You are thinking about retiring
- 17 July 2026
- Edited 27 July 2026
- 3 min
- Ending and deregistration
- Hajar Scholten
When you are an entrepreneur, you decide for yourself when to retire. You do not have a fixed retirement age, as employees do. You assess whether you can afford to retire and what this means for your business. When is the right time to retire? Or might you prefer to carry on in a way that suits you better? This article will help you make the right choice.
Do any of these situations sound familiar?
- You are considering giving up business because of your age.
- You are wondering what closing down your business means for you.
- You want to know what options you have when it comes to retirement.
- You are thinking about continuing to run your business after reaching retirement age.
Yes, I relate to this.
> No, I do not relate to this.
Are you thinking of stopping because your income is too low?
And are you aged 55 or over, but not yet of state pension age? If so, you may be eligible for an IOAZ . IOAZ stands for Older and Partially Disabled (Formerly Self-Employed) Persons Income Support Act (Wet inkomensvoorziening oudere en gedeeltelijk arbeidsongeschikte gewezen zelfstandigen). You must apply for the benefit through your municipality before you stop running your business. First check whether you meet the eligibility criteria (in Dutch).
What options do you have?
Find out what you can do
1. Retiring early
As an entrepreneur, you will receive the basic state (AOW) from the government, but you are responsible for arranging your own extra pension income. Have you built up a financial buffer? If so, can you retire before reaching the state pension ? Do not deregister your business with KVK until you have finalised everything properly. Make sure you find out all about the consequences of early retirement for your taxes and state pension contributions.
> Checklist for ending your business: arrange this first
> Retiring: what do I need to do? (Government of the
2. Continuing to work until state pension age
Are you not yet ready or able to stop working? You can prepare for your retirement by reviewing your financial affairs now. Think about how much income you will need in future and what income you will receive from your business, your pension savings, or other sources. Check whether you have enough savings to cover unexpected costs. Then draw up a plan: how much do you want to save, what insurance cover do you need, and when do you want to stop working? This way, you will know where you stand and, as an entrepreneur, you can look forward to your retirement with peace of mind.
Have you built up a fiscal retirement reserve (FOR)?
A fiscal retirement reserve (FOR) was a Dutch tax arrangement that allowed entrepreneurs to set aside part of their profits for retirement. If you have built up a FOR, this will be released when you stop running your business. Find out what your options are with your FOR when you stop.
3. Stopping work gradually
If you have the financial means to do so, you can choose to scale back your work step by step. This means taking on fewer assignments, reducing your range of services, or discontinuing certain services. This allows you to get used to having more free time and to decide at your own pace when you want to stop working for good. Phasing out your work provides clarity: you can wrap up ongoing commitments properly and ensure your clients are prepared for you to stop.
4. Selling your business
Transferring your business to a successor is also an option, provided your business has value. This way, your business continues to operate, while you can retire. Selling is a viable option if your business has a good reputation, a loyal customer base, or valuable contracts. You can also choose to stay on for a while to ensure a smooth handover.
> Determine the value of your business
> Selling your business in 6 steps
5. Continuing to work after retirement
Once you reach state pension age, you can continue to work as an entrepreneur. You decide for yourself how much you work and which assignments you take on. Many entrepreneurs carry on because they enjoy their work or like to continue helping clients. You can scale down your business, work fewer hours, or only take on projects that suit your energy levels.
> Running a business after retirement
How do you make a decision?
Look at what suits you best: carry on, adapt, or stop.
- What do you consider most important at this stage?
- Can you afford to retire now?
- How do you see your life after retirement?
- Discuss your concerns with someone you trust.
Sparren over jouw persoonlijke situatie?
Want to discuss your personal situation?
Every situation is different. That is why our advisers are happy to help you work through your options.
- Our advice is always free of charge.
- We’re available every working day from 08.30 to 17.00.
- Our advisers have practical experience and give personalised advice.
Frequently asked questions about stopping
It is not possible to put your business on hold. Sometimes you may have to stop your business temporarily. For example, for a study, a (temporary) job, or to travel. Read what you need to arrange depending on your situation.
No, deregistering from KVK is free of charge.
Read about everything you need to arrange in the Ending your business checklist.
