Personalised support for the formation of your Cooperative Company in Belgium.
A legal structure based on cooperation and shared values.
The Cooperative Company (SC) is a legal form that allows people to voluntarily associate to meet their common economic, social or cultural needs. It is founded on values of mutual support, responsibility, democracy and equity.
Since the reform of the Companies and Associations Code (CAC) in 2019, the SC has been redefined to focus on its cooperative essence. It is particularly suited to collective projects, the social economy and citizen initiatives.
The SC can obtain recognition as a 'social enterprise' or as an 'approved cooperative' by the National Cooperative Council, which gives it certain tax advantages and official recognition of its cooperative values.
A SC must be made up of at least three people, natural or legal persons.
Principle of one member = one vote or limitation of voting power.
Flexibility for the entry and exit of cooperators.
Possibility of obtaining recognition as a social enterprise.
Discover the many advantages that the SC structure offers for your collective project.
The SC enables democratic decision-making where each cooperator can actively participate in the governance of the company, regardless of their financial contribution.
The SC facilitates the entry and exit of cooperators, with variable capital that adapts to the evolution of the cooperative and its members.
Cooperators are only liable up to the amount of their contribution, thus protecting their personal assets from risks related to the activity.
SCs approved by the National Cooperative Council benefit from specific tax advantages, such as exemption on distributed dividends up to a certain amount.
The SC conveys values of mutual support, solidarity and social responsibility, which strengthens its image with the public and partners.
SCs, particularly those with a social purpose, can access specific grants and funding intended for the social and solidarity economy.
Our service supports you at every step of the formation of your SC.
We analyse your cooperative project and advise you on the most suitable structure.
Development of the social purpose, values and governance rules of your cooperative.
Development of the mandatory financial plan demonstrating the viability of your project.
Our legal experts draft tailor-made articles of association in line with cooperative principles and the CAC.
Signing of the deed of incorporation before a notary and deposit of funds into a blocked account.
Registration with the CBE, obtaining a company number and applying for approval if desired.
Here are the documents you will need to provide for the formation of your Cooperative Company.
Of all founders (minimum 3 people).
Addresses, phone numbers and emails of the founders.
For directors (model 596.1).
Bank certificate of deposit of funds into a blocked account.
Document detailing the financial resources and viability of the project.
Including the social purpose, cooperative values, governance rules, etc.
Document detailing the internal operating rules of the cooperative.
Detailed description of the project, its social purpose and values.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about forming a Cooperative Company.
The SC is specifically designed for cooperative projects with at least 3 founders and democratic governance, while the SRL is better suited to traditional companies and can be formed by a single person.
Approval as a social enterprise allows an SC to officially define itself as having a social or societal purpose rather than profit maximisation. This gives access to certain advantages and recognition.
There is no legal minimum capital to form an SC, but the capital must be 'sufficient' for the intended activity, which must be demonstrated in the financial plan.
The SC operates on the democratic principle, generally with the rule 'one member = one vote' or with a limitation of voting power, regardless of the capital held.
Yes, an SC can distribute dividends to its cooperators. For approved SCs, dividends are limited to a certain percentage and benefit from tax advantages.
Approval from the National Cooperative Council (NCC) offers tax advantages, such as exemption from withholding tax on dividends up to a certain amount, and official recognition of cooperative values.
Our team of experts supports you through every step of the formation of your Cooperative Company in Belgium.