{"id":15640,"date":"2024-04-19T15:25:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T13:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fix-blog.local\/blog\/main-or-secondary-occupation\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T11:43:16","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T09:43:16","slug":"main-or-secondary-occupation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accountable.eu\/en-be\/blog\/main-or-secondary-occupation\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-employment as a main or secondary occupation: which is the better option?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The allure of self-employment beckons, but is it better to start as a main occupation or a side job? The choice isn’t always optional: in some situations, you have no choice but to opt for a side job. But what if you do have a choice? Let’s compare the two.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does your work situation look like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you pursue your self-employed activity as a main or secondary occupation depends on your personal circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have at least a part-time job? Then you will be self-employed as a secondary occupation. Is your self-employed activity your only or main pursuit? Then your status is that of self-employed in main occupation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main differences between a primary and a secondary occupation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Social protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a self-employed individual in a main occupation, you pay social contributions each quarter. This helps you gradually build your social security: your pension, sickness benefits, maternity grants, and so forth. You can also enhance your pension with a tax-advantaged Supplementary Pension for Self-Employed Persons (VAPZ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a self-employed person in a secondary occupation, you also pay social charges; however, these are solidarity contributions. They do not build social protection because it is already included in your main occupation as an employee or civil servant. You are also not eligible for a VAPZ, although there are other less tax-advantaged savings schemes available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1Read more about social contributions for the self-employed.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Minimum social contribution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n


As a self-employed person in a secondary occupation, you are exempt from social contributions if your annual taxable income is less than \u20ac1,865.458. Otherwise, you pay a minimum quarterly contribution of \u20ac98.52<\/strong> (in 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a self-employed person in a primary occupation, this minimum contribution is also required. However, it is higher than that for someone in a secondary occupation, amounting to \u20ac890.51 per quarter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your business is doing well and you earn more than \u20ac16,861.46<\/strong> a year in your secondary occupation, you will pay the same social contributions as someone in a primary occupation. This entitles you to the same benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n