Join a Social Insurance Fund for your social contributions

Whether you’re just starting out or you are a seasoned entrepreneur, managing your self-employment demands careful planning and effort. An important step in this is joining a social insurance fund.

So, why should you join a social insurance fund? What are the benefits, what social security rights will you accrue, and how much does joining a social insurance fund actually cost?

This page provides all the information you need about paying social security contributions, the social security system for self-employed persons, and the importance of obtaining the right support as you grow your business. You will also discover exactly what a social insurance fund does, how to pay your quarterly contributions, and how to switch to another social insurance fund if you wish. 

Why join a social insurance fund?

All self-employed persons are legally obliged to join a social insurance fund. Fortunately, this obligation also brings many benefits with it. It assures you of minimum social protection, so you won't be faced with any surprises should you ever find yourself struggling to keep your head above water. Thus, the contributions you pay ensure that you can enjoy a statutory pension later on and receive benefits in case of disability.
In addition, the right fund can guide you through each phase of your self-employment, and provide you with tailored advice on the payment of your social security contributions. Therefore, it is not just a formality, but an important strategic choice. 

Make your life easier

You can join Partena Professional's social insurance fund online quickly and easily. Thanks to our convenient application tool, the step-by-step process takes just two minutes to complete, after which we will take care of all the formalities on your behalf.

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How much does a social insurance fund cost?

The fee for the management of your social insurance fund is included in your quarterly social security contributions. In addition to this, you will need to pay a one-time membership fee when upon joining the fund. The amount of your quarterly contributions after that depends on your net taxable income.
Are you a self-employed person and is your income still difficult to assess in the early stages of your business? In this case, you will pay a provisional contribution based on a standardised (notional) income, which will be adjusted later on when your actual income has been determined. That way, you will never pay too much. If you need more details on the costs, we recommend contacting us.  

What are social security contributions? 

Social security contributions give you and your family the right to basic social protection. This is what that protection looks like: 

  • The right to child benefit     
  • Parental allowance and birth allowance 
  • Sickness and invalidity insurance  
  • The right to a statutory pension  
  • Bankruptcy insurance

When you’re self-employed, you need to join a social insurance fund. This fund will collect the social contributions you make to the state and will help you manage your social file and meet all your legal obligations. 

How is the amount of my social security contribution calculated?

Social security contributions are usually calculated based on net taxable professional income. In general, the higher your income, the higher your contributions. Your contributions are collected on a quarterly basis by your social insurance fund.
If you are a start-up, an income assessment will be made to prevent you from being immediately faced with towering contribution amounts. Once your actual income is established, your contribution will be subject to regularisation. It’s also good to know that if your income were to drop, you can ask for your provisional contributions to be adjusted.
Your social insurance fund will be happy to help you with questions such as: "How do I calculate my social contributions?" and ensures clear and transparent communication.

What is the difference between a social insurance fund and a payroll office?

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a social insurance fund and a payroll office have different functions. A social insurance fund manages the social security contributions of its self-employed members (whether operating as a sole trader or a company) and ensures that their social security-related statutory obligations are met.

A payroll office, such as Partena Professional's payroll office, focuses more on your company' s payroll and personnel administration (or your own remuneration if you are the director of your company). It offers assistance in calculating and paying wages, drafting employment contracts, and ensuring compliance with social security and tax legislation for your staff.

Both are useful partners, and each have their own  focus areas. The good news? At Partena Professional, you will find them under one and the same roof. Opting for a single organisation as both your social insurance fund and your payroll office means benefitting from streamlined administration, short lines of communication and a central point of contact. This is one of the ways in which Partena Professional makes it a lot easier for you to run your business under the best possible conditions. In short: choose Partena Professional and we will take care of everything! 

Switching to another social insurance fund

Not satisfied with your current fund, or want to switch for some other reason? Switching from one social insurance fund to another is possible, although you have to take into account specific rules and deadlines. By opting for Partena Professional, where you will find both a social insurance fund and a payroll office operating under a single roof, all your social insurance records will be retained by one and the same organisation. This means less paperwork, a single, clear point of contact and streamlined, personalised service. With the right social security partner, you can be assured of greater efficiency, convenience and peace of mind. In short, switching to another fund is not only possible, but can improve your entire entrepreneurial experience.

Why choose Partena Professional?

Our mission is to help you successfully start up your business. Partena Professional offers support at all levels: from advice on social security contributions to optimising your income. This means that you can concentrate on your business, while we take care of the rest. 
So, become a client of Partena Professional – just like 140,000 other self-employed people – and enjoy a comprehensive package that offers much more than just a social insurance fund.

Payroll consultant Partena professional

Personal coaching

  • Proactive advice from the onset, in cooperation with your accountant
  • Dreams Lab: coaching, workshops and mentoring for start-ups
  • We will hep you identify all your opportunities and support your business growth
Payroll software

Solutions for financing and refinancing

  • Microcredit and other financial solutions
  • Support in investing in your business

Optimal protection for you and your business

  • Targeted insurance solutions, such as guaranteed income and supplementary pension
  • Always secure and confident, with an eye on your financial stability and future
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Exclusive tools and services

  • Access to My Social Security Manager: the best tool on the market for managing your social security records online 24/7
  • Online access to legal documents and personalised advice
  • Assistance to help you take advantage of grants and other forms of support

Thanks to Partena Professional, you will have an all-in-one partner offering a comprehensive range of support services, allowing you to fully concentrate on growing your successful business.

If you are considering a switch, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our experts will be happy to guide you through the process to ensure a smooth switch to our social insurance fund.

Ready to switch?

Thanks to our online  procedure, this will take no more than two minutes!

Still have questions or need personal advice? Make an appointment or visit one of our offices. Our experts will be happy to help you and ensure that you, as a self-employed person, can focus on what truly matters: running a successful business.

Switch now

By allowing Partena Professional's social insurance fund to guide you, you can look towards the future with peace of mind. Thanks to our many years of expertise and commitment, we can support your business at every stage of its existence. Learn how we can help you build a solid social security plan and maximise your social security.