{"id":32444,"date":"2026-08-24T17:26:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accountable.eu\/help-center\/which-self-employed-status-is-right-for-you-in-belgium\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:26:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:26:28","slug":"which-self-employed-status-is-right-for-you-in-belgium","status":"publish","type":"help_center","link":"https:\/\/www.accountable.eu\/en-be\/help-center\/which-self-employed-status-is-right-for-you-in-belgium\/","title":{"rendered":"Which self-employed status is right for you in Belgium?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\ud83d\udca1 At a glance: your status is actually three separate choices<\/b>, not one. Not sure where you stand on any of them? Jump straight to the article that answers it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Before you start<\/h1>\n

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A lot of people treat “choosing your status” as a single tickbox on a registration form. It isn’t, there are three independent decisions, and mixing them up is the most common mistake we see at sign-up. This article is a map, not a manual: pick the decision you’re stuck on, and we’ll point you to the article that walks through it properly. <\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udc49 Decision 1: Natural person or company?<\/b><\/h1>\n

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Are you setting up as a sole proprietorship (natural person) or a company (BV\/SRL)? They differ in liability, formalities, and how you’re taxed.<\/p>\n

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In short: a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak)<\/b> means you and your business are legally the same person, simpler to set up, but no separation between your personal and business assets. A company (BV\/SRL)<\/b> is its own separate legal entity, with its own liability and its own tax treatment.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcc2 Full breakdown: What it means to be a one person company or partnership<\/a><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udc49 Decision 2: Main, complementary, or student self-employed?<\/b><\/h1>\n

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This depends on whether self-employment is your only occupation, something you do alongside a job, or something you do as a student. It changes what you owe in social contributions and what social protection you get.<\/p>\n

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In short: main<\/b> means self-employment is your only or primary occupation. Complementary<\/b> means you’re also employed or a civil servant alongside it.
\u200bStudent self-employed<\/b> applies if you’re under 25 and still studying.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcc2 Main vs. complementary, contribution rates, and how to switch: Switching between a complementary activity and a main activity: what changes and what to do<\/a><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcc2 Specifically studying and self-employed? Does Accountable work for student self-employed?<\/a><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udc49 Decision 3: Subject to VAT or franchisee?<\/b><\/h1>\n

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A separate axis entirely, based on your expected turnover, not your occupation type.<\/p>\n

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In short: under the VAT franchise<\/b>, you don’t charge or reclaim VAT, available below a turnover threshold.
\u200bSubject to VAT<\/b> means you charge VAT on your invoices and can reclaim it on your expenses.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcc2 Full breakdown: Am I Subject to VAT or a Franchisee?<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u26a0\ufe0f The most common mistake<\/b><\/h1>\n

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Don’t pick any of these “by feel” just to get through registration faster. A wrong pick creates VAT and social-contribution mismatches you’ll need to untangle later. Already there? These fix it:<\/p>\n

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