Businesses can now be created legally online in Belgium

Creating a company can now be done online, making it no longer necessary to physically go to a notary's office to do so, the Federation of Notaries (Fednot) announced in a statement on Monday.

In order to make it easier for entrepreneurs, Fednot has developed the startmybusiness.be platform where they can now create their business online, by identifying themselves with their eID or via the itsme application.

The legal paperwork can therefore be signed electronically during a videoconference with the notary. This applies to all legal entities and it does not create any additional costs for the entrepreneur.

This development comes after justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne introduced a bill at the end of March which amended the Code of Companies and Associations and the Law of 16 March 1803 on the organisation of notaries. The change came into effect on 1 August.

Around 32,000 companies are incorporated each year in Belgium.