The importance of SBI codes for your company
- KVK Editors
- The basis
- Edited 18 September 2025
- 2 min
- Starting
- Rules and laws
Your SBI code is linked to the business activity you register in the Business Register. It is important that you have the correct SBI code, because many organisations use this code to make decisions for your business. The government and insurers do so, for example. Is your SBI code incorrect? Then you could lose money or get into trouble with a claim for damages. Read how this works and what else the code affects.
What do you need to arrange when starting a business?
Answer the questions on Business.gov.nl and see the steps that are important in your situation.
When registering with the KVK, you indicate what you will be doing with your business: this is your business activity. If anything changes in your business activities after registration, you must notify us yourself via My KVK. You may then be assigned a different or additional SBI code.
Is your SBI code correct?
In My KVK, you can check whether the description of your activities and your SBI code(s) are still correct.
How many SBI codes can you have?
When you first register your business, you can register a maximum of 3 SBI codes. Once you have a KVK number, you can add more business activities. There is no limit to this.
What happens if your SBI code is incorrect?
An incorrect SBI code means that your business activity is registered incorrectly. For example, you have a restaurant that is listed in the Business Register with an SBI code for a catering business. This could cause problems. You may not get the licence you need, the bank may refuse your loan, or your insurance may not pay out if a guest slips on a freshly mopped floor.
In the rest of this article, we explain why it is important to have the correct SBI codes.
Insurance
Insurance companies decide how high your premium is based on your SBI code, among other things. But also, whether they will pay out in case of a claim. Because if you cause damage during activities that are not included in the description of your business activities, you are not insured for this.
Money matters
Banks base their decision to give you a loan or bank account partly on your SBI code. This also applies to subsidies. You can only get these if you have the SBI code for the sector for which the subsidy is intended.
The SBI code also plays a role in government support. If there are support measures for companies in a certain sector, the government will look at the SBI code of your company. After you register, you can change your company's activities yourself. If you do so, you may get a new or extra SBI code.
Taxes
The Netherlands Tax Administration uses the SBI code to decide whether your company must charge customers VAT. An incorrect SBI code could mean you are wrongly exempt from paying VAT. If the Tax Administration discover this, you can expect an extra tax assessment. You will then need to pay all the missed VAT in one go. Or maybe you are charging VAT to your customers, when you should not be.
Licences and permits
In many industries, businesses need a licence to operate. Examples are taxi companies, pharmacies, catering establishments, and off-licences. The government looks at your SBI code to decide whether you need a licence.
Also, sometimes you need a certain SBI code to get a permit. For example, a parking permit from the municipality that is only available to social workers.
Location of your business
SBI codes are also important for the location of your business. Whether you start your business from home or elsewhere, check the environment (in Dutch). This plan says which environmental rules apply in a certain location, the environmental category. Each category has a number of SBI codes, so you can see whether your business is allowed in the place of your choice. Do you want to start a restaurant, for example? This may not be allowed in a residential area.
Pension
Some professional groups have a mandatory pension . For example, general practitioners, physiotherapists, plasterers, and painters. If, according to your SBI code, you belong to such a professional group, you and your staff must build up a pension with the sector pension fund. So, check whether you are covered by a mandatory pension scheme when starting your business. If you do not, the pension fund can claim the unpaid premium later on.
Staff
Do you have staff and is there a collective labour agreement (CAO)Â for your sector? If so, the CAO applies to all companies in the sector, and you must follow the agreements it contains.
Accidents
The SBI code is also important for recording accidents. For example, it reveals in which sectors certain accidents are more or less common. You can then take better measures yourself and organisations can adjust policies accordingly.
