Registering a company in the Netherlands is cheap at the official level: the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) charges less than EUR 100. The full Netherlands company registration cost is higher, though. A BV needs a notary, and a business address and annual bookkeeping belong in the budget from the first day.
This guide covers the company only. If you are planning a Netherlands startup visa, the IND application fee, the funds for a year of living costs and the facilitator’s fee come on top; see the full Netherlands startup visa costs in one table.
Official costs: KvK registration and BV capital
Every business that starts trading in the Netherlands registers with the KvK. According to the KvK fee page, updated on 11 June 2026, registration costs EUR 85.15, paid once. If you register later in the year, check the current figure there.
A BV (besloten vennootschap, a private limited company) has a legal minimum share capital of just EUR 0.01. That is a figure on paper: the company still needs real money to start trading, and you should budget for it separately.
For founders outside the Netherlands there is a practical catch. According to business.gov.nl, the Dutch government’s portal for businesses, registering with the KvK from abroad is possible only in some exceptional cases, and a BV is registered through a Dutch civil-law notary. Plan the timing and cost of this step with your facilitator or legal adviser from the start.
Other costs: notary, address and bookkeeping
Apart from the KvK fee, none of these costs has an official rate. Every notary, accounting firm and address provider sets its own price, so the table gives no figures for them. Get two or three quotes before you decide, and ask what each price includes.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KvK registration | EUR 85.15, once | Official KvK fee |
| Minimum BV share capital | EUR 0.01 | Legal minimum |
| Notary for BV incorporation and articles | No official rate | Once; depends on the articles |
| Registered address or virtual office | No official rate | Recurs every year |
| Bookkeeping and annual reporting for a small BV | No official rate | Recurs every year; depends on volume |
| Registration package for non-residents | No official rate | Ask which services the price includes |
Registration packages usually come in two forms: a basic package covering registration and the first documents, and a full package that adds a virtual office, legal support and registration of the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO). Ask exactly what each price includes, because most price differences come from that.
You may also see an employer of record (EOR) offered as a cheaper alternative. An EOR suits a business that wants to employ staff without a Dutch company. It does not fit the startup visa, where you must register your own company with the KvK and keep control of it.
Company costs are not the visa funds
Many founders mix up company registration costs with the money they must show for the startup visa. The IND assesses your living costs separately: for 1 July to 31 December 2026 that is EUR 21,201.24 for 12 months. That money is for your own living costs, and notary fees, bookkeeping and company capital do not count towards it. Budget for both, side by side.
Banking is another knot at this stage. business.gov.nl says that opening a personal account in the Netherlands requires a citizen service number (BSN), a business registration extract and a residence permit, and you only receive the residence permit after approval. The alternatives the IND accepts until then are listed under startup visa proof of funds.
Ways to keep registration and running costs down
- If you do not need a physical office, start with a registered address or a virtual office.
- Get quotes from several notaries for a BV and ask whether they use standard articles, since custom articles cost more.
- Put annual bookkeeping in the budget from the start; it recurs every year, not only in the year of registration.
- Start small and leave hiring and office leases until you have tested the market.
- Match the legal form to your business plan before you register; the differences are explained in registering a company in the Netherlands.
For examples of how successful Dutch companies started, see successful startups in the Netherlands.
Our role when the company is part of a startup visa file
If company registration is part of your startup visa file, the legal form and structure of the company are part of the step-by-step plan we review with you before it is sent, and finding a facilitator that fits your idea is part of our work too. The registration itself is done by the KvK or a Dutch notary. To start, complete the free assessment form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a company in the Netherlands?
The official KvK registration fee is EUR 85.15. A BV also needs a notary, and a business address and annual bookkeeping cost extra. None of these three has an official rate, so get two or three quotes.
How much capital do I need for a Dutch BV?
The legal minimum share capital for a BV is EUR 0.01. The company still needs real money to start trading, so plan the first-year budget separately from that figure.
Can I register a Dutch company from abroad?
Registering with the KvK from abroad is possible only in some exceptional cases, and a BV is registered by a Dutch civil-law notary. Most founders plan this step with their facilitator or a legal adviser in the Netherlands.
Does registering a company give me residence in the Netherlands?
No. Registering a company does not give you a right to live in the Netherlands. To live there and work in your own company you need a residence permit, such as the startup permit with a facilitator, followed by the self-employed permit.
Do company costs count towards the startup visa funds?
No. The IND funds requirement covers a year of your own living costs, EUR 21,201.24 for the second half of 2026. Notary fees, bookkeeping and company capital have to be funded on top of that.
Official sources
KvK registration fee, business.gov.nl: starting a business in the Netherlands from abroad, IND: required amounts, IND: residence permit for a start-up. Figures checked on 12 October 2026.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and it describes published official rules rather than any individual case.
