Key takeaways
- Every Belgian company must have a registered office entered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE).
- Domiciling at a private home is legal, but the personal address then becomes public and can be consulted by any third party.
- If you are a tenant, your lease must allow use as a registered office, otherwise professional domiciliation is the safe option.
- A domiciliation service provider must be registered with the FPS Economy (law of 29 March 2018).
- Professional domiciliation provides a separate business address without renting offices.
The registered office is your company's official address: entered in the articles of association, published in the Belgian Official Gazette, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. It is also the address that any third party (client, supplier, administration) can consult at any time. The question of domiciliation or home address for your registered office therefore deserves a precise answer, because the consequences for privacy, business relationships and legal compliance last as long as the company exists.
What the Companies and Associations Code requires of the registered office
The Companies and Associations Code (CAC) requires that any company it governs has its statutory registered office in Belgium. This is the criterion for being subject to Belgian law: the address of the registered office determines which law applies to the company and before which court disputes are brought.
The address of the registered office appears in the deed of incorporation and in the extract published in the Annexes of the Belgian Official Gazette. It is then registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, where it becomes accessible to any third party. The CAC does not require it to be commercial premises: a residential address and the address of a domiciliation service provider are both admissible. However, PO boxes and fictitious addresses are excluded: the address must correspond to a real physical location on Belgian territory.
Using your private home as a registered office
Establishing your company's registered office at your personal address is legal and common, particularly at the start of an activity. This option eliminates the cost of a third-party service provider, but three consequences deserve particular attention.
The address becomes public. It appears in the CBE and in the extract published in the Belgian Official Gazette, accessible to any third party. For an entrepreneur who wants to separate their private life from their professional activity, this is often the first obstacle.
The lease and co-ownership rules. If you are a tenant, your lease must explicitly allow the use of the property as a registered office. Many landlords object for tax reasons: when a tenant entrepreneur operates from a rented property and deducts part of the rent as business expenses, this may lead the landlord to have their rental income reclassified for tax purposes. If you own property in a building subject to co-ownership rules, check that the co-ownership rules do not prohibit professional activities or the display of a sign.
Credibility depending on the sector. A residential address is not an obstacle in most sectors, but some clients or partners (particularly in consulting, liberal professions or business-to-business activities) may prefer an identifiable commercial address.
Professional domiciliation: how it works and its legal framework
Professional domiciliation consists of entrusting a specialised service provider with the task of making their address available as the registered office of your company. The provider receives official correspondence addressed to the registered office, manages it according to the terms of the contract, and may make a meeting room available for general meetings or meetings of the management body.
This activity is regulated by the law of 29 March 2018 on the registration of providers of services to companies. Any provider that supplies a statutory registered office to a company must register with the FPS Economy before carrying out this activity. To be registered, it must in particular:
- have premises allowing confidential meetings for the company's bodies
- legitimately occupy the premises made available to the domiciled company
- conclude a written contract with each domiciled company, covering the conditions for use of the premises necessary for its operation
Carrying out the domiciliation activity without registration is punishable by a fine of €250 to €100,000. The FPS Economy maintains a public register of registered providers, accessible on its website.
Comparison: private home and professional domiciliation
| Private home | Professional domiciliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Business address separate from home | ||
| Privacy of home preserved | ||
| Mail management delegated | ||
| Access to a meeting room | ||
| Verification of lease or co-ownership rules required | ||
| FPS Economy registered provider mandatory | ||
| Address linked to your place of residence |
Professional domiciliation is particularly suitable for tenant entrepreneurs, those who want to protect their home address, or those who want to display an address in a specific city without renting premises there. It is also useful for companies whose founders are established abroad but who want a Belgian presence. The private home remains a valid option for owners who carry out an activity compatible with the residential setting and who have no objection to making their address public.
A professional registered office address, without renting offices
Monsiegesocial provides a domiciliation address with a provider registered with the FPS Economy, with mail management included.
Practical criteria for making your choice
Questions to ask yourself before deciding
Am I a tenant?
If so, check that your lease allows the establishment of a registered office. If in doubt, professional domiciliation eliminates the risk.
Am I a co-owner?
Consult the co-ownership rules: some buildings prohibit professional activities or the display of a sign.
Is the privacy of my home a concern?
If so, professional domiciliation is the only option: it substitutes the provider's address for your personal address in all public registers.
Does my activity require an address in a specific city?
A domiciliation provider in Brussels, Liège or Ghent allows you to display an address in the city of your choice, regardless of your place of residence.
Do I need to delegate the management of official mail?
A provider receives, sorts and forwards mail addressed to the registered office according to the terms of the contract. Useful if you travel frequently.
Further reading
- Company domiciliation in Brussels: the complete guide: legal framework, registered providers and CBE declaration steps.
- Incorporating an SRL in Belgium: the essential steps: to choose your registered office at the same time as you incorporate your company.
- Registration of providers of services to companies: public register, on the FPS Economy website.
