Entrepreneurship
Starting a Business in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of Europe’s most attractive bases for international entrepreneurs: a stable economy, excellent infrastructure and direct access to the European market. Starting a business here as a non-EU national involves more than registering a company, because in most cases you also need a residence permit as a self-employed entrepreneur.
We guide founders through the whole process, from immigration strategy and business plan to the residence permit application, and then through the practical side: company registration, an address, and settling in.
Who can start a business in the Netherlands
- Non-EU and non-EEA nationals who want to establish or operate a business here
- Freelancers and consultants bringing an existing practice to the Netherlands
- EU citizens who can start immediately but want the setup done right
- Founders still choosing between the Netherlands and other European bases
Key requirements for the entrepreneur residence permit
Applications are assessed on the economic value of the business for the Netherlands. Applicants must generally demonstrate:
- A professional and viable business plan
- Relevant entrepreneurial or professional experience
- Sufficient financial resources
- Registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK)
- Economic value for the Dutch economy
What the roadmap covers
Residence strategy
Startup visa, DAFT for Americans, the self-employed permit or no permit at all for EU citizens. We identify the basis that fits your nationality and your plans.
Legal form advice
Eenmanszaak or BV, explained in terms of liability, taxes and how each choice interacts with your immigration route.
Registrations in order
KvK, VAT number from the tax authority, business bank account and insurances, sequenced so nothing blocks anything else.
Life around the business
A place to live, registration in your municipality, healthcare and family arrangements, because a founder who cannot settle cannot build.
Our working method
- 01
Initial immigration assessment
We evaluate your plans and determine the most suitable immigration route for your nationality and your business.
- 02
Business plan and documentation
We assist in preparing the business plan and the supporting documents the assessment turns on.
- 03
Residence permit application
We prepare and submit the application to the IND, with the company formation running in parallel where possible.
- 04
Application monitoring
We track the file and respond to questions from the authorities on your behalf.
What starting a business costs
Tailor-made proposal
Founding a company touches your legal structure, your tax position and usually your residence permit at the same time. Those three decisions are never identical between clients, so you receive a customised proposal after the first consultation.
- Legal structure advised against your tax position and immigration route
- Company registered with the KvK and the tax authority
- Residence permit route selected and prepared alongside the company
- Banking, accounting and the first compliance obligations arranged
How your application is assessed
Who decides, and on what?
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) advises the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) before a final decision is made. The assessment looks at your professional background and experience, the quality and feasibility of the business plan, the economic value of the business, and its innovation or employment potential.
What kind of business is viewed favourably?
Businesses that contribute to innovation, employment or genuine economic activity in the Netherlands. A plan that reads as a formality to obtain residence, with no market, no clients and no capital behind it, is the most common reason applications fail.
Which legal form should the company take?
An eenmanszaak is lighter and cheaper to run; a BV limits liability and suits growth and investors. The right answer depends on your tax position and how the permit route treats your income, so we advise per case rather than by rule of thumb.
Founders ask us
Can I start a Dutch business without living in the Netherlands?
You can own a Dutch company from abroad, but running it locally as a non-EU national requires a residence basis. We help you decide whether you truly need to move, and if so, on which permit.
Do I need a Dutch business partner?
No. The Netherlands does not require local shareholders or directors for most structures. Your company can be fully yours.
How long before I can actually trade?
For EU citizens, days. For non-EU founders the permit determines the pace, and we confirm current IND timelines during your intake so your launch date is realistic from day one.
Is there an easier route for US citizens or innovative startups?
Yes. Americans can usually apply under the DAFT treaty, and founders with an innovative concept can use the startup visa. Both avoid the full economic assessment, and we check at intake which of the three routes actually fits you.
Start your business in the Netherlands
Describe your business in two sentences. We will come back with the route, the structure and the first three steps.
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