Becoming a freelancer: how does it work?

Be realistic

How do you become self-employed, exactly? One of the first steps is to set up a realistic plan in which you clearly outline the activities you would be carrying out. Don’t underestimate the financial aspect and be prepared. Do you think you can handle it, or could you benefit from a sounding board? Whatever the case, look for a good accountant who can help you estimate your revenue and your costs. Organisations such as Unizo are eager to support you to develop the idea for your enterprise. Don’t hesitate to contact them and hear them out; they help you shape a clear image of your future business.

Are there things you have to comply with?

When you’re considering self-employment, you need to get your affairs in order. For one, you must be registered in the ‘Kruispuntbank voor Ondernemingen’; easy to do through the enterprise counter. Depending on the kind of self-employment that you have in mind, they could ask you to demonstrate your professional knowledge. You no longer need to present a company certificate to do business, though.

Don’t forget your social security contributions, possible VAT returns, and so on. Do you find it all to be a bit complicated? Don’t worry, a professional bookkeeper can help you a long way in starting up your own business.

Not ready to be self-employed?

Do you feel like being self-employed is too scary? Freelancing can be a great intermediate step as you can choose to work through an intermediary. When you’re ‘payrolling’, you decide on your own projects, but before you start on a particular assignment, you contact your intermediary. You’ll be put on their payroll to work on the project that you found. In exchange for their follow-up on contracts, payments, and so on, you pay them commission.

Why would you take the plunge?

As we said before, Belgian company legislation has gotten a facelift since 2019. It makes it easier for you as a potential IT entrepreneur to grow into self-employment. If you start a one-man business, you’ll find few alterations in the law. If you’re considering starting an NV, however, much has changed to make things easier for you. Keen to know more about it all? Be sure to read our next blog!

Are you currently still employed as an IT professional? Consider the possibilities you’d get as a freelancer. As you know, the War for Talent is raging, and your expertise and knowledge will almost definitely guarantee you’ll always have a job. You’d be able to build a strong customer base in a second, which would allow you to bring variety into your assignments, broaden your horizons and work on personal development. Take all pros and cons into account and think about the next step in your career. If you’re already toying with the idea to start freelancing or to become self-employed; there’s no better time to start than today.

Hesitant and in need of advice? Don’t be shy and contact us; we’d love to look at your situation together and see whether we can help you out!