Things to arrange when starting a business from home

Around 800,000 freelancers work from home in the Netherlands. This saves you time and costs. You often only need to make a few investments, because an empty attic or the kitchen table will do.

Running a business from home is usually allowed, but make sure you check the key considerations listed below.

Rules for a business from home

Check which conditions an rules your mirtgage lender, landlord, and municipality have for running a business from home.

Mortgage lender or landlord

Does your mortgage lender or landlord pose conditions for starting a business from home? Check your mortgage agreement or rental contract. If you live in an apartment complex, check if there are restrictions set out in the rules of the homeowners’ association (VvE).

Municipality: the environment plan

Municipalities have rules for running a business from your home. Always check the environment plan with the municipality where you live and will start your business. The municipality indicates how you may use a certain piece of land or building. For example, you are not allowed to start a cafe in the house you live in. 

You can check the environment plan of your house via the Omgevingsloket (Environment and Planning Portal, in Dutch). Enter your city and postcode to see which environmental category your house has. Usually, this will be category 1 and your house is intended for living in. This means that a home business is possible as long as you do not cause any disturbance to the neighbourhood. If the situation is not clear, contact your municipality. 

Does the environment plan say it is not possible to start a business in your home? Then you can apply for an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) for the activity. After an investigation, your municipality decides if an exception to the environment plan is possible. 

Permits

You may need one or more permits. For example, if you want to renovate, put up and advertising sign, or if your business impacts the environment.

You can apply for environmental permits and permits for building and living at the Omgevingsloket (in Dutch).

Do you cause a nuisance?

You are not allowed to cause a nuisance to your neighbourhood with your company. Think of loud noises, or smells. Or parking spots constantly occupied by your customers. 

When you run an online shop from your home, customers are not allowed to collect purchases at your door. This can cause disturbance to the neighbourhood. In addition, the municipality could view this as retail trade. That is not allowed from a residential home.

Insurances

Remember that your private insurances do not apply to your business. You need to take out business insurance when starting a business from home. For example computers, inventory, and your working space. 

Find out which business insurance policies are relevant to you. For example, do you store goods in the attic or in a shed? Take out business inventory and goods insurance. Then flooding, theft and storm damage are covered.

Use the KVK Insurance Check to find out which insurances you need. 

Deduct expenses for your workspace

Does your home workspace or office have its own entrance, toilet and water connection? In some cases, you may deduct the costs of the workspace from your income tax return. Think of the costs of the furnishings and electricity.

The Tax Administration looks at how many workable hours you spend in your workspace. Check which deduction costs apply to you with the Workspace tool (in Dutch) of the Tax Administration. You can also seek advice from your bookkeeper or accountant.

Register at KVK with a private address

Keep in mind that your address will be visible in the KVK Business Register when you start a home-based business. This is because with a home-based company, the business address (the address of your company) is the same as your private address (the address where you live). By law, the business address of a company must always be public. Read how you can limit your findability.