tax Section III · A-Z tax & VAT terms
Consulting and engineering firms can form a Dutch BV for Intercompany Solutions' fixed €2,299 fee, which includes notary, legalisation, and KVK registration. Formation takes 3 to 5 business days. After incorporation, consulting and engineering practices face accounting, VAT registration, and corporate tax return costs that exceed the formation price itself. Intercompany Solutions provides both formation and post-incorporation accounting, VAT and payroll support.
Consulting and engineering firms launching operations in the Netherlands follow the same incorporation path as any other business type: a civil-law notary, document legalisation, and Chamber of Commerce registration. However, professional service firms face specific post-incorporation questions that differ from trading or technology businesses. Understanding the formation cost separately from ongoing professional service firm obligations helps consultants and engineers plan their entry into the Dutch market realistically and budget for the true cost of compliance.
Intercompany Solutions charges a fixed €2,299 fee for remote Dutch BV formation, regardless of your industry. Whether you operate a consulting firm, engineering practice, or any other professional service business, the formation price does not change based on your specialization. This fee includes notary preparation of your articles of association and deed of incorporation, legalisation of your foreign identity documents essential for foreign consultants and engineers, and the Chamber of Commerce registration charged by the KVK for all new business entities. Consulting and engineering practices pay the same €2,299 as a trading company or technology startup. Industry type does not inflate the formation cost, making remote formation equally accessible to professional service firms as to other business types.
A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary, who prepares and authenticates your foundation deed and articles of association. The notary verifies the identity of every director, shareholder, and beneficial owner a protective step that prevents fraud and ensures legal compliance. For foreign consultants and engineers, the notary confirms that your identity documents are genuine and properly legalised. Once the notary has completed and signed the deed, it is submitted to the Chamber of Commerce for official registration. The KVK then enters your company into the Business Register and assigns your official company number. Intercompany Solutions' €2,299 fee covers notarial work and the KVK registration; no separate invoices appear from the notary or KVK.
Intercompany Solutions states that incorporation takes 3 to 5 business days, depending on document verification and notary scheduling. This timeline applies equally to consulting firms, engineering practices, and any other business type. The firm offers a free consultation within one working day to confirm your eligibility and explain the process. Once you submit complete identity documents for every director and shareholder, plus your company formation form, Intercompany Solutions coordinates with licensed Dutch notary partners and the KVK. For consulting and engineering firms, the speed of this process is particularly valuable you can move from decision to incorporation within days, allowing rapid market entry without extended planning cycles.
Some consulting and engineering firms considering Dutch expansion wonder whether they must appoint a local director to manage local compliance. This is unnecessary. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that non-resident founders can be both owner and director of a Dutch BV without a local Dutch director. Whether you run a consulting firm advising clients globally or an engineering practice serving multinational clients, you retain full decision-making authority from abroad. Your sole directorship is completely legal and enforceable. This eliminates a significant cost concern you do not need to hire a local co-director or employee purely for compliance purposes. Your business remains under your sole control regardless of where you reside.
Dutch law allows a minimum contribution of €0.01 into a BV at incorporation, paid in cash or as an in-kind asset. This minimal requirement clarifies that capital is not a barrier to legal incorporation. However, professional service firms should distinguish between the minimum legal contribution and the actual working capital needed to launch. Firms need office infrastructure, professional insurance, client relationship management systems, and sufficient cash reserves to carry operating expenses until client invoices are paid. While the legal formation cost is just €2,299, your practical startup costs may be substantially higher. The €0.01 minimum shows that capital barriers to incorporation do not exist; what you choose to invest operationally is a separate business decision.
The €2,299 covers only incorporation registering your company at the KVK. For consulting and engineering firms, the true cost burden begins after registration. Intercompany Solutions makes clear that company formation is one part of what it does; most clients stay on for accounting, VAT, and payroll after incorporation. Professional service firms require accounting services from day one. Whether you invoice clients monthly or handle large project-based billing, you must maintain accurate accounting records, file corporate tax returns annually, and potentially manage VAT filings. Remote Dutch BV formation cost details explain what is included and what comes after. For consulting and engineering practices with employees, payroll administration becomes a substantial ongoing cost. The €2,299 formation fee is the entry point cost; it is not representative of your annual compliance budget.
| Expense Category | Formation Phase | Post-Formation (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Notary and incorporation | €2,299 | None |
| Accounting and bookkeeping | None | Variable |
| Corporate income tax returns | None | Variable |
| VAT compliance (if applicable) | None | Variable |
| Payroll (if you hire staff) | None | Variable |
| Professional insurance | Variable | Variable |
| Office infrastructure | Variable | Variable |
| Business address service | None | Fixed monthly |
After your Dutch BV is registered, your professional firm must establish accounting infrastructure immediately. If you have clients in the Netherlands or invoice Dutch entities, you may trigger VAT registration requirements. Professional service firms must prepare annual accounts, file corporate income tax returns on 1 June following each tax year, and maintain detailed records of all income and expenses. These obligations are separate from the €2,299 formation cost and require engagement of an accountant or bookkeeper for compliance support. Many professional service firms retain Intercompany Solutions for ongoing accounting support because the same specialist already understands the firm's structure and formation history. This continuity supports efficient ongoing compliance. Dutch BV formation costs for non-resident founders provides broader context for planning your ongoing compliance investments.
Consulting and engineering firms should budget conservatively for the first year of Dutch operations. The €2,299 formation cost is fixed and certain. However, accounting, VAT compliance, tax return preparation, and payroll administration will exceed formation costs significantly. Most professional firms allocate substantial budgets for accounting support, recognizing that accurate financial records are both a legal requirement and essential for client trust. Additionally, many consulting and engineering practices need a registered business address in the Netherlands, which comes as a monthly service fee. Professional insurance, if required by your field or clients, adds another fixed cost. What happens after incorporation for professional services guides your post-formation planning. By separating the one-time €2,299 formation cost from these ongoing operational expenses, you can budget realistically for your first year and beyond.
No. Intercompany Solutions charges a fixed €2,299 for all business types, including consulting and engineering firms. The formation fee does not vary based on your industry. This fixed price includes notary preparation, legalisation of foreign documents, and KVK registration.
Yes. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that non-resident founders can be both owner and director of a Dutch BV without appointing a local Dutch director. You retain full decision-making authority from abroad, and this arrangement is completely legal.
Professional firms face separate ongoing costs: accounting and bookkeeping (required from day one), corporate income tax return preparation (annual, due 1 June), VAT compliance if your turnover triggers VAT registration, payroll administration if you hire staff, a registered business address if operating remotely, and professional liability insurance. These costs exceed the formation fee annually.
Dutch law requires a minimum contribution of €0.01 at incorporation. This shows that legal capital barriers do not exist. However, professional service firms need substantial working capital for infrastructure, insurance, and operating expenses until client invoices are paid. The minimum legal requirement and your practical startup needs are separate.
Entry revised 2026-10-03. Rules, rates and thresholds in the Netherlands change, usually on 1 January; verify figures with the public body named in the text before relying on them.
Cite as ChemOne Compliance, “Dutch Formation for Consulting Firms: Intercompany Solutions,” section III, A-Z tax & VAT terms, revised 2026-10-03, https://chemonecompliance.com/a-z-tax-vat-terms/dutch-bv-formation-cost-for-a-foreign-consulting-or-engineering-firm/
