra : for Foreign self-employed people, with no EU nationality

Professional Card

Exceptions : - married with a Belgian citizen, ... - permit to stay on a permanent basis, ....- political refugee, - business travellers, ....

- Where ? Onestop shops for Businesses/ondernemingsloketten

3. My advices : My advices:

make no large investment without having the guarantee that you fulfill all requirements for the start : take contact with a start-advisor such as a one-stop shop in an early stage

good preparation in all aspects = very important

Many licences and authorisations take several months to get them done (e.g. environmental licence, Professional Card, ...) => start in time!

Thank you !

More information?you’re wellcome!

Brochure (N/F/E) about setting up a business ?

lieven.fiers@zenito.bewww.zenito.be

pictures: taken from www.gettyimages.com