Company Formation in 2026: Legal Forms, Steps and Costs

Why choose Belgium for company formation?

The country offers fertile ground for founders. Several strengths often come up:

• A central location in Europe, close to Paris, London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
• A multilingual market with French, Dutch and German-speaking customers.
• A dense support network: enterprise counters, incubators and regional aid.
• Corporate law modernised in 2019 by the Code of Companies and Associations (CSA).

However, company formation is not something to improvise. The order of the steps matters as much as the project itself. The FPS Economy gathers official information for founders.

Choosing the right legal form

First choice: work in your own name or set up a separate business. That decision shapes every later step of company formation.

Sole trader

You operate as a natural person, without a separate structure. Formalities stay light and you need no notary. In return, your private assets answer for business debts. To decide, read our guide to weighing up sole trading against incorporation.

The SRL

The SRL, Belgium's private limited liability structure, remains the most common form since the 2019 reform. It replaced the former SPRL. Key points:

• No minimum capital, but sufficient starting equity.
• A single founder is enough.
• Liability limited to contributions.
• Wide freedom to draft the articles of association.

The SA

The SA suits heavier projects or those open to many investors. It requires minimum capital of €61,500. Since the CSA, a single shareholder and a sole director are enough. For a comparison, read SRL or SA: which legal form to choose.

The ASBL and the cooperative

The ASBL serves non-profit projects. It needs at least two founders and never distributes profits. The SC, a cooperative form, remains limited to genuinely cooperative projects. See our guides to setting up an ASBL and to cooperatives in Belgium.

Company formation step by step: SRL or SA

For an SRL or an SA, follow this order.

1. Draft the financial plan

Everything starts with the numbers. The CSA requires a financial plan covering at least two years. The plan must show that starting equity is sufficient. If the business goes bankrupt within three years, founders may become liable where that equity was manifestly insufficient. Indeed, company formation without a sound plan rarely ends well. Our guide to the mandatory financial plan details its content.

2. Draft the articles of association

The articles set the rules of the game. For example, they cover:

• The name and legal form.
• The address of the registered office.
• The purpose of the business.
• Contributions and the allocation of shares.
• Rules on management and decision-making.

3. Deposit the cash contributions

Next, pay the cash contributions into a special account. This account stands in the name of the future SRL or SA. The bank then gives the notary a certificate. That document proves the contributions exist.

4. Sign the deed at the notary

For an SRL, an SA or an SC, the deed of incorporation must go through a notary. The notary checks the file, files the deed with the court registry and arranges its publication in the Belgian Official Gazette. In practice, this stage lies at the heart of company formation. Our article on publication in the Moniteur belge explains it.

5. Get the enterprise number and VAT

The new SRL or SA receives its enterprise number when the deed reaches the registry. An enterprise counter then records its activities, as our guide to CBE registration explains. If the activity falls under VAT, also request VAT activation.

6. Join a fund and take out insurance

A self-employed director joins a social insurance fund from the start of the activity. Depending on the sector, some insurance policies are compulsory. Also consider professional liability cover, which clients often request.

Sole trader: the short route

In your own name, the route is more direct. No notary, no articles, no capital. You visit an enterprise counter to obtain the number. Then you activate VAT if needed and join a social insurance fund. Finally, check whether your activity requires specific skills. Our guide to becoming self-employed in Belgium covers each step. Unlike company formation, this path costs little.

What does company formation cost?

Amounts vary with the legal form, the activity and the advisers you choose. As a rough guide, for an SRL:

• Notary fees: often between €750 and €1,500.
• A financial plan prepared by an accountant: €500 to €1,500.
• Publication and registration fees on top.
• A frequent total: between €1,500 and €3,500.

In your own name, the starting budget stays far lower. No notarial deed applies. So a sole trader mainly spends time and a few administrative fees.

Mistakes to avoid

Some mistakes come up again and again:

• Making commitments on behalf of the future SRL without planning their takeover.
• Underestimating cash needs in the financial plan.
• Choosing a legal form that is too heavy for a first project.
• Declaring vague activity codes at the counter.
• Forgetting social insurance membership or VAT activation.

Yet the biggest trap remains timing. These errors slow down company formation more than any legal form. Many founders want to invoice before they have a number. Without a number, however, no invoice complies with the rules.

Juristelo: solid figures from day one

Successful company formation depends above all on a credible financial plan. Juristelo builds that plan with you: income statement, cash flow plan, funding plan and break-even point. As a result, you reach the notary and the bank with a clear file.