Check the company name for appropriateness and validity
Agency: Chamber of Commerce
As of July 2011, the Chamber of Commerce no longer carries out trade names searches. However, parties themselves can carry out a check on trade names online on the Chamber of Commerce website for free.
Time and cost: Less than 1 day (online procedure), no charge
Draft and sign the company’s deed of incorporation that is executed by a civil law notary
Agency: Civil Notary
Notary rates are negotiable and can be billed on the basis of an hourly rate, or a fixed fee. This varies between notaries. The deed can be signed in presence of the notary or by way of a written (private) power of attorney.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 1,750
Register the company at the local Chamber of Commerce and obtain the VAT registration number
Agency: Chamber of Commerce
The registration at the Chamber of Commerce can be done online or in person. If it is done online, it takes several hours to receive the registration number, and if the documents are filed in person, it takes 1 to 5 working days. Registration at the local Chamber of Commerce is mandatory. There is a registration fee of EUR 50. The payment of the fee can be done in cash, wire transfer and bank draft. Usually an invoice arrives by mail from the Chamber, and the preferred method of payment is by wire transfer.
The registration process can be completed online if it is done through a notary; however, for registration applications completed through the Chamber of Commerce, the business owner will submit the required documents online and then physically go to the Chamber of Commerce in person for identification purposes.
The VAT registration can be done together with the company registration at the Chamber of Commerce, who will deliver the registered company information to the Tax Authority and they will provide the VAT identification number immediately. For the income tax payment, the Chamber will send the information to the Tax Authority who will analyses if the entrepreneur will need to do the annual declaration for the income tax.
After incorporation of the company, the founders of the company are jointly and severally liable for each legal act performed during their management and which binds the company in the period between execution of the deed of incorporation and the registration at the Chamber of Commerce has been affected. Publication in the Netherlands Official Gazette (Staatscourant) of the first registration and certain subsequent registrations is required and will be made by the Chamber.
The government is in the process of implementing a UBO-register; a register containing the details of the individuals that are the ‘ultimate beneficial owners’ of legal entities in the Netherlands.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 50
Register the employer with the local tax authorities and social security authorities
Agency: Local Tax Authority
The employer registration has to be done directly at the Tax Authority in order to hire employees. It has to be done by the company itself. There is available an online PDF-form that need to be sent back by mail to the Tax Authority.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
