Setting up your Dutch BV

The setup itself is one fixed package. See Set up a Dutch BV for the facts, the timeline and the price, which you get in writing before we start.

1. Fixed fees that are the same for everyone

  • KVK registration: €85.15. The fee of the Dutch business register. You pay it once.
  • Share capital: from €0.01. That is the legal minimum. You choose the amount yourself, based on your plan. This money stays in your company, so you keep it. It counts as capital, outside your setup costs.
  • Tax numbers: €0. The tax office sends the corporate tax number, the VAT number and the payroll number free of charge.

2. The notary

Every BV needs a deed from a Dutch civil-law notary. The notary fee depends on your file. For example, it depends on whether you set up one company or two, and whether you use standard or special articles of association. The fee is in your quote. The notary draws up a separate deed of incorporation for each BV. With your power of attorney, an employee of the notary's office signs for you. The notary then registers the company at the KVK in the same procedure.

Our complete package includes the notary deed, the KVK registration, the tax numbers and the advice on your structure. You get the exact price in writing before we start. See Set up a Dutch BV.

3. The yearly costs

An active BV also has yearly costs. These include the annual accounts filed with the KVK and a corporate tax return. Payroll costs money if you pay yourself a salary. Keeping registers up to date also costs money. A bookkeeper handles most of this, and the price depends on the size of your administration. Your business address is a separate cost under a contract that you sign yourself. You find all deadlines in the BV calendar.

Is it worth it?

Whether a BV is worth it depends mainly on the yearly costs and your tax situation, and less on the setup cost. For a founder from abroad, a BV is often the practical choice. A sole proprietorship is possible from abroad too, but it needs a Dutch business address and a citizen service number (BSN). For a Dutch resident, a BV with a holding is worth it from about €78,000 to €88,000 profit, if you keep the profit in the company. If you take everything out, that point is about €113,000 to €149,000. You find the comparison with numbers in BV versus sole proprietorship.

Documents and timeline

Two more questions are important for your timeline. In the document list, you see what to gather and what to start with first. Legalising your passport copy takes the longest. In the timeline, you see how the steps overlap. The incorporation is usually done within one week once all documents are complete.