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Start your BV
Home/How it works
The process

From your laptop to a Dutch BV. Five working days.

The full process, with what we do and what you do, on every day.

The 5-day pathtypically 5 working days
Day by day

Exactly what happens, and when.

Each day, what you do on the left, what we and our partners do on the right.

  • 1
    Day 1 · KYC & application

    Tell us about your company

    You, ≤30 min

    • Sign up → your dashboard is created
    • Founder, shareholders, activity, FY end
    • Upload passport + proof of address (≤3 months)

    BVform + partners

    • AML/Wwft checks (legally required)
    • Specialist reviews your business activity
    • Notary engagement letter drafted
  • 2
    Day 2 · Power of Attorney

    Sign remotely, wherever you are

    You, ≤1 hour

    • Receive the bilingual EN/NL PoA by email
    • Sign at your local notary; apostille (~€20–€200)
    • EU founders: 30-min video session, no apostille

    BVform + partners

    • Notary drafts your Articles of Association
    • Shareholders register + UBO docs prepared

    EU founders skip the apostille entirely, a video-notary session under EU Directive 2019/1151, in force since 1 Jan 2024.

  • 3
    Day 3 · Notary review

    Identity verified, deed finalised

    You

    • Upload the apostilled PoA scan
    • (Optional) Review draft Articles of Association

    BVform + partners

    • Notary verifies your identity remotely
    • Final review of the deed of incorporation
    • Deed-passing scheduled for Day 4
  • 4
    Day 4 · Deed of incorporation

    The deed is executed

    You

    Nothing required. You're done with paperwork.

    BVform + partners

    • Notary executes the deed (akte van oprichting)
    • Deed filed with the KvK Handelsregister
    • UBO register filing submitted alongside
  • 5
    Day 5 · KvK number issued

    Your BV is legally operational

    You

    • KvK number in your dashboard, with a digital extract
    • Show it to banks, customers and partners

    BVform + partners

    • RSIN/tax number activated
    • VAT (BTW) registration kicked off
    • Bank introduction triggered to your chosen partner

    VAT number arrives over 2–6 weeks (Belastingdienst pace). Article 23 (if in Growth) over 4–6 weeks. Bank account opening is the bank's call, we're upfront about all three.

Before you start

What you'll need to provide.

Gather these and Day 1 takes thirty minutes, not a week.

Each founder & director

  • Valid passport, colour scan, all 4 corners
  • Proof of address ≤3 months (not a phone bill)
  • Working email + mobile for SMS verification

Each corporate shareholder

  • Apostilled registry extract ≤3 months
  • Articles / certificate of incorporation
  • Register of directors and beneficial owners
  • ID + proof of address for the UBO(s)

The BV itself

  • Proposed company name (we check KvK availability)
  • Business activity summary, 1–2 paragraphs
  • Financial year end (Dec 31 default)
After Day 5

The bit competitors don't tell you.

Your BV is live on Day 5. A few things continue on third-party timelines, here they are, honestly.

VAT number issuance

2–4 weeks for clean cases; 6–10 if the Belastingdienst has questions. Most foreign-owned BVs land at 4–6 weeks. You can invoice from Day 5; you hold VAT until the number arrives.

Article 23 licence (Growth)

4–6 weeks from filing. Requires a bank guarantee of €5,000–€500,000, paid directly to your bank (typically 1–2%/yr).

Bank account approval

Revolut Business usually approves within days. Traditional Dutch banks usually decline non-resident-led BVs without local substance, and we say so before you choose.

First annual filings

First VAT return at the quarter's end after issuance. First Vpb return 5 months after FY end (extendable). Jaarrekening filed within 12 months of FY end.

Honest about the edges

What happens if something goes wrong.

You're rejected by the bank. We introduce you to a second partner and prepare your file. Traditional Dutch banks are the genuinely hard part, and we're honest about that before you start.
The Belastingdienst questions your activity. We respond on your behalf. ~10–15% of foreign-owned BVs get a follow-up; we resolve almost all at no extra cost.
Apostille delays push past 5 days. The clock pauses while we wait for your apostille. We tell you this on Day 2, so it's never a surprise.
You change your mind before notary instruction. Full refund minus a €145 KYC admin fee. After instruction, the notary fee (€500–€800) is non-refundable; we refund the rest.
A problem we haven't seen before. Raise it from your dashboard. Our formation lead reviews within 24 hours. We've seen most edge cases, and we're upfront when we haven't.
On the process

Questions about how it runs.

Yes, most of our founders are non-EU. The apostille step is the only meaningful difference from an EU founder's flow.

A government stamp certifying your local notary's signature so a Dutch notary can rely on it. Hague Convention countries (100+) issue them; check hcch.net for your country's authority. Usually €20–€200 and 1–7 days.

Yes, see the corporate-shareholder requirements above. It adds €395 to the package for the additional KYC.

No. The PoA (or video session for EU founders) means we sign for you.

Bilingual, Dutch and English side by side. The Dutch text is the legally binding one; the English is for your reference.

Tell us in section 3 of the application. Some activities make notary or bank onboarding harder; we tell you on Day 1 what to expect. We don't refuse on activity alone, we want you to know what you're signing up for.

Ready to start the clock?

Five working days from your complete KYC, typically. €1,295 all-in, BTW included.

€1,295all-in · BTW included Start your BV