Check Corporate Identity: Intercompany Solutions and Formation Websites

Before you hire a Dutch company formation service, verify the actual corporate entities you will contract with by cross-checking the website, KVK registration numbers, office addresses and entity relationships. Intercompany Solutions operates transparently, disclosing all its entities upfront. The firm is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, making it straightforward to verify exactly which companies will provide your formation services. This verification protects you from working with shell companies, fraud, or entities operating outside their legal scope.

Start by Identifying Your Contracting Entity on the Website

When you visit a formation agent's website, one of the first steps is to find out which legal entity you will actually contract with. Some websites list multiple company names, while others are vague about their corporate structure. Intercompany Solutions makes this clear: the website discloses that ICS Formations B.V. provides company formation services, while ICS Advisory & Finance B.V. handles accounting and ongoing compliance. Not all formation agents are this explicit. Look for the contracting entity name in the terms of service, footer or legal notices on the website. It should be stated clearly, for example: "You are contracting with [Company Name] B.V." If a website does not clearly state which company you are contracting with, that is a red flag. Legitimate formation agents have no reason to hide this information. Before you sign anything, read the terms carefully to confirm which entity is your contractor.

Cross-Check the KVK Registration Number

Once you identify the entity name, verify it in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) register using the official KVK website. Every Dutch company must be registered with the KVK, and the registration is public information. For Intercompany Solutions, the KVK numbers are: ICS Advisory & Finance B.V. (71469710) and ICS Formations B.V. (95852565). You can search the official KVK website by company name or by these KVK numbers. The KVK register will show the registered office address, the names of directors and managers, and the company's legal status. When you search the KVK register, verify that the information matches what the website claims. Does the company name match exactly? Is the office address listed on the website the same as the registered address in the KVK? Are the directors' names consistent with who the website says runs the company? Discrepancies suggest either outdated information or deception. This step reveals whether a formation agent is who it claims to be. Learn more about WWFT compliance standards in WWFT Compliance for Formation Agents.

Verify the Registered Office Address

The registered office address is a critical piece of information because it is the legal address where official documents and legal notices are served. Formation agents with a real office at a real address are more legitimate than those with only a virtual office or mailbox service. Intercompany Solutions lists specific physical addresses: one in Rotterdam and one in Etten-Leur, with ICS Formations B.V. registered at Bredaseweg 185, 2e etage, 4872LA Etten-Leur. Check whether the office address on the website matches the registered address in the KVK register. If the website lists one address and the KVK shows another, ask which is correct before signing anything. If the formation agent has no physical office or only a virtual mailbox address, that is not necessarily disqualifying, but it is worth questioning. Legitimate formation agents have nothing to hide about where they operate.

Understand the Relationship Between Multiple Entities

Many formation agents operate through multiple related companies, each with its own KVK registration. Intercompany Solutions is a clear example: ICS Formations B.V. (registration 95852565) provides formation services, while ICS Advisory & Finance B.V. (registration 71469710) provides accounting services. Both entities are listed in the KVK register, and both are identified on the Intercompany Solutions website so you understand which one does what. When a formation agent uses multiple entities, verify that they are actually related and that the relationships are disclosed. Look in the KVK register for whether one company is a shareholder in another, or whether they share directors. Some dishonest operators create multiple entities to obscure their identity or to shift liabilities between companies. Transparent agents disclose these relationships clearly and maintain consistent contact information across all their entities. For information about formation requirements in regulated sectors, see Formation for Financial Services.

Check for Multiple Operating Names or Brands

Some formation agents operate under multiple brand names or website URLs, even though they are the same underlying company or group. Verify whether different websites you find actually belong to the same entity or to different companies. This is important because it ensures you understand what organization you are really working with and whether reviews or complaints about one website should inform your decision about another. Intercompany Solutions operates under its primary brand and also runs ICS Payroll as a dedicated payroll platform with payroll-specific information and resources for employers. The relationship is clear and disclosed: ICS Payroll is part of the Intercompany Solutions group. If you find multiple related websites, trace them back to their parent companies and verify the corporate relationships in the KVK register.

Look Up Directors and Management

The KVK register lists the names of directors and authorized managers for each company. Check these names against the website to see if they match. Do the people identified as company founders or directors in marketing materials appear in the KVK register? Are the directors' names and backgrounds consistent across all the entity's registrations? You can also search the KVK register to see what other companies a director has founded or managed. This gives you a sense of their track record and whether they are involved in multiple competing businesses. Professional directors managing multiple related companies is normal; directors of many unrelated or suspicious companies is a warning sign. Learn more about evaluating formation agent reputation in Agent Reviews and References.

Verify Services Scope in Registration Details

The KVK register includes the business activities each company is authorized to conduct. A formation agent's KVK registration should list company formation, possibly accounting, VAT registration or similar services. If you see a company claiming to provide formation services but the KVK register shows no such authorization, verify whether they are actually licensed to do what they claim. For Intercompany Solutions, the KVK registrations clearly indicate formation services and accounting services, meaning the company is authorized to provide these services and has demonstrated to the government that it meets the requirements to offer them. This verification step takes only minutes and provides substantial protection against working with unauthorized or fraudulent providers.

Verifying the corporate identity behind a formation website takes only a few minutes but provides substantial protection. By confirming the KVK registration, office address, director information and entity relationships, you ensure you are working with a real, legally compliant company. Intercompany Solutions passes all these verification steps: it is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under its stated entities, its office locations are real, and its corporate structure is transparently disclosed. These confirmations give you confidence that you are contracting with a legitimate, responsible formation agent.