Setting up a company with a notary in Ghent
For a BV, NV or CV, the notary draws up the deed of incorporation and the articles of association, according to notaris.be. According to notaris.be, the process has five steps:
Setting up a company with a notary in Ghent
How do you set up a company with a notary?
For a BV, NV or CV, the notary draws up the deed of incorporation and the articles of association, according to notaris.be. According to notaris.be, the process has five steps:
- 1
You choose the legal form. A BV, NV or CV requires a notarial deed; for other forms a private deed may suffice.
- 2
You have a financial plan drawn up for the first two years and hand it to the notary. Note: if the capital proves insufficient, the founder can be held personally liable.
- 3
You ask your bank for a bank certificate. It confirms the amount paid into an account in the company’s name.
- 4
The notary executes the deed of incorporation, including the articles of association.
- 5
The notary files the deed with the enterprise court, often electronically via eDepot. This gives the company legal personality.
Setting up a BV follows the same steps as setting up an NV or CV. You obtain your company number (KBO/CBE) from an approved business one-stop shop.
The cost of incorporation is listed on the “setting up a company” page of notaris.be. For other deeds, use the notaris.be calculators.
When do you amend your company’s articles of association?
You amend the articles of association as soon as you change something important about your company, according to notaris.be. Three examples are taking up new activities, contributing additional assets and changing the name.
Amending the articles of a BV, NV or CV requires a notary, including for an existing company.
What is the share register when shares are transferred?
A company’s share register shows who the shareholders are and how many shares each of them holds, according to notaris.be. When shares are transferred, that information changes.
The articles of association and the share register both belong to a company.
What is a declaration of non-seizability of the family home?
A self-employed person can make a declaration of non-seizability of the family home before a notary, according to notaris.be. The declaration prevents creditors from seizing the family home for the self-employed person’s business debts. It does not apply to the company’s debts.
The declaration is intended for self-employed people running a sole proprietorship. In a BV, your personal assets are in principle shielded (notaris.be). Whether to choose a sole proprietorship or a company is beyond the scope of this page: it only explains what the declaration is.
What other deeds apply to an existing company?
An existing company may need other deeds, such as a dissolution, a liquidation or a shareholders’ agreement. Conversion, restructuring, mergers and demergers, and contributions of assets also occur.
A certified bookkeeper or accountant maps out the financial consequences. The notary becomes involved as soon as you transfer your activities into a company (notaris.be).
Who is this page for?
This page is intended for entrepreneurs who want to set up a company or make changes to an existing company. It covers situations such as: you are setting up a company, or your company is taking on a new shareholder.
Are you buying a home as a private individual or settling an estate? Then read more under Real estate and Estate planning.