Register a Company in Belgium: Best Services & Costs

Starting a company in Belgium does not have to mean dealing with every government form on your own.

For many new entrepreneurs, the easiest approach is to work with an accredited Belgian business counter, known locally as an ondernemingsloket in Dutch or guichet d’entreprise in French. These organizations can take care of important startup administration, including registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, VAT activation and other formalities.

Several major companies offer these services in Belgium, including Acerta, Liantis, Xerius, Securex, Partena Professional, UCM, Group S and Eunomia.

They are not identical, however. Some are particularly focused on entrepreneurs and self-employed workers, while others offer a much broader package that can later include payroll, social security, HR and other business services.

So which one should you choose?

The answer depends largely on what kind of company you are creating and how much help you want after the registration is completed.

What Is a Belgian Business Counter?

A Belgian business counter is an officially accredited organization that helps entrepreneurs complete administrative procedures when starting or changing a business.

One of the most important tasks is registering the company in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, known as the CBE or KBO. The official registration fee is 111.50 euro per establishment unit in 2026. This is a government fee, so it is not something a business counter can simply remove from its normal price.

Depending on the company you choose, the business counter can also help with VAT registration, permits, social insurance affiliation and other startup formalities. This is why comparing only the advertised registration price can be misleading.

A company may charge a similar amount for the mandatory registration but offer very different levels of support.

1. Acerta

Acerta is one of the best-known names for entrepreneurs starting a business in Belgium.

Its business counter can handle the registration of your company with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, VAT activation and affiliation with a social insurance fund. Acerta also offers online services as well as appointments by video or at one of its offices.

One of Acerta’s main advantages is that it does not stop at the initial registration.

The company also provides services for self-employed workers, social insurance, insurance and other business administration. This can be useful if you want to keep several parts of your business administration with one provider.

Acerta also offers tools to help entrepreneurs decide between a sole proprietorship and a company structure.

For entrepreneurs who want personal assistance rather than dealing with government websites alone, this can be an important advantage.

Acerta does not always publish one simple all-in price for every type of company because the cost depends on the services and legal structure involved. The official 111.50 euro CBE registration fee applies separately.

Acerta also advertises special packages with partners. For example, its current KBC Boostpack can reduce the startup administration cost for eligible KBC business customers, with Acerta handling the CBE registration, enterprise number, VAT number and social insurance affiliation for 111.50 euro under the promotional conditions.

Who should consider Acerta?

Acerta is particularly interesting for someone who wants a large, established organization that can continue supporting the business after the initial registration.

It is also worth considering if you expect to remain self-employed for several years and want social insurance and other administrative services under the same roof.

2. Liantis

Liantis is another major Belgian organization serving entrepreneurs and employers.

Its business counter handles company registrations and changes, VAT-related administration and various permits. Liantis publishes a detailed 2026 price list, making it relatively easy to see what you are paying for.

The official CBE registration costs 111.50 euro per establishment unit.

Liantis currently lists VAT registration through its business counter at 69 euro excluding VAT, while its general startup information gives an example of 83.49 euro including VAT for VAT activation. The exact amount therefore depends on the service and pricing basis being applied.

Liantis can also help with more complicated startup administration.

For a company, its information points out that there can be additional costs for the Belgian Official Gazette, registration of the incorporation deed and the financial plan. It estimates that professional help with a financial plan can range from roughly 500 to 2,000 euro excluding VAT, depending on the level of assistance.

That makes Liantis interesting for entrepreneurs who want more than simply obtaining an enterprise number.

Who should consider Liantis?

Liantis can be a good fit for entrepreneurs who want a broad business-support organization and prefer clear published pricing for many administrative services.

It is particularly worth considering if you expect your company to grow and eventually need additional support with employees or other business administration.

3. Xerius

Xerius is another major option, particularly popular among self-employed entrepreneurs.

Its online approach is one of its most obvious advantages.

Xerius currently advertises a startup price of 190.15 euro including VAT for a basic business startup package. This includes the 111.50 euro legal CBE registration fee and 78.65 euro for activating the enterprise number as a VAT number, along with affiliation to the social insurance fund and assistance with certain startup formalities.

Xerius also specifically provides a service for activating an already-created company.

For a BV, for example, Xerius states that its 190.15 euro package includes registration in the CBE, VAT activation where applicable and affiliation of the company and its directors with the Xerius social insurance fund.

Another advantage is that Xerius places considerable emphasis on online registration.

For a straightforward business, this can make the process feel much less complicated than visiting several offices.

Who should consider Xerius?

Xerius is especially attractive for someone who wants to handle as much of the startup process online as possible.

It can be a practical choice for freelancers, consultants, online businesses and entrepreneurs with a relatively straightforward setup.

4. Securex

Securex takes a somewhat broader approach. The company is not simply a business registration counter. It also has extensive services covering payroll, social security, HR and employer administration.

That becomes particularly relevant if you plan to hire employees.

Securex currently publishes several starter packages. Its published prices range from 111.50 euro for the basic level to 249 euro, 939 euro and 2,062.90 euro for more comprehensive packages, with the listed prices excluding VAT. The services included vary considerably between packages.

The higher packages can include services such as drafting and publishing articles of association, UBO registration, payroll setup for a company manager and preparation of a financial plan, depending on the package.

Securex also offers sector-specific packages. For example, its hospitality starter package can include additional permits and administrative services relevant to the sector.

Who should consider Securex?

Securex makes particular sense if you are not simply creating a company for yourself but expect to build a business with employees.

If you are opening a restaurant, shop or another business where payroll and HR administration will quickly become important, having those services under one provider can be convenient.

For a very small one-person company, however, some of Securex’s larger packages may offer more than you actually need.

5. Partena Professional

Partena Professional is another major name in the Belgian business services market. It combines business-counter services with social insurance, payroll and HR support.

Partena’s current information lists the official CBE registration at 111.50 euro and VAT activation through its business counter at 77.50 euro including VAT.

One of the more interesting options is its digital Fast Lane approach. Partena says entrepreneurs can use its online process for a relatively straightforward setup, while expert support remains available when needed.

For companies, Partena currently advertises an all-in startup route for a BV at around 2,300 euro including the notary, although the exact cost can depend on the circumstances of the incorporation. Partena also has special startup promotions.

Its current Start for Free offer, for eligible users, can include reimbursement of the 111.50 euro CBE registration fee and free VAT activation under the conditions of the promotion.

Who should consider Partena Professional?

Partena is worth considering if you want a company that can stay involved after incorporation.

It is especially relevant for businesses that expect to hire workers because payroll and HR are major parts of its service offering.

It can also be attractive to entrepreneurs who prefer a digital startup process.

6. UCM

UCM is a major business organization in French-speaking Belgium and is particularly well known among entrepreneurs in Wallonia and Brussels.

Its services are aimed at self-employed workers, small businesses and companies that need help with administrative and social-security matters.

For a French-speaking entrepreneur, language and local support can be just as important as the basic registration price.

If your business will operate mainly in Wallonia or French-speaking Brussels, UCM is therefore one of the names worth comparing with Acerta, Liantis and the other national providers.

The key advantage here is not necessarily that the basic government registration fee is cheaper. The CBE fee is legally determined.

Instead, the value comes from the support surrounding the registration and the other services you may need as the company develops.

7. Group S

Group S is another established Belgian provider, particularly known for social administration, payroll and employer services.

That makes it more interesting for companies that expect to have employees rather than for someone simply registering a small one-person business.

If your plan is to create a company today and hire staff later, it can be useful to compare Group S with Securex and Partena Professional.

The important question is not simply how much it costs to obtain a company number, but how much you will pay once payroll and employee administration become part of your monthly workload.

8. Eunomia

Eunomia is a smaller and more focused business-counter option compared with some of the larger names. Its published pricing makes the basic costs relatively easy to understand.

Eunomia lists the CBE registration at 111.50 euro and charges 60 euro excluding VAT for VAT registration. It also offers services such as permit applications, publication of company incorporation documents and other administrative procedures.

One interesting feature is that Eunomia explicitly handles different types of administrative formalities for entrepreneurs, including permits and registrations.

This can be useful if your business needs more than a simple company number and VAT registration.

Who should consider Eunomia?

Eunomia can be worth considering if you want a more specialized business-counter experience rather than a large organization with a huge range of HR services.

It can be particularly useful for entrepreneurs who have specific administrative requirements or permits.

So Which Company Is Best?

There is no single business counter that is officially “the best” for every company. The better question is which provider fits the way you plan to run your business.

For a small one-person company or online business, Acerta, Xerius or Liantis are strong options to compare because they offer straightforward startup administration and can continue handling social-security and business-related services.

For someone who wants an online-first experience, Xerius is particularly interesting because it clearly publishes its 190.15 euro basic startup price and allows much of the process to be handled online.

For someone who wants a large organization with broader support as the business grows, Acerta or Liantis are worth serious consideration.

For a company that plans to employ workers, Securex, Partena Professional or Group S become especially relevant because payroll, HR and social administration can become a much larger part of the business than the original company registration.

For French-speaking entrepreneurs in Brussels or Wallonia, UCM is another important option to compare.

And if your main priority is a focused business-counter service with clearly published administrative prices, Eunomia is worth looking at.

How Much Should You Actually Budget?

The biggest mistake new entrepreneurs make is looking only at the 111.50 euro CBE registration fee.

That is only the official registration charge for one establishment unit in 2026.

If you are creating a Belgian company such as a BV/SRL, you may also have to budget for the notary, publication, financial plan, VAT activation and other professional services.

For a simple company, the total startup cost can therefore reach well over 1,000 euro and often several thousand euros once the complete incorporation process is included.

The exact amount depends on the legal structure and how much professional assistance you purchase.

For example, Liantis estimates that preparing a financial plan can cost roughly 500 to 2,000 euro excluding VAT depending on the level of assistance, while Partena currently advertises a BV startup route at around 2,300 euro including the notary.

This is why comparing the headline price of two business counters can be misleading.

A provider charging a little more for the initial service may include assistance that another provider bills separately.

What About Accounting Every Three Months?

The business counter and the accountant are not necessarily the same thing.

A business counter helps you get the company legally started and handles certain administrative procedures.

An accountant deals with the company’s ongoing books, VAT returns, annual accounts, tax filings and other financial work.

For a small Belgian company, you may therefore pay the business counter once during setup and then pay an accountant regularly.

If you want the accountant to handle practically everything every quarter, ask whether the package includes VAT returns, purchase and sales invoices, bank transactions, year-end closing, annual accounts and the corporate tax return.

A quarterly accounting package for a small company can commonly run from several hundred euros to more than 1,000 euro per quarter, depending heavily on the number of transactions and what is included.

Do not choose an accountant simply because the quarterly price looks low.

A quote of 400 euro per quarter can become much more expensive if the annual accounts, corporate tax return and year-end work are charged separately.

The Best Way to Choose a Business Counter

Before signing up, ask each provider four simple questions.

First, ask exactly how much you will pay to register your company.

Second, ask whether VAT activation is included.

Third, ask what happens after the company is created and whether social insurance, permits, payroll or other services are included or charged separately.

Finally, ask whether you can keep using the same provider if your business grows and you start hiring employees.

Those questions will tell you much more than an advertisement saying “start your company from 111.50 euro.”

Belgium has several established organizations that can make company registration much easier.

Acerta is a strong all-round option for entrepreneurs who want long-term administrative and social-security support. Liantis offers a broad range of business services with a detailed published price list. Xerius is particularly attractive for entrepreneurs who prefer a simple online process. Securex and Partena Professional become especially interesting when payroll and employees are part of the plan. UCM is an important option for French-speaking entrepreneurs, while Group S is particularly relevant to employers and Eunomia offers a more focused business-counter service.

The most important thing to remember is that the official 111.50 euro CBE registration fee is only one part of the cost.

If you are setting up a simple Belgian company, compare the total package rather than the registration fee alone.

And if you expect the company to grow, look beyond the first week.

The business counter you choose today may eventually be handling your social insurance, payroll, permits and other administration for years. Choosing a provider that fits your business from the beginning can therefore be more important than saving a small amount on the initial registration.

Related Article

How to Start a Business in Belgium in 2027?