Choose the Right NACE Codes for Your Company
A technical choice with very real practical consequences
Choose the Right NACE Codes for Your Company
We are J. Jordens, and choosing NACE codes when setting up a company is a step that many entrepreneurs handle too hastily, even though it has concrete consequences for how their business operates. Here is why this choice deserves your full attention.
What is a NACE code
The NACE code (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) is a standardized classification that precisely identifies the activity or activities carried out by your company. Every Belgian company must declare, upon registration, one or more NACE codes corresponding to its actual activity.
Why this choice is not just a statistical formality
- Access to certain aid or subsidies, sometimes reserved for sectors identified by their NACE code.
- Conditions for access to the profession, notably for regulated activities (transport, construction, hospitality).
- Consistency with your corporate purpose, checked in the event of an audit or dispute.
- Image of your activity with partners, banks or insurers who consult your company file.
Choosing a precise code rather than one too generic
A common mistake is to choose a NACE code that is too generic, for convenience, rather than a code that truly represents the activity carried out. This approach may seem simpler in the short term, but it subsequently complicates access to certain specific sector-based aid or creates an inconsistency with your statutory corporate purpose, which can be flagged during an administrative audit.
Declaring several NACE codes
It is entirely possible, and often recommended, to declare several NACE codes for a single company whose activity covers several fields. In this case, we recommend clearly identifying a main activity, which remains the most representative of your turnover, while covering the secondary activities actually carried out with complementary codes.
Updating your NACE codes during the company's life
Your NACE codes are not fixed permanently at formation: they must be updated whenever your activity changes significantly, notably in the event of an amendment to the corporate purpose or the launch of a new business line. A company whose NACE codes no longer reflect the reality of its activity exposes itself to administrative inconsistencies during subsequent procedures.
The link with sector-specific authorizations
For certain regulated activities, the declared NACE code can be a prerequisite for obtaining specific authorizations: transport license, approval in the food sector, or environmental permit depending on the nature of the activity. A poorly chosen NACE code can therefore, indirectly, delay or complicate obtaining these additional authorizations.
Our support for a relevant choice
Since 1948, our firm has helped entrepreneurs choose precise NACE codes consistent with their actual activity, from the formation of their company, and update them as their activity evolves. This choice, often overlooked, nevertheless deserves the same attention as drafting your articles of association.
The impact on sector statistics
Your NACE codes also contribute to national economic statistics, used to guide certain public policies supporting businesses according to their sector. A well-chosen code therefore contributes, indirectly, to a better representation of your sector of activity in future public decisions.
This is certainly not the main criterion for your choice, but it illustrates well that this technical subject goes beyond a simple administrative checkbox when registering.
Do you need help choosing the NACE codes for your company in Brussels? Contact us, we will guide you toward the most relevant codes for your activity. We remain available to review your current codes if you suspect they no longer accurately reflect the reality of your activity today.