You are thinking about taking salaried employment

Do these statements reflect your situation?

• You want a more secure income.
• You find some things about being an entrepreneur difficult.
• You miss having colleagues around you.
• You feel like you are always working and want more free time.
• You notice that clients are more cuatious, due to the DBA Act and the risk of false self-employment.
• Your client has offered you a permanent job.

> Yes, I am in this situation

> No, this is not my situation

What options do you have?

Read here what you can do.

1. Get an overview of your turnover, costs, and profits

Work on increasing your security as an entrepreneur by calculating your financial situation. Use these insights to determine what choices you can make. For example, can you reduce costs or increase your prices? Or do you need to find more customers? Clear solutions may also give you the confidence to continue doing business.
> KVK Verdiencheck (in Dutch)
> Download the KVK Book of Finance

2. Find more projects

If finding clients is your biggest challenge, start exploring new ways to find assignments. Make sure you are not dependent on a single client. Having a variety of assignments also allows you to demonstrate that you are genuinely self-employed and not a ‘bogus self-employed’ worker. Discuss your assignment with your clients and check together to ensure there is no question of false self-employment.
> Help finding clients
> Avoid self-employment

3. Collaborate with other entrepreneurs

You do not have to do business alone. Connect with other entrepreneurs and share knowledge, pass on assignments, or even start new projects together. Look for networking organisations or meetings in your area, or visit a KVK event.
> KVK Events

4. Part-time employment and entrepreneurship

You do not have to stop running your business and go into full-time employment straight away. By taking on part-time salaried employment, you can combine the security of a fixed income with the freedom to run your own business. Just make sure you avoid false self-employment: do not become dependent on one client.
> Self-employed professionals in paid employment

5. Working for a temporary employment agency

Would you like the security of a fixed income, but also some variety? If so, working for a temporary employment agency is an option. You will often work on various projects for shorter periods, which is what you are used to as an entrepreneur. The only difference is that you do not have to find new clients yourself – the agency does that for you. You can work for an agency as a zzp'er or take up a salaried position. The second option is a safer choice if you want to avoid the risk of being classified as a ‘false self-employed’ worker.

6. Becoming an employee (at your client's company)

Does your client offer you a permanent job? Discuss this and see how you can retain a certain amount of freedom and flexibility. If this is not possible, look for vacancies. For example via LinkedIn, job sites, or by sending an open application to organisations that interest you. Are you unsure what type of job would suit you? A regional mobility team can help you. Talk to your municipality or to the Employee Insurance Agency UWV.

How do you choose?

Whether you continue or stop, it is about choosing what is most important to you.

• List the pros and cons: the freedom of being an entrepreneur or the security of a permanent job?
• Compare your costs and income as an entrepreneur with those of a permanent job.
• Talk about it with others. What do they think suits you best?
• Take your time. Also consider an intermediate step, such as combining salaried employment with entrepreneurship.

The pros and cons

We have listed a number of pros and cons for you.