Set Up a Company as a British Entrepreneur

A procedure adapted to the new post-Brexit status

Set Up a Company as a British Entrepreneur

We are J. Jordens, and since Brexit, the situation of British entrepreneurs wishing to set up a company in Belgium has changed significantly. Many of our clients from the United Kingdom are still discovering these new rules today, which we summarize here.

Before and after Brexit: a change of status

Until 2020, as citizens of the European Union, British nationals benefited from freedom of establishment with no particular formality. Since the United Kingdom's effective exit from the European Union, British citizens are now considered third-country nationals, in the same way as Americans or Canadians, for carrying out self-employed activity in Belgium.

The professional card, now necessary

A direct consequence of this change: a British entrepreneur wishing to carry out self-employed activity in Belgium must now, except in specific cases, obtain a professional card. This step is added to the formation of your company and must be anticipated in your project timeline.

The EU-UK withdrawal agreement and its limited effects

The withdrawal agreement negotiated between the European Union and the United Kingdom provides certain protections for British citizens already established in the EU before the end of the transition period. For new establishment projects after this period, however, it is the rules applicable to third-country nationals that fully apply, including for setting up a company.

The steps to set up your company

• Belgian company formation (most often SRL/BV), with drafting the articles of association.
• Professional card application, with a presentation of your project and its economic viability.
• Registered office in Brussels if necessary.
• Standard formalities: registration, VAT, UBO declaration.

Why Belgium remains attractive despite these changes

Despite these new formalities, Belgium remains a strategic choice for many British entrepreneurs, notably to retain easier access to the European market after Brexit. Brussels, in particular, retains its status as a major economic and institutional hub in Europe.

Our support for British entrepreneurs

Since 1948, our firm has closely followed the regulatory developments affecting foreign entrepreneurs, including the consequences of Brexit for British nationals. We support you in forming your company and preparing your professional card file, with full clarity on the timelines to expect.

Anticipating post-Brexit customs aspects

If your activity involves exchanging goods between the United Kingdom and Belgium, keep in mind that these flows are now subject to customs formalities that did not exist before Brexit. This point goes beyond the mere formation of your company, but we can direct you to the right contacts to secure this aspect of your activity.

Alternatives to direct formation

Some British entrepreneurs consider, in addition to or as an alternative to directly setting up a company, a partnership with an existing Belgian partner to facilitate their establishment. This option is not systematically necessary, but it deserves to be assessed depending on the nature of your activity and your degree of familiarity with the Belgian market before launching on your own.

Brexit has made certain procedures more complex, but has not closed the door to British entrepreneurs wishing to establish themselves in Belgium: preparation adapted to the new regulatory framework remains the key to a successful establishment. We remain available to review your personal situation precisely and the realistic timeline of your establishment project in Belgium. This initial, no-obligation conversation often removes much of the uncertainty we observe among our British clients when starting their procedures.

Are you a British entrepreneur wishing to set up your company in Belgium? Contact us for support up to date with post-Brexit rules.