CBE Registration in Belgium: A Step-by-Step Guide

CBE registration: what does the register do?

No activity starts without an enterprise number. The Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE, the Belgian business register) holds the basic data of every active business in Belgium. The FPS Economy manages this public register.

Your CBE registration gives you a unique ten-digit number. That number then follows you everywhere: invoices, website, contracts and official letters. It also serves as your VAT number, preceded by the letters BE.

Who needs to register? Among others:

• Sole traders, from their very first activity.
• Companies such as the SRL (private limited company), the SA or the SC.
• Non-profit associations (ASBL) and foundations, which also receive a number.

The FPS Economy website explains how the register works. Above all, remember this: without CBE registration, you cannot issue a proper invoice.

What your business record contains

Each record holds identification details. For example, it shows:

• The name of the business.
• The address of the registered office and establishment units.
• The legal form: natural person, SRL, SA or ASBL.
• The activities carried out, coded under the NACE-BEL classification.
• The start date of the activity.
• Permits for regulated activities.

This data remains public. Clients, banks and suppliers can therefore look it up. An accurate record builds trust. However, an incomplete one can delay a bank account or a contract.

The enterprise counter: a required step

For an activity, you do not deal with the FPS directly. An approved enterprise counter handles your CBE registration and checks your file. Several organisations hold this approval, for example Acerta, Liantis, Partena Professional, Securex, UCM or Xerius.

The choice is yours. Compare three points in particular:

• Included services, such as the VAT activation request.
• The price of additional services.
• The format: fully online or an appointment at an office.

Many counters also run a social insurance fund. Still, nothing forces you to use the same organisation for both.

Documents for a CBE registration

Sole trader

For an activity in your own name, prepare:

• Your identity card or valid residence permit.
• The business address and, where relevant, the lease.
• A precise description of your activities.
• Proof of skills, if the law regulates the activity.
• The number of your business bank account.

Outside the European Union, the law sometimes requires a professional card. Check this before you set a launch date. Also read our guide to becoming self-employed in Belgium.

Company

For a company, everything starts at the notary. The notary files the deed of incorporation with the registry of the enterprise court. The company then receives its number. Next, its CBE registration as an active business goes through a counter.

The counter usually asks for:

• A copy of the deed of incorporation and the articles of association.
• The identity card of the director.
• The address of the registered office and business premises.
• Any proof of professional skills.

Before signing the deed, the notary requires a financial plan. Our article on the mandatory financial plan for SRLs and SAs helps you prepare it.

Steps in a CBE registration

The process follows a simple order:

In most cases, your number arrives the same day or within a few days. Then request VAT activation if your activity falls under VAT. Our guide to VAT activation explains that step.

Choosing the right NACE-BEL codes

Activity codes deserve real attention. A code that is too narrow stops you invoicing a new service. On the other hand, an overly broad list blurs your profile with banks. Some codes also trigger a check on professional skills.

For example, a graphic designer who also gives training declares both activities. Otherwise, her record shows only part of her work. A precise CBE registration from the start therefore beats a paid correction later.

Common mistakes to avoid

Some mistakes come up again and again:

• Invoicing before you have your enterprise number.
• Starting work before your CBE registration is complete.
• Forgetting an establishment unit, such as a workshop or a shop.
• Declaring codes that do not match the real activity.
• Delaying membership of a social insurance fund: arrange it from the start of the activity.
• Confusing your enterprise number with VAT activation: they are two separate steps.

To plan your costs, also read our guide to social contributions for the self-employed.

Updating or closing your record

Your CBE registration must stay up to date. Report every significant change through your counter:

• A new registered office or establishment unit.
• An activity added or removed.
• A new director.
• A new name.

For a company, some changes first go through the Belgian Official Gazette. This applies, for instance, to an amendment of the articles of association. If you stop, ask the counter to strike off the activity. Also inform the VAT administration via the FPS Finance.

Preparing your launch with Juristelo

A successful CBE registration depends above all on preparation. For a company, the financial plan comes first, then the notarial deed, then the number. Juristelo helps you build that plan and model your first years. As a result, you reach the notary and the counter with a solid file.