Changing Your Business Structure in Belgium

A presentation brought to you

by LawyersBelgium.com

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Opening a Company in Belgium

• Investors who decide to open a company in

Belgium have a number of options when

choosing their business form.

• Different types of companies are suited for

businesses of different sizes and this is one

of the main considerations when starting a

new Belgian company.

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Changing the Type of Company

in Belgium

• Small Belgian companies that succeed in

their particular business field can be

converted into larger business structures

if the owners agree that this is the most

suitable business strategy.

• Changing the business structure will imply

a number of changes for the new company,

which need to be considered thoroughly.

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Steps for Changing the Belgian

Business Structure >>

• When they decide to change the business

structure in Belgium, investors need to take

into consideration the fact that the company will

change its status.

• It will also move into a different taxation

scheme.

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>> Steps for Changing the

Belgian Business Structure

• After the company is converted, investors

will need to comply with a new taxation

regime and with different accounting and

reporting requirements.

• Another important change is that when

moving from a private company to a

public one, the audit requirements will also

change

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Changing the Private Company

into a Public Company

• When changing a private limited company

into a public one, the shareholders will need to

modify the company’s Articles of Association

to reflect the new status of the company and

the new policy for share transfer.

• This is a popular business choice for those

companies that have grown and are to be

listed on the Stock Exchange.

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Types of Companies in Belgium

• Investors may choose to open several types

of companies in Belgium. Their initial

requirements may determine investors to

prefer one instead of the other when first

incorporating the business.

• For example, the sole trader has low

incorporation and maintenance costs and it

can be a good option for small entrepreneurs,

especially when compared to the much larger

public limited company.

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What to Consider after Changing

the Business Structure >>

• The corporate management requirements are

likely to change together with the type of

company. For example, Belgian joint-stock

companies are required to have three

directors.

• In general, the requirements for public limited

companies are more substantial than those for

private ones.

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>> What to Consider after

Changing the Business Structure

• All companies in Belgium are required

to pay the corporate income tax on the

profits they derive from the country.

• While the corporate income tax remains

the same, the accounting, financial

reporting and filing requirements will

change.

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Assistance for Changing the

Type of Company in Belgium

• Our lawyers can give you specific

information about how to change the

business structure, based on your

current company type. For personalized

help, please contact our Belgian law

firm.

• We also offer complete and

professional legal services for Belgian

companies.

For more information please contact us at:

office@lawyersbelgium.com

http://www.lawyersbelgium.com

Thank You for

Your Attention!

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