If you do not carry out any activities for an extended period, you should deregister your business from the Business Register. This is because the Business Register is a register of active businesses. Putting your registration on hold is not possible. Nevertheless, it may sometimes be necessary to temporarily stop working on your business. For example, to attend a study, take on temporary employment, or to travel for less than 8 months. What you need to do depends on your situation.

Situation 1: Your business has no turnover or business activity (for example, due to travel, study, illness, etc).

• Is this period expected to last for less than 6 months?

  You can temporarily stop working on your business. It remains registered in the Business Register. Let your contacts know you are stopping your business activities for a while. Continue to file VAT returns, even if these are nil or zero returns. You should continue doing the accounts. 

• Is this period expected to last for longer than 6 months? Or is the length of time not known?

  Deregister your business.
  If you start business activities again after this period, you register a new business. You will receive a new KVK number and VAT number. It is not possible to re-activate your old KVK number and VAT number. If you want to keep the ‘right’ to your trade name, you have to use that name externally. You cannot keep your KVK registration for this purpose.

Situation 2: Your business has no turnover but there is business activity (for example, acquisition, product development, getting ready to start, etc).

This is a valid reason to stay registered. Just remember that after several nil VAT tax returns, the Tax Administration will withdraw your VAT tax number. Before they do this, you will receive a letter. If you disagree with this, you have to prove that no ‘discontinuation’ took place. Can you not do this? Then KVK receives a message from the Tax Administration and will deregister your business.

The outlook for your business is bleak. Every day you stay in business is costing you money. Quitting is inevitable. With the Step-by-step plan ending in a controlled manner, you keep control while ending your business. The plan consists of 5 components.

1. Dealing with your emotions
2. Finding help
3. Preparing for ending your business
4. Are you left with debts after quitting? Find a solution that suits your situation. You can go through different routes. For example, an amicable settlement, or through the Natural Persons Debt Restructuring Act (Wet schuldsanering natuurlijke personen, Wsnp)
5. Getting started with ending your business: depending on your situation and legal structure, you go through a number of steps to end your business. Also cancel current subscriptions and insurance policies. Finally, deregister your business from the Chamber of Commerce KVK.

Ending your business is quite something. You need to arrange many things. The advisers of the KVK Advice Team will help you. They answer your questions and listen to your concerns. They will explain which steps you need to take and when. This will help you to keep an overview. Call 088 585 22 22. KVK also cooperates with organisations that help you with advice, coaching or money.

Check this article and find out what steps to take.

The deregistration of your 'eenmanszaak' (sole proprietorship) should be done via a change form on our website (in Dutch):

• Go to 'Uitschrijven' (Deregister).
• Search for and choose your company.
• Click on 'Opheffen eenmanszaak' (Dissolve sole proprietorship)
• Fill in your details and submit the deregistration digitally or by post.

Submit digitally (processing time 2 working days)

You sign the form by logging in with DigiD.

Submit by post (longer processing time 15 working days)

Send the completed and signed form to the KVK postal address, together with a copy of a valid identification document of the signatory. The signatory of the form is always an authorised person currently registered in the Busines Register.

More information

When you end your business, you need to arrange a number of things. You will find useful tips in the article 'Ending your company per legal structure'. And in the information on tax matters when you discontinue your business.

Please note: Dissolving and deregistering the sole proprietorship may affect your business bank account, financing, insurance, pension fund, and municipal permits, among other things.

For example, you will no longer be able to access your business bank account. Therefore, before deregistering your sole proprietorship with us, please check the websites of these organisations to find out what steps you must take.

Are you planning to apply for financial support from your municipality? If so, a condition may be that you are still registered in the Business Register. Check this before you deregister from KVK.