If you have heard about the Netherlands to be one of the best countries to do business in Europe, one of the reasons it is considered so is the quick registration procedure of a company. But which entity should you choose to enjoy the great business environment there? The simplest one: the private limited liability company or BV, initials which you may have already seen appended to Dutch companies’ names.
Why this business form? Because it has some of the simplest registration requirements and one of the quickest incorporation procedures, as you are about to read below.
Registration requirements for a Dutch limited liability company
If you want to start a business in a European country, you should definitely choose to set up a limited liability company in the Netherlands for this reason alone: it is the most flexible business form you may have dealt with. What does this mean? Simply that:
However, since mentioning the requirements to register it, the only aspect you need to pay attention to is securing a Dutch registered address. Even for these, there are specialized services that offer virtual office services, thus helping you benefit from a quick, reliable, but most importantly, cost-effective solution, if you are to consider the rental costs in this country.
Documentation
Starting a business in any country of the world requires supplying a minimal set of documents to the Trade Register, and for a Dutch limited liability company, you will need:
The application form can be filled out directly on the Trade Register’s website. Then, you can append the documents mentioned above, and you just wait for them to be approved.
One aspect to pay attention to though, is the language, as Dutch is not the easiest language to speak. This is why many foreigners are advised to use specialized services.
Tax and VAT registration
After you have completed the registration step, there are still some procedures to go through, and one of the most important is obtaining a tax identification code. You can file for it online and wait about 10 days to be issued. A useful tip is to apply for a VAT number at the same time; this way, you will get both numbers at the same time.
Licenses and licensing
While in most cases a municipal license from the city hall is required for most activities, there are situations where you may need additional permits. This is the case of sector-specific operations, so you may want to pay attention to this fact. However, just like in the case of the incorporation procedure, you may want to ask for professional advice on this matter, as you definitely want to avoid not operating legally.
Since the beginning of the article mentioned the quick registration of a Dutch company, the end of the article will offer this important: you can have your limited liability company incorporated in as little as 3 working days if you have all documents in order. To achieve this short timeframe, professional support is often the key.
