This plan should give a detailed overview of all debts, assets & income required for the first two years of operation of the company.

In order to assist in drafting this financial plan, the accountant will need various information:

• Turnover;
• Expected costs such as:
• Rent;
• Furniture;
• Insurances;
• Cars;
• Consultants’ Fees;
• Investments;
• Loans
• ...

Foreign (non-European Economic Area) nationals intending to settle in Belgium as self-employed (directors of a EEE-company) have to obtain a professional card (carte professionnelle/beroepskaart) & a Visa.

The professional card is a form of permit for self-employed individuals and directors who are not Belgian citizens; are not citizens of a Member State of the European Economic Area (EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland; or have not been exempted from this requirement.

Applications for professional cards must be submitted either to the Belgian diplomatic or consular representation in the country of residence if the applicant resides abroad.

The road to become self-employed does not end with a professional card and the procedure mentioned above. One also has to evidence that she possess basic management knowledge.

Becoming a self-employed individual (or director of a Belgian company) will depend on the public interest for Belgium of the specific business to be carried, which will be appreciated according to various economic parameters by the Belgian regions, i.e. it is examined whether the business project meets economic needs, creates employment, involves useful investments, what economic impact it has on enterprises and whether it promotes export, innovative or specialised activity.

Hence, the project founding the application for a professional card application should produce clear and measurable economic benefits for Belgium.