Accredited Business Counters

The business counter is the main point of contact for companies. It carries out many tasks for which companies previously had to call  on several bodies.

As well as compulsory administrative formalities, the business counter can offer a wide range of additional services.

There are eight accredited business counters. These have many offices located throughout the country.

Missions of Business Counters

Business counters perform the following tasks:

• registration of businesses subject to registration in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE);
• allowing companies to complete the related formalities for accessing the profession and completing the necessary permits to exercise their activities;
• verifying the obligations and conditions relating to the following authorisations:
  • entrepreneurial skills, i.e. proof of basic business management knowledge and (inter)sectoral professional skills for specific activities (regional regulations);
  • authorisation for an itinerant trade;
  • authorisation for fairground activities;
  • professional identity card for foreign nationals.
• Distributing extracts from the CBE;
• collecting duties due for administrative processing on behalf of the Treasury;
• registering data relating to property management companies for co-ownership associations with the CBE;
• ensuring  companies receive information regarding:
  • the procedures and formalities to be followed to start their activities;
  • the contact details of the competent authorities;
  • the methods and conditions for accessing public registers and databases about service providers and services;
  • the available actions in the event of disputes;
  • the contact details of associations or organisations from which companies are likely to obtain practical assistance.

The business counters ensure that certain data can be accessed free of charge by the public for the administrative services of:

• the State;
• the communities;
• the regions;
• the provinces, cities and municipalities;
• potentially many other institutions and organisations designated by the King.

They store records. Business counters cannot under any circumstances sell the data collected during the execution of their legal responsibilities.

Additional Services Offered by the Accredited Business Counters

Business counter can also carry out certain administrative formalities on behalf of entrepreneurs, such as

• registering them for VAT purposes
• registering as an employer with the National Social Security Office (NSSO)
• applying for specific authorisations
  • at the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC),
  • the Belgian Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (SABAM),
  • etc..

Business counters also offer other services such as the:

• affiliation to a social insurance fund for the self-employed (each business counter has an associated social insurance fund);
• affiliation to an associated social secretariat;
• preparation of subsidy application dossiers;

These additional services are optional and charged independently by each counter.

Tasks Excluded from the Missions of Accredited Business Counters

Some formalities are assigned by law to certain liberal, intellectual and service provider professions in the economic sector. They cannot be taken care of by business counters.

Accreditation of Business Counters

In order to operate, business counters must have an accreditation granted by the Minister in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises. The accreditation is valid for 5 years and can be renewed.

Business counters must meet a set of conditions and obligations (specifications) regarding:

• accreditation
• equipment
• employees
• financial obligations
• accessibility
• the accreditation dossier

See the specifications for business counters for more details “cahier des charges pour les guichets d'entreprises (PDF, 1.39 MB)”.

The Minister may withdraw or suspend “ex officio” the accreditation if a business counter does not comply with the legal and regulatory requirements.

The FPS Economy, S.M.E.s, Self-Employed and Energy is responsible for the control and supervision of the business counters.