Open a Business in Belgium as a Foreigner

Setting up a business in Belgium as a foreigner comes with specific requirements and legal aspects, while running the business in an effective way must meet the criteria imposed by Belgian authorities, such as the FPS Economy (Crossroads Bank for Enterprises) or the regional investment agencies (hub.brussels, Flanders Investment & Trade, AWEX). In this article, our specialized company formation agents in Belgium present mostly the key aspects of running a Belgian company, rather than the legal procedures to incorporate such a structure in this country.

Quick Facts
Types of companies available in Belgium	-private limited company (BV), -public limited company (NV), -branch, -subsidiary.
Best destinations to open a business in Belgium as a foreigner	-Brussels, -Antwerp, -Ghent, -Leuven.
Virtual office cost	€59–€100/month depending on services.
Accounting services cost	€1,000–€3,000/year for basic services of starting a business in Belgium as a foreigner.
Office rent (approx.)	€185–€200/m²/year in major cities.
Average salary	Around €4,000/month (gross salary).
Common investment fields in Belgium	-tech, -pharma, -logistics, -R&D.
Economy in numbers	-corporate tax: 25%, -VAT: 21%.
Tax benefits	In Belgium, R&D incentives (innovation income deduction, investment deduction, R&D tax credit and payroll withholding exemption for researchers) reduce taxes on innovation; the Notional Interest Deduction (NID) was abolished from assessment year 2024.
Bureaucracy level	Moderate to high with some complexity; non-EU/EEA nationals who will be self-employed or act as company directors in Belgium generally need a professional card issued by the regional authority.
Salary taxes	Income tax up to 50% plus social charges.
Pros	Strategic EU location, skilled workforce, stable.
Cons	High taxes, complex regulations, costs.
Time to start	Around 1–4 weeks to set up a business in Belgium as a foreigner.
Company formation in Belgium can be done with our local agents	Yes, our local company formation specialists in Belgium can offer support in the opening a business as a foreigner.

Belgian business environment

Belgium is offering attractive benefits due to the its strong economy, central location in the European area and cultural and population diversity. In this way, this country has become a popular choice for entrepreneurs in the matter of opening a business as a foreigner. In this way, Belgium is offering a dynamic environment for business expansion as a foreigner in this country, while it clearly comes with advantages and disadvantages in this matter. Moreover, Belgium is the 12^th largest exporter and the 14^th largest importer of goods at a worldwide level. Key characteristics of Belgian business domain include:

Economic stability;
Diverse market opportunities;
Skilled and diverse workforce;
Open to international business;
Complex regulatory environment;
Language barriers, in some cases.

Find support from our specialized company formation agents in Belgium in order to have a better understanding about how the business sectors work for foreigners in this country. They can help you set up a company in Belgium.

Why open a business in Belgium as a foreigner

Due to several factors, starting a company in Belgium comes with various advantages presented below by our specialists in Belgian business formation:

Belgium has open economy, as it is one of the biggest exporters in the world. Unrestricted trade and a favorable atmosphere for business owners are fundamental in the Belgian business sector;
In terms of ease of doing business and payment of taxes for running a business in Belgium as a foreigner, the country is generally regarded as business-friendly in Europe (the World Bank's Doing Business ranking, often quoted for this, was discontinued in 2021);
The country represents a perfect starting point for breaking into the European consumer market as part of the EU single market of about 450 million consumers;
The cultural diversity of Belgium makes it a perfect business area to test new products, as it is close to important markets and production hubs in Germany, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom;
Due to Belgian good infrastructure and transportation connections, Belgium is easily accessible from both Europe and the rest of the world, making it an effective location for setting up a business in Belgium as a foreigner;
The Belgian market presents a low cost of real estate in comparison to nearby nations;
With the benefits of the tax incentives imposed by the authorities, the tax system is advantageous for businesses in Belgium as foreigners.

Costs of starting a business in Belgium as a foreigner

As mentioned above, Belgium provides strong infrastructure and access to the EU market for those planning to establish a business in Belgium as a foreigner, yet there are also some costs involved in the process of opening a Belgian company to take into account. These costs are general fees imposed by the authorities or stamp duties and do not include legal or counseling fees:

The business registration fee imposed by Crossroads Bank for Enterprises for sole traders is EUR 111.50 in 2026 (paid to the enterprise counter);
Also fore sole traders, there is a EUR 70-80 VAT activation code fee and social contributions of around EUR 890/quarterly;
For private limited companies, Belgian company incorporation and registration fees are around EUR 1,350–1,650, including: notary deed, publication fees, registration fees and VAT activation fees.

Find professional assistance from our specialized company incorporation agents in Belgium in order to decide on the best business structure to choose in this country and the balance between costs and earnings.

Data on business in Belgium

Below, there are some essential details to assist in comprehending the Belgian business market and prospects, as official data states:

With more than 620,000 companies operating in Belgium, the country has a robust and varied economy;
With over 62,4% of the nation’s economic value coming from small and medium enterprises, they dominate the business market in Belgium;
Foreign investment is a major part of private sector enterprises in Belgium, representing 28% of the total.

For more information on how to run a foreign business in Belgium and other interesting facts to consider on this matter, do not hesitate to contact us.