Starten als vrijberoeper

Starting a self-employed profession

After years of study and internship, you are ready for your first job as a doctor, dentist, lawyer, pharmacist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech therapist, notary... In other words: you will start in a self-employed or intellectual profession.

Exactly what you need to comply with and what things you need to put in order, vary from profession to profession. We outline the most important general issues, and are happy to help you get started in your career.
Start your self-employed profession now
Your step-by-step plan

The first three steps

The first three steps for each self-employed profession

Before you call on a business office like Acerta, you need to get the following three things right as a self-employed professional:

  1. Application for certification by the Order or the Institute
    Many self-employed professions cannot be practised without certification. In some cases, you may even need to apply for this before your internship! Pre-register with Acerta and we'll give you a heads up when it's time to submit your certification application.
  2. Choose a legal form
    If you start a self-employed profession you must, like other self-employed people, choose whether you do this under a one-man business or a company. Both business forms have advantages and disadvantages, but how do you make a choice as a starter? Use our online test to find out which type of company suits you best.
  3. Open a business bank account
    Are you starting a sole proprietorship? Then a separate professional account is not mandatory, but recommended. With a business account, you have a clear overview of payments from clients or patients and your professional expenses. On the website of Acerta's partner, KBC, you can easily open your business account online at home.

Your administrative obligations

Your administrative obligations as a liberal professional

Check, check, check for your first three to dos? Then it's time for administration. All this can also be easily arranged online via Acerta's platform ikwilstarten.be :

  1. Registration in the CBC register of the Crossroads Bank for Companies (CBC) 
    The CBC register is a secure register that bundles data and information on Belgian companies. After your registration, you will receive your company number: a unique number with which government agencies, suppliers and customers/patients can identify your company.
  2. A VAT number: necessary or not? 
    Most self-employed professions are not subject to VAT. However, it is best to double-check this with your accountant, because in some cases you are still (mixed) liable for VAT. Please note: although your VAT number is identical to your company number, you must activate this separately. In addition, we will activate your VAT number for you free of charge (worth 78.65 euros).
  3. Affiliation to an accredited social insurance fund
    Based on your status and income , a social insurance fund calculates how much social security contributions you have to pay every quarter. If you always pay your contribution on time, your social security such as health insurance, pension and child benefit rights are guaranteed. For this calculation, you pay an administrative cost , which is the lowest at Acerta.
  4. Inform your health insurance fund
    When you become self-employed, your status change. And you have to notify your health insurance company. This happens automatically after your registration with the enterprise office. This is not necessary if you are starting out in a secondary occupation: your social status is then arranged via your employer.

Don't forget your savings

Don't forget your savings

Thinking about retirement at the start of your career? Absolutely! With a VSPSS (Voluntary Supplementary Pension Scheme for the Self-Employed) you will save for later, and you win today thanks to the tax benefits. Do you have to sign up with NIHDI for your self-employed profession? Then you can use your NIHDI allowance via the Acerta Life Pension Plan - RIZIV to finance your supplementary pension.

Another smart move: guaranteed income insurance. This is an extra monthly payment that you get on top of your health insurance payment if you are unable to work for an extended time. Don't you need it? Yes, you do. Because your ongoing costs are often higher than the amount you get from the health insurance fund.

Last, but certainly not least, you take out professional liability insurance with civil liability . This insurance covers the costs for mistakes which are inherent to your profession and covers the damage which you could cause to third parties during the exercise of your profession.

Want to effortlessly start a self-employed profession?

Acerta will be happy to arrange it for you online. Do you prefer to make an appointment via video call or at the office ? You can too!

Start your self-employed profession now