Dutch company formation: your BV, structured the right way.

Setting up a BV can be a standard process, but there is often more to it. The key is the tax connection between the Netherlands and your home country: we link your BV correctly with your existing structure, so you avoid double taxation and expensive restructuring later.

€1,750 – €2,500 all-in, fixed price upfront

Request your fixed quote See the approach

No obligation. Or call us directly: +31 85 2012490

10-14
days to operational
€120
recommended share capital
500+
companies incorporated
01 · The trap

The costly mistake is not in the incorporation, but in the link with your home country.

Setting up a BV is quick. The real question is how the BV is linked with your situation at home: does your existing company hold the shares or do you hold them privately, where does the effective management sit, and where is the profit taxed? That choice shapes your tax burden and your risk for years. These are the problems we see most often:

"I kept running the BV entirely from my home country, and in the end both countries claimed the right to tax it."
Effective management not arranged
"I held the BV privately, while my existing company as shareholder would often have been more tax-efficient."
Shares held in the wrong place
"The Dutch customary salary rule (gebruikelijk loon) and the BV setup did not fit my situation."
Director after a standard incorporation
"Adding a holding on top later cost me extra notary fees, time and unnecessary tax."
Holding set up only afterwards
02 · The approach

From decision to operational BV, in five steps.

First the structure, then the incorporation, and after that ongoing support when you need it.

1

Structure and strategy

One BV, a holding with an operating BV, or a subsidiary of your existing company. We calculate the options and determine which setup is fiscally optimal for your situation.

2

Notarial incorporation

The notary executes the deed, fully remotely by power of attorney if you wish.

3

Chamber of Commerce and Tax Office

Registration with the Chamber of Commerce including UBO filing, plus the VAT number and tax registrations.

4

Setup

We set up the administration and arrange your director's salary (the Dutch customary-salary rule) correctly for tax.

5

Optional ongoing support

Bookkeeping, filings and advice if you want. Fixed price, known upfront, no surprises.

03 · Costs and tax

What does Dutch company formation cost?

Incorporation all-in
€1,750 – €2,500 including notary and advisory fees
Recommended share capital
€120, so it is easy to divide
Corporate income tax
19% up to €200,000 profit, above that 25.8%
Customary director's salary
Norm around €58,000 (2026) gross per year, depending on your situation
Lead time
10 – 14 days to operational
Ongoing bookkeeping
Optional, fixed monthly price
04 · Tax-advisor level

Not just any BV: a tax-optimised BV.

One tax advisor with over 20 years of experience in international structures sets up your BV in a tax-optimal way with an eye on your future. Depending on your situation and plans, we weigh up what is relevant for you:

Your company or Holding BV your assets, protected dividend tax-free via the participation exemption (EU law) Dutch BV business & risk
✓

Holding structure and asset protection

Your profit kept away from business risk, your assets protected and the structure ready for later.

✓

Properly linked with your home country

Your existing company as shareholder or the shares held privately: we calculate both routes and avoid double taxation.

✓

Set up ready for sale

Build it well now and you can sell tax-free later via the participation exemption (deelnemingsvrijstelling).

✓

Splitting, restructuring and succession

Considered from the start, so you can later split or transfer without a tax trap.

05 · Good to know

Frequently asked questions.

What does setting up a BV cost?
The one-off incorporation costs 1,750 to 2,500 euros all-in, including notary and advisory fees. For ongoing administration, expect around 250 euros per month.
How long does setting up a BV take?
In our process, including the tax advice, your BV is usually fully operational within 10 to 14 days, including Chamber of Commerce registration and tax registrations. The tax numbers usually follow within three weeks.
Do I have to visit the notary?
If you are registered in the Netherlands, incorporation can often be done fully online. If you are not, you sign locally with a notary in your own country and an apostille is obtained there.
Do I need a Dutch business address?
Yes, a Dutch business address is required. You need an address where you can receive official mail and where authorities can visit you. There are various providers to choose from; we cannot provide an address ourselves. After incorporation the tax authority checks whether there is genuine economic activity in the Netherlands.
Can I run the BV from my home country?
Careful: if the effective management stays in your home country, that country may treat the BV as tax-resident there, with double taxation as a risk. We set up the structure and substance so your BV is anchored in the Netherlands for tax purposes too.
Can a foreign company be a shareholder of my BV?
Yes. A foreign company can act as shareholder or director of a Dutch BV. This is a common and often tax-efficient setup for international entrepreneurs.
Do I need a holding straight away?
Not always. If you expect structural profit above 100,000 euros, want to build wealth or sell one day, a holding from the start is nearly always better than restructuring later. If it does not benefit your situation, we advise against it. We calculate both options for you before we begin.
How much tax does a BV pay?
Corporate income tax is 19% on the first 200,000 euros of profit and 25.8% above that. For the director the Dutch customary salary rule applies, around 58,000 euros (2026) gross per year.
Am I personally liable with a BV?
As a rule, no. A BV is a legal entity, so in principle you are not personally liable with your private assets for the company's debts. In cases of improper management this can be different. A good structure, possibly with a holding, protects your assets further.
Will my structure remain fully compliant, both legally and for tax?
Yes. We follow the laws and regulations in both the Netherlands and your home country, and within those rules we get you the maximum tax advantage. We reject constructions that do not hold up legally or exist only on paper. That way you have a structure that is still sound in an audit, years later.
What documents do I need to get started?
For the legal identification requirement (WWFT) we make a copy of your valid ID, and we need recent proof of your home address. If your existing company becomes a shareholder, a recent trade-register extract and an extract from the beneficial owner register are added. The rest, from the deed to the registrations, we handle.
Do I also get a business bank account for my BV?
After incorporation you can open a business account. We cannot arrange a bank account for you, as the bank communicates directly with you as the customer.
Request your quote

Ready to set up your BV?

Fill in the form. We usually get back to you within one business day with a no-obligation quote. We work selectively, so you know right away whether we are a match and whether this is the right route for you.

  • ✓ Concrete advice on your situation
  • ✓ Fixed price, known upfront
  • ✓ 500+ companies incorporated
Paul van Lier, Belastingadviseur
Paul van LierBelastingadviseur

Prefer direct contact? Call +31 85 2012490 or email info@vanlierfiscaal.com.

Request your fixed quote

Formulier laden…

In depth

Everything about setting up a Dutch BV

A Dutch BV is the most popular legal form for entrepreneurs who want to protect their private assets and grow tax-efficiently. Setting up the BV is the easy part; the real benefit is in the right link with your existing structure back home. If you want to open a company in the Netherlands as a non-resident, the BV is the standard route. Below you will read what Netherlands company formation costs, how the process works from abroad and how you link the BV with your existing company.

What does setting up a BV cost?

Setting up a BV costs €1,750 to €2,500 all-in with us, including the notary fees for the deed and our full guidance. The legal minimum capital is only €0.01, but we usually recommend a starting capital of €120: divisible among several shareholders and with sufficient substance. For ongoing administration, expect around €250 per month. You will find the exact amounts in the cost overview above.

Setting up a BV as a non-resident: the steps

  • Determine the structure. Hold the BV privately, under a holding, or as a subsidiary of your existing company? This choice shapes your tax burden, your risk and the sellability of your company for years.
  • Notarial incorporation. The notary executes the deed. Without travelling to the Netherlands, you sign the power of attorney with a notary in your own country, and an apostille is obtained there.
  • Chamber of Commerce and Tax Office. Registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) including UBO filing, plus the VAT number and tax registrations.
  • Setup. We set up the administration and arrange the director's salary (the Dutch customary-salary rule) correctly for tax.

Hold the BV privately, or under your existing company?

The biggest benefit is not in the incorporation, but in how the BV is linked with your existing structure. If your existing company becomes the shareholder, dividends generally flow largely tax-free to it, under the EU parent-subsidiary directive or a tax treaty, depending on your country. If you hold the shares privately, dividends are taxed personally. A Dutch holding with an operating BV can also make sense, for instance if you build up profit in the Netherlands or plan to sell later: dividends then flow up tax-free via the participation exemption (deelnemingsvrijstelling), and a later sale gain stays untaxed in the holding under conditions. We calculate the options for you before we begin.

Is a Dutch BV right for you?

A BV becomes attractive once your profit is structurally higher, because you then combine corporate income tax (19% up to €200,000 profit, 25.8% above) with limited liability. For foreign entrepreneurs, the Dutch BV is often a stable, treaty-friendly base for doing business in the Netherlands and the EU. Whether it is the right route depends on where your clients, activities and management sit. In your personal quote we calculate the options for you.