What happens if you get sick?

Financially, can you go without assignments for a while? Or worse, how will you fare if you get sick? You will then have no income, because you are not eligible for WW benefits. Budget coach Jaco Brouwer of Mijnbudgetcoach.nl explains how to minimize the risk of major financial problems.

Savings

''It's nice to build up a buffer for yourself. You might find yourself out of work or your laptop might suddenly break down. By saving money, these kinds of setbacks don't have to cause you major problems. It is also wise to separate business and personal expenses. As a ZP'er you can for example set aside a fixed percentage of your monthly income.

AOV

''As an Independent Professional you are not automatically insured for disability. You have to arrange this yourself. You can choose to take out disability insurance. Keep in mind that any health problems you have at the time you take out the insurance are not covered.''

BBZ scheme

''The Besluit Bijstandsverlening Zelfstandigen (BBZ), keeps ZP'ers out of welfare. When you can no longer borrow money from the bank, you can get a temporary benefit from the municipality until you can provide for your own needs again. You can qualify for a BBZ benefit when you are in (temporary) financial difficulty.''

Brood fund

''An alternative to disability insurance is the Broodfonds. This is a group of 20 to 50 entrepreneurs who know each other personally. Each month, a relatively small amount is deposited by each entrepreneur, creating a sort of piggy bank. When one of the entrepreneurs falls ill, he or she receives up to another year of financial support from the accumulated reserve.''