Invest in Belgium

Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium and Europe, but it is also one of the three regions - along with Flanders and Wallonia - that together make up the federal state of Belgium. The regions enjoy powers and responsibilities in many areas, including the economy, employment, energy and scientific research.

Alongside the federal government's fiscal measures, Brussels supports business through incentives, auxiliary measures and premiums. It also provides support for recruitment, training, logistics and research and development. If you wish to invest or set up a business in Brussels, then visit www.investinbrussels.be to learn more about all the available opportunities.

Brussels has a population of approximately 1 million and covers 162 km². The region is home to 54,000 businesses, mostly SMEs and international companies. The region is officially bilingual (French and Dutch) but in practice, the city of Brussels is one of the most cosmopolitan in Europe and lies at the crossroads between the Germanic, Latin and Anglo-Saxon cultures.
The economic heart of Europe

As home to headquarters of all the main EU institutions, Brussels has become a key decision-making centre and a hotbed of economic activity. Some 13,000 lobbyists are active in the city, ranking it second only behind Washington DC in terms of sheer numbers of interest groups and NGOs.

Its location at the heart of the European rail network means that Brussels is just 1 hour 20 minutes from Paris and 1 hour 51 minutes from London by train. But compared to those cities, Brussels has managed to retain a highly competitive real estate market and it is certainly no coincidence that so many multinational companies have already chosen to set up their respective European headquarters in the city.

Source: http://www.belgium.be/en/economy/invest_in_belgium/index.jsp

How to create a company

Belgium: top of the class

Belgium has simplified start-up procedures so much that it is now the European leader in terms of how long it takes to set up a new business. The time you need to complete the administrative formalities to set up your business in Belgium has been slashed from 56 days to just 3 days.

E-one-stop shops and e-deposit help businesses save a lot of time!
3 days to set up a company in Belgium:

* Day 1 – the bank (in French or Dutch): open a bank account and deposit the minimum start-up capital
* Day 2 – the notary (in French or Dutch): use e-deposit to draw up the deed of incorporation and articles of association (you will be assigned a unique 'enterprise number', registered with the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises (in French or Dutch) and registered with the clerk of the Commercial Court, and your documents will be published in the Belgian Official Gazette)
* Day 3 – the business one-stop shop: your enterprise number is activated

Choosing a company type

Several company types are available depending on what kind of core business you are in and what kind of development strategy you have in mind. The most common types are the Société Anonyme (SA, company limited by shares), the Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée (SPRL, private limited liability company), the Coopérative (cooperative company) and the Groupement Européen d'Intérêt Economique (GEIE, European Economic Interest Grouping).

Further info on Business One-stop shops on the FPS Economy website

Further info on starting a business in Belgium on the FPS Economy website

Source: http://www.belgium.be/en/economy/how_to_create_a_company/