Taking over or transferring an eenmanszaak to a new owner

Please note: do not deregister your eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) separately. If you do this, your existing contracts may be terminated. Think, for example, of your business bank account and insurance policies. Also, the history from the Business Register will not be included in the new CV. This could affect, for example, applying for loans from the bank or subsidies from the government.

What forms do I need for the change?

Each form says who can sign it and what proof you need to provide.

• Form 14: 'change of business and establishment details'. The previous owner completes questions 1, 2, 9, and 10

• Form 1: ‘eenmanszaak registration form’. The new owner states that they intend to continue running the existing business as an eenmanszaak

Sometimes you need to arrange additional things for your situation. For example, for your staff or your permits. We have listed everything you need to think about below.

What should I do if I am the new owner but already have an eenmanszaak?

You are only allowed to have one eenmanszaak, so you cannot register a second one. You can choose 1 of the following 2 situations: 

Situation 1. Is the sole proprietorship you are taking over registered at a different address than your own sole proprietorship?

Then choose to register a secondary establisment. Download the forms below, fill them in and send them by post to a KVK office. You do not need to make an appointment to visit. The form states who is authorised to sign it and what supporting documents you need to enclose.  

• Form 9: Registering a business
• Form 14: Change of company and establishment details

Please also enclose a copy of the following documents:

• A copy of a valid proof of identity for each of the signatories of the forms
• A copy of the rental, purchase or lease agreement signed by both parties.

Situation 2. Is the sole proprietorship you are taking over registered at the same address as your own sole proprietorship?

Then you cannot register a branch office. However, you can add an additional trade name or activities to your sole proprietorship. Please notify us of the changes online.

How do I make an appointment at a KVK office?

• You can make an appointment at any KVK office.
• Bring a valid proof of identity and the necessary forms and supporting documents. After making your appointment, you will receive an email with an overview of what you need to bring.
• The former owner does not need to come to the appointment with KVK. But you must bring a copy of a valid ID for the former owner.
• You pay a registration fee to register a new company or organisation.
• You can immediately request a certified KVK Business Register Extract. You can use this as proof of registration.
• Log in using DigiD to schedule an appointment (in Dutch). 

What else do I need to consider?

Liability

With an eenmanszaak, you are fully liable for everything the business does. Legally there is no difference between your personal and your business affairs.

Visiting address and business activity

When you acquire a business, the visiting address and at least 1 business activity must stay the same. 

Start date

Is the registration date of the takeover in the future? If so, you can already notify us of this. You will only see the changes from the registration date in My KVK.

Secondary establishment(s)

Is there a secondary establishment, such as another office or shop? These must then be re-registered with the eenmanszaak. Use Form 9: Registering a business establishment. Bring this form to the appointment. Or send it together with the other forms and documents to KVK by post.

Authorised representatives

Is there an authorised representative? They must be registered (again) with the eenmanszaak.

• Is the authorised representative a person? Then they must come to the appointment with a valid proof of identity to the appointment.  
• Is the authorised person an organisation? Use Form 13: Registering an authorised person or authorised commercial agent. Send it, together with the completed forms and proof, by post to KVK. Or bring the completed form with you to your appointment. 

KVK number and VAT number

After the change of ownerhip, you will receive a new KVK number and VAT ID number. We will report this change to the Netherlands Tax Administration. You do not need to do anything for this.

Changing contracts

Check whether you need to amend any existing contracts for your eenmanszaak after the takeover. These could include rental and maintenance contracts, a business bank account, and insurance policies.

Check permits

Permits are often no longer valid if the owner of the business changes. You may need to reapply for permits. This can sometimes take weeks and often costs money. Discuss any questions you may have about this with the municipality or the KVK Advice Team.

More information 

You will find more information on transferring a company in the articles Final tax return when closing down, selling, or inheriting a business  and the Step-by-step plan for changing your business structure on Business.gov.nl.

I have a question about DigiD

Take a look at the frequently asked questions about DigiD.