Starting in a liberal profession

Starting in a liberal profession: everything you need to know

Are you considering shaking up your career path and starting in a liberal profession? With the right preparation and knowledge, you can get off to a successful start, and it will be a piece of cake. On this page, you will find all the essential information on what it means to work in an intellectual profession: the steps to follow as well as the advantages and disadvantages.

What is the liberal profession status?

Liberal professions exclusively consist of intellectual services and concepts for the general public. All industrial professions are effectively excluded, but the same goes for commercial functions.

Liberal professions encompass four major fields of work: health, law, finance, and engineering.

How do I get started in a liberal profession?

To start in a liberal profession in Belgium, you must follow these five steps:

1.

Registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE)

Register your enterprise with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE). You will then be assigned a company number that identifies you to official governing bodies.

2.

Activation of your VAT number

For most liberal professions, it is necessary to activate a VAT number with the tax authorities. You use this number for filing your VAT declarations and for invoicing your customers.

3.

Licences and approvals

For some liberal professions, you will need specific licences or approvals before you can start working. These must be requested from the competent authorities.

4.

Affiliating to a social insurance fund

As a practitioner of a liberal profession, you are required to affiliate to a social insurance fund. This ensures that you pay social security contributions, with which you then accrue rights, such as the right to a pension and to health insurance.

5.

Taking out the appropriate insurance

It is important to properly insure yourself and your enterprise. Consider professional liability insurance, legal expenses insurance and disability insurance.

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Ready to start working as a liberal professional? Stop by one of our enterprise counters or go through all the necessary steps online.

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Below is a non-exhaustive list of professions that are eligible to practice as liberal professions: 

 

accountant dietician notary
lawyer doctor optician
pharmacist occupational therapist ortopaedist
architect tax advisor podiatrist
audiologist psychologist physiotherapist 
dentist auditor  journalist 
estate agent  surveyor midwife
detective nurse Implants supplier
bailiff translator veterinary
surgeon speech therapist independant teacher

Practising a liberal profession as a natural person or company: which status do I choose? 

You can practise liberal professions as a natural person or in the capacity of a company. Each status comes with advantages and disadvantages. 

  • The status of sole proprietorship, or natural person, is the most common because of its simplicity: limited administrative formalities, no need for statutes or minimum capital, simplified bookkeeping, low formation and operating costs. 
  • This allows you to set up your business quickly and without much hassle, be assisted by a cooperating partner, and even be able to pay employees. 
  • However, this status comes with some inconveniences: you take on a personal responsibility and, in case of problems, this can cost you your savings. On top of that, taxation may prove less advantageous than for companies. 
  • Even if yours is not a commercial activity, practising a liberal profession is perfectly possible in the context of commercial companies. There are more formalities and costs to start up, but this legal form protects you personally and allows you to enjoy a more favourable tax regime. On top of that, it also facilitates any collaborations or transfer of shares. 

In other words, you have a choice between an unlimited liability cooperative (which, as the name suggests, entails your personal liability) and a limited liability company (BVBA). 

Would you like personal advice on the legal status or form best suited to your situation? We are here for you. Contact us. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a liberal profession?

Advantages of a liberal profession

  • Independence: you have the freedom to organise your own work and make decisions without being accountable to an employer.
  • Personal satisfaction: many liberal professionals experience a high degree of personal satisfaction from the immediate impact they have on the lives of others.
  • Specialisation: you have the opportunity to specialise in a specific field and to establish yourself as an expert. 

Disadvantages of a liberal profession

  • Financial uncertainty: as with other activities performed on a self-employed basis, there is no guaranteed income, and you must provide your own financial buffer.
  • High levels of responsibility: the responsibility for the quality and ethics of your work rests entirely on your shoulders, which can be stressful.
  • Complex regulations: intellectual professions are often subject to strict legal and ethical rules, which can lead to a high administrative burden. 

Joint Committee for liberal professions

If you work in a liberal profession, you fall under a specific Joint Committee, namely the Joint Committee for Liberal Professions. This Committee is responsible for setting terms of employment and for representing the interests of employees and employers in the liberal professions’ sector.

What is the difference between a liberal profession and other self-employed professions?

The main difference between an intellectual profession and other self-employed professions is the nature of the activity and the degree of regulation. Liberal professions are based on intellectual performances and are governed by specific ethical codes and regulations, while other self-employed professions are often more commercially oriented.

Starting in a liberal profession tips

Practical tips for a successful start in a liberal profession

  • Invest in good training:
    make sure you have the right qualifications required for the liberal profession you want to pursue.
  • Networking:
    build a network of fellow professionals and potential clients to help grow your practice.
  • Regular refresher training:
    liberal professions often require regular continuing education to stay up to date with the latest developments in your field.

Support when starting in a liberal profession

Starting up in a liberal profession? As an accredited enterprise counter and social insurance fund in Belgium, we offer this A-to-Z solution, where our experts are always just one click away from providing you the help you need. 

Make an appointment or start working in your liberal profession with just a few clicks.