Key takeaways
- An approved company desk is a private body approved by the SPF Économie, the only channel authorised to register an activity at the Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises (BCE).
- The legal framework is set out in Book III of the Code de droit économique, which replaced the law of 16 January 2003 that originally created the system.
- The BCE registration fee is regulated and identical everywhere: only the file fees and related services vary from one desk to another.
- Comparing company desks means separating what belongs to their mandatory legal mission from what belongs to optional commercial services.
Before receiving a company number, every self-employed activity or Belgian company must go through an approved company desk. This mandatory step, often treated as a mere formality, deserves a considered choice: file fees vary from one provider to another, and some desks offer support that goes well beyond the minimum legal registration. This guide details the exact role of these bodies, their legal framework and the criteria for comparing providers before committing.
What is an approved company desk?
An approved company desk is a private body, most often set up as a non-profit association, approved by the SPF Économie to carry out certain administrative formalities on the entrepreneur's behalf. The system was introduced by the law of 16 January 2003 creating a Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises, modernising the trade register and creating approved company desks. That law has since been repealed and its content taken over into Book III of the Code de droit économique, which now governs the approval, operation and supervision of these desks.
The legal missions of a company desk
Two legal missions apply systematically, whether for a self-employed individual or a company:
- Registration at the Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises (BCE), which assigns the company number and, for each place of activity, an establishment unit number.
- Verification of access to the profession, when the intended activity is regulated (certain crafts, construction or retail trades subject to a condition of entrepreneurial skills or professional qualification).
In addition to these two legal missions, the desk can also forward the activation of VAT liability to the SPF Finances when the activity is subject to it, as well as the registration information to the institutions that need it (social insurance fund, tax administration). This saves the entrepreneur from repeating the same step with several administrative bodies.
Legal mission or commercial service: what a "company desk comparison" really compares
This is the most misunderstood point in the market: part of what a company desk does is a regulated fee identical everywhere, and another part is an optional commercial service where providers genuinely differ.
| Part of the legal mission | Part of the commercial service | |
|---|---|---|
| BCE registration (company number) | ||
| BCE registration fee | Regulated, identical everywhere | Not applicable |
| Desk's file fees | ||
| Support choosing the legal form | ||
| Social insurance fund affiliation | Separate approval | Often bundled commercially |
| Payroll secretariat, accounting |
In concrete terms, as an example, Partena Professional's tariff grid applicable from 1 March 2026 lists 111.50 euros, an amount not subject to VAT, for BCE registration, a figure found across providers since it corresponds to the regulated rate. What differs from one desk to another is the file fee charged on top of this legal amount, as well as the range of related services on offer (payroll secretariat, accounting support, management tools).
Who operates company desks in Belgium?
Several approved company desks operate on the market, often backed by large groups providing services to businesses and the self-employed: Acerta, Partena Professional, Securex, Formalis and the UCM company desk are among the active players. The complete, up-to-date list of approved desks, along with their contact details, is published by the SPF Économie.
Many of these bodies also operate, under a separate approval, as a social insurance fund for the self-employed or as a payroll secretariat. The same group can thus offer BCE registration, social affiliation and accounting support, which simplifies the process but should not obscure the fact that these are legally distinct missions and contracts.
The steps to register through a company desk
- 1
Gather the identification documents
Before the appointmentIdentity card, articles of association for a company, and where applicable proof of access to the profession (diploma, certificate of entrepreneurial skills).
- 2
Choose an approved company desk
A few daysCompare the file fees and related services on offer, beyond the regulated BCE registration fee which is identical everywhere.
- 3
Submit the registration file
Same dayIn person, by phone by appointment, or online depending on the desk. The data is verified and then forwarded to the BCE.
- 4
Receive the company number
A few working daysThe desk communicates the company number and, where applicable, activates VAT liability with the SPF Finances.
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Criteria to check before choosing
Before signing with a company desk
Check the desk's approval
Confirm it appears on the list of approved company desks published by the SPF Économie.
Ask for the full tariff grid
Beyond the regulated BCE registration fee, get the detail of the file fees and any related services.
Identify what is mandatory and what is optional
BCE registration and verification of access to the profession are the only legal missions; the rest (payroll secretariat, accounting) can be subscribed elsewhere with no obligation.
Check availability and appointment options
In-person reception, phone or online, depending on your needs and location.
Compare with your notary and your accountant
For a company, coordination between the notary (articles of association), the company desk (BCE registration) and the domiciliation provider avoids delays.
For a self-employed individual starting an activity, the visit to a company desk is often the last step before actually starting out. For a company, it follows the signing of the articles of association at the notary and precedes, where applicable, moving into a domiciled registered office.
Going further
- Registered Office in Belgium: Legal Role and Obligations, to understand exactly what the desk registers at the BCE.
- Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE): how it works and the company number, to go further on the role of the BCE itself.
- The list of approved company desks on the SPF Économie website.
