Checklist, how to get started as self-employed?

Many people are starting out as self-employed in recent years. In many cases, this happens very quickly, for a variety of reasons. In principle, there are enough self-employed jobs and you often don't need any starting capital either, for instance. Sometimes all you need is a laptop and a workplace. Starting as a self-employed person then seems quite easy. Yet there are many things you need to take into account if you want to do it right. That is why we have drawn up a checklist for you, so that you can get started properly and do not forget any important matters.

Good preparation

A good start as a self-employed person cannot be made overnight. You cannot simply start with self-employment and expect the rest to happen automatically. It is and remains a form of entrepreneurship, which is not for everyone. For instance, you need a network, negotiating skills and you also have to do things like administration. That's why you need to write a business plan. This will immediately increase your chances of success. It really doesn't have to be that complicated. It is simply your plan on paper. This way, you can also see whether your plans will make enough money. In addition, think about all kinds of practical matters, but we will come back to that below.

DBA Act and determination of salaried employment

Whether you are self-employed is determined by the Tax Authorities on the basis of a number of criteria. They also check whether you are an entrepreneur for income tax purposes. This has a lot of influence on your income tax return, so it is wise to find out. You can fill in the Entrepreneur Check here, for instance. When you take on self-employed assignments, you also want to know the labour relationship between you and the client. This was regulated through the DBA Act, but its enforcement has been suspended. If it is unclear to you how to make the agreement, ask for help here.

Determining your hourly rate

Of course, you also need to determine your hourly rate, which is quite tricky. An hourly rate that is too high will scare off clients, while an hourly rate that is too low also has disadvantages. It will obviously earn you less, but in addition, it undervalues your qualities. A useful way is to calculate backwards. See how much money you need per month to live on. Also consider your holiday pay, taxes, health insurance and unforeseen expenses. Next, calculate all your business expenses as well. Then you can divide this amount by the number of billable hours you can make. This way, you have calculated the minimum hourly rate at which you will not make a loss. You can also factor in your experience and craftsmanship and, of course, look at what your competitors charge.

Limit your risks

Being self-employed also means that you are responsible for the risks. Therefore, you should first of all lay down the terms and conditions so that the rights and obligations of you and your client are clear. Furthermore, you can further limit risks by taking out insurance. Think about disability insurance, liability insurance, legal assistance and a pension.

Choosing a legal form

As a self-employed person, you also need to choose a legal form. Most people choose a sole proprietorship. Sometimes, you could also opt for a BV. This not only has tax consequences, but also liability implications. So always find out in advance which form best suits your activities.

Registering with the Chamber of Commerce

When you want to become self-employed, you also have to register with the KVK. For this, you need to make an appointment and think of a company name. First fill in a digital form, then come to a KVK office for an appointment. Here they will check whether you meet the conditions and verify your details. Once this is completed, you will be given a KVK number and your details will also be passed on to the tax authorities. This will cost you a one-off fee of €51.95. It is important to think carefully about this registration, especially about the company description. With this, you indicate what activities you actually perform as a self-employed person. The KVK employee will also give you an appropriate SBI code on this basis. This is used by the government, among others. When you start doing other activities, you have to report this to the KVK. You can then change the SBI code or add an extra code. You can easily do several activities within one company.

Setting up administration

This is a very important step, and often the least favourite. But keeping accounts and records is very important. And what's more, it is required by law. For example, your invoices and quotations must also meet various requirements. Also, your records give insight into how your business is doing. You can, of course, do the administration yourself, but you can also outsource it to a company. If you do it yourself, we recommend using handy accounting programmes.