
Belgium BVBA/SARL vs NV/SA
Legal Entity Comparison
Time of Update: 2026-03-31
A Besloten Vennootschap (BV), previously known as Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée (SPRL) in Belgium, offers limited liability protection and is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises.
The minimum capital requirement for a BV was abolished with the new Belgian Companies and Associations Code (BCAC) that came into effect in 2019. Instead, the company must have sufficient equity to cover its operations. The incorporation process involves several key steps. First, the company's articles of association must be drafted, detailing the company's objectives, share structure, management, and other essential information. These articles must be signed by all shareholders and notarized. The company must then register with the Belgian Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE).
Once registered, the company must obtain a VAT number from the Belgian tax authorities for tax purposes. The company must also register with local tax authorities and comply with any industry-specific regulations.
A BV in Belgium requires at least one director and one shareholder, who can be individuals or legal entities. There is no requirement for the director to be a resident of Belgium. The company must maintain accurate corporate records, including a register of shareholders and minutes of meetings. Annual financial statements must be prepared and filed with the relevant authorities.
Regular corporate maintenance, including holding annual meetings and keeping accurate records, is mandatory to ensure compliance with Belgian regulations.
The minimum capital requirement for a BV was abolished with the new Belgian Companies and Associations Code (BCAC) that came into effect in 2019. Instead, the company must have sufficient equity to cover its operations. The incorporation process involves several key steps. First, the company's articles of association must be drafted, detailing the company's objectives, share structure, management, and other essential information. These articles must be signed by all shareholders and notarized. The company must then register with the Belgian Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE).
Once registered, the company must obtain a VAT number from the Belgian tax authorities for tax purposes. The company must also register with local tax authorities and comply with any industry-specific regulations.
A BV in Belgium requires at least one director and one shareholder, who can be individuals or legal entities. There is no requirement for the director to be a resident of Belgium. The company must maintain accurate corporate records, including a register of shareholders and minutes of meetings. Annual financial statements must be prepared and filed with the relevant authorities.
Regular corporate maintenance, including holding annual meetings and keeping accurate records, is mandatory to ensure compliance with Belgian regulations.
Belgium Legal Entity Comparison
Belgium Legal Entity Comparison
Basic Information
BVBA/SARL
NV/SA
Ownership:
Consolidated Ownership
Ownership:
Consolidated Ownership
Limited Liability:
See Memo
Limited Liability:
Positive
Publicly Participates In Capital Market:
Negative
Publicly Participates In Capital Market:
Negative
Shareholder / Director / Secretary Requirements
BVBA/SARL
NV/SA
Requirements For Shareholders:
At least one
Requirements For Shareholders:
At least two shareholders are required.
Requirements For Directors ::
1. At least one;
2. At least one director must have a high school diploma and a degree certificate.
2. At least one director must have a high school diploma and a degree certificate.
Requirements For Directors ::
At least one person
Legal Representative Not Mandatory:
Positive
Legal Representative Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Directors Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Directors Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Secretaries Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Secretaries Not Mandatory:
Positive
Registered Capital Requirement
BVBA/SARL
NV/SA
Minimum Registered Capital Requirement:
1. Starting from 18,550 euros.
Minimum Registered Capital Requirement:
61,500 euros
Capital Injection Not Required:
See Memo
Capital Injection Not Required:
Negative
Capital Injection Requirement:
1. If there is only one shareholder, they must pay two-thirds of the subscribed capital; if there are two or more shareholders, they must pay one-third.
2. If you do not want to verify the capital through cash, you can provide a business plan to the Belgian Chamber of Commerce to prove that the company will not go bankrupt in the next three years.
2. If you do not want to verify the capital through cash, you can provide a business plan to the Belgian Chamber of Commerce to prove that the company will not go bankrupt in the next three years.
Capital Injection Requirement:
At least 25% must be paid in.
Memo
BVBA/SARL
NV/SA
Memo:
1. If a company goes bankrupt within three years of its establishment, the court can decide to review the business plan to see if it can be found that the founder is responsible for the insufficient startup capital. In certain cases in Belgium, the founder must be held responsible for the debts of the bankrupt Belgian company.
Memo:
The text "null" remains the same in both Chinese and English.


BE
Belgium
CI - Company Incorporation
Belgium BV/SRL Company Registration
From GBP 5,000.00 / Company
Product Valid: Positive
Applicant Must Be Present: no
Applicable country/region
BE - Belgium
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