Prepare
A company takeover, a transfer of ownership, or a restart: these are situations that require a change in your registration in the Business Register. But different types of changes require filling out different forms and other actions. So before you make an appointment at one of the KVK offices to register the change, be sure to check the steps you need to take. Read the 7 most common situations at the bottom of the page. To make sure you bring the right documents to your KVK appointment, contact us.Steps to take
- Contact us to make sure you fill out and bring the correct paperwork.
- Plan your appointment by clicking the Make an appointment button (only available in Dutch).
- Complete your registration at a KVK office.
Your appointment
- You can plan an appointment at the KVK office of your choice.
- Plan generously: waiting times at KVK can stretch during peak hours.
- Your appointment will take a maximum of 50 minutes.
- You need to pay a one-off registration fee. You cannot pay cash. The payment options are: electronic payment (PIN), mobile, or credit card.
The 7 most common situations
How do I change my sole proprietorship into a vof?
You can change a sole proprietorship into a vof as follows:
o Complete Form 14 (Changing business and branch details) to change the undertaking into a vof (point 9.1).
o Complete Form 2 (Registering a vof).
o Complete Form 10 (Registering a partner).
o Complete Form 32 (Registering UBOs, in Dutch). The form indicates the documents that should be enclosed.
Make an appointment for the identification requirement at a KVK office.Exemption from identification requirement
Are you a partner who was formerly the owner of a sole proprietorship and you have verified your identity with KVK since 1 March 2002? Or are you part of the vof as a partnership or legal entity, such as a vof, cv, bv or nv? Then you do not have to appear in person. However, an authorised person from the partnership or legal entity must sign the submission. In this case, provide the relevant form to the other partner(s), along with a copy of your ID document.
Additional proof
If a partnership agreement has been drawn up, bring this to the appointment. We will enter the agreements on the partners’ powers of attorney in the Business Register.
Start date
We will apply the change on the start date. Once the change(s) is/are applied, you can apply directly for a certified KVK Extract from the Business Register of the Chamber of Commerce®.
Changes
A change in legal form will also change the KVK number and VAT ID. When updating the Business Register, we will also inform the Tax and Customs Administration.
Registration fee
Registration of an enterprise with a new KVK number is subject to a one-time registration fee (payment only possible by debit/credit card). If you do not have to appear in person, you will receive an invoice by post.
Current agreements
Check which agreements are concluded in the name of the sole proprietorship. This may include lease and maintenance agreements, insurance policies, etc. Draw up new agreements in the name of the vof.
Further information
For further information on changing a company, please visit business.gov.nl.To transfer your company from a sole proprietorship to a professional/public partnership (maatschap), take the following steps:
- Fill out form 14 (transfer of company and location details) to transfer the company to the maatschap (9.1).
- Fill out form 2a (registration of a public partnership).
- Fill out form 10a (registration of partner).
- Fill out form 32 (registration of UBOs, in Dutch). The form tells you which documents to bring to your appointment.
Make an appointment to verify your identity at a KVK office.
Exemption from duty to verify ID
Are you, one of the former partners, taking over the business? And have you had your identity verified at KVK personally on or after 1 March 2002? Or are you entering into the maatschap as a legal entity, for instance a vof, limited partnership (cv), private or public limited company (bv or nv)? You do not have to come by in person. The statement does have to be signed by a person who is authorised to sign on behalf of the partnership or legal structure in question. The form, and a copy of your valid ID, is then one of the documents required at the registration appointment at KVK.Additional documentation
If a partnership contract is in place, bring it to the appointment. We will register the partner authorisation arrangements in the Business Register.Date of entry
The transfer will be processed and visible in the Business Register from the date of entry. Directly after the transfer has been processed, you can order a certified KVK Business Register extract.Changes
Changing from a sole proprietorship to a maatschap also means a new KVK number and btw-id (VAT identification number). KVK takes care of these changes, in the Business Register and at the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst).Registration fee
Registration of a company under a new KVK number comes with a one-time fee. You can pay this fee using your debit or credit card, but not in cash. If your transfer does not require a physical appointment, you will receive the invoice by post.Existing contracts
All contracts made out in the name of the sole proprietorship have to be redrafted and made out in the name of the professional partnership. Think of rental agreements, service contracts, domain names or insurances.More information
Find more information on changing your legal structure on Business.gov.nl.Registration of a private or public limited company (bv or nv) is usually done by a notary. Do you want to register the transfer from sole proprietorship to a bv or nv yourself? Take the following steps:
- Fill out form 14 (transfer of company and location details) to transfer the company to a bv or nv under incorporation.
- Fill out form 3 (registration of a private/public limited company).
- Fill out form 11 (registration of an official for a legal entity).
- Fill out form 30 (registration UBOs, in Dutch). The form lists the documents you need to bring.
- Bring a certified copy of the notarial deeds of association.
The official is a legal entity or collaborative
Is the registered official a legal entity or collaborative? The duty to identify is not bound to a person. You send the documents to the KVK postal address. The form states who is authorised to sign the forms, and which supporting documents you need to enclose.Date of entry
The transfer will be processed and visible in the Business Register from the date of incorporation. Directly after the transfer has been processed, you can order a certified KVK Business Register extract.Changes
Changing from a sole proprietorship to a bv or nv also means a new KVK number and btw-id (VAT identification number). KVK takes care of these changes, in the Business Register and at the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst).Registration fee
Registration of a company under a new KVK number comes with a one-time fee. You can pay this fee using your debit or credit card, but not in cash. If your transfer does not require a physical appointment, you will receive the invoice by post.Existing contracts
All contracts made out in the name of the sole proprietorship have to be redrafted and made out in the name of the private or public limited partnership. Think of rental agreements, service contracts, domain names or insurances.More information
Find more information on changing your legal structure on Business.gov.nl.Registration of a private or public limited company (bv or nv) is usually done by a notary. Do you want to register the transfer from sole proprietorship to a bv or nv under incorporation yourself? Take the following steps:
- Fill out form 14 (transfer of company and location details) to transfer the company to a bv or nv under incorporation.
- Fill out form 7 (registration of a bv or nv under incorporation).
- Fill out form 12 (registration of other officials).
The official is a legal entity or collaborative
Is the registered official a legal entity or collaborative? The duty to identify is not bound to a person. You send the documents to the KVK postal address. The form states who is authorised to sign the forms, and which supporting documents you need to enclose.Other supporting documents
Bring a signed statement from the notary to the effect that the incorporation of the bv or nv is underway. Or have the notary fill in and sign the part ‘notary statement’ on form 7.Date of entry
The transfer will be processed and visible in the Business Register from the date of incorporation. Directly after the transfer has been processed, you can order a certified KVK Business Register extract.Changes
Changing from a sole proprietorship to a bv or nv under incorporation also means a new KVK number and btw-id (VAT identification number). KVK takes care of these changes, in the Business Register and at the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst).Registration fee
Registration of a company under a new KVK number comes with a one-time fee. You can pay this fee using your debit or credit card, but not in cash. If your transfer does not require a physical appointment, you will receive the invoice by post.Existing contracts
All contracts made out in the name of the sole proprietorship have to be redrafted and made out in the name of the private or public limited partnership under incorporation. Think of rental agreements, service contracts, domain names or insurances.More information
Find more information on changing your legal structure on Business.gov.nl.To change the legal structure of your company from commercial / general partnership (vof) to sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak), take the following steps:
- Fill out form form 17a: registration of dissolution of the commercial partnership. All the partners sign for consent at 5.1. At 6.2, mention the transfer of the company to a sole proprietorship.
- Fill out form 1: registration of the sole proprietorship.
Exemption from duty to verify ID
Are you, one of the former partners, taking over the business? And have you had your identity verified at KVK personally on or after 1 March 2002? You do not have to verify your ID in person. You can send the signed forms plus attachments to the KVK postal address.Date of entry
We process the transfer from the date of entry. After the changes have been processed, you can request a new certified KVK Business Register extract.Changes
The change in legal structure brings with it a change in KVK number and VAT-id (btw-id). KVK takes care of these changes, both in the Business Register and with the Tax Administration.Registration fee
Registration of a new legal structure for a company comes at a one-time fee (payment only possible via electronic/credit card or mobile). Is a personal appointment not required? You will receive the invoice per post.Existing contracts
All contracts made out in the name of the commercial partnership have to be redrafted and made out in the name of the sole proprietorship. Think of rental agreements, service contracts, domain names or insurances.More information
Find more information on changing your legal structure on Business.gov.nl.To change the legal structure of your company from professional / public partnership (maatschap) to sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak), take the following steps:
- Fill out form form 17a: registration of dissolution of the public partnership. All the partners sign for consent at 5.1. At 6.2, mention the transfer of the company to a sole proprietorship.
- Fill out form 1: registration of the sole proprietorship.
The new owner makes an appointment online using their DigiD to log in securely. Registration can happen at any KVK office in the Netherlands.
Exemption from duty to verify ID
Are you, one of the former partners, taking over the business? And have you had your identity verified at KVK personally on or after 1 March 2002? You do not have to verify your ID in person. You can send the signed forms plus attachments to the KVK postal address.Date of entry
We process the transfer from the date of entry. After the changes have been processed, you can request a new certified KVK Business Register extract.Changes
Due to the change in legal form will also change the KVK number and VAT ID. When updating the Business Register, we will also inform the Tax and Customs Administration. Do you have staff? If so, the paypal tax number will also change. Read more on the website of the Tax and Customs Administration (in Dutch). <</p>
Registration fee
Registration of a new legal structure for a company comes at a one-time fee (payment only possible via electronic / credit card or mobile). Is a personal appointment not required? You will receive the invoice per post.Existing contracts
All contracts made out in the name of the professional partnership have to be redrafted and made out in the name of the sole proprietorship. Think of rental agreements, service contracts, domain names or insurances.Does the new owner already have a sole proprietorship?
If you already have a sole proprietorship, you cannot register a second sole proprietorship.
- Is the company you are taking over located at a different address from your current registration? If so, choose to register a company branch. Instead of Form 1 (Register a sole proprietorship) you should use Form 9 (Register a company branch). You do not need to make an appointment. Send forms 17 and 9 in one envelope by post. Together with copies of the ID of the signatories of both forms. Do not forget to include a copy of the rental, purchase or lease contract signed by both parties.
- Is the address the same as the address of your sole proprietorship? If so, do not register a company branch. In this case, please report changes online for your current sole proprietorship. For example, new activities or an additional business name.
More information
Find more information on changing your legal structure on Business.gov.nl.There are several ways to register the transfer of your company:
- Make an appointment at a KVK office, together with the new owner. Both of you need to bring valid ID. Prepare the following forms:
- Fill out form 14 (change in company details), questions 1, 2, 9, and 10. The new owner makes an appointment at a KVK office, and brings this form, together with valid ID and a copy of your, the previous owner's, valid ID. The new owner then fills out form 1 (registration of a sole proprietorship), to declare that they are continuing the company as a sole proprietorship.
Supporting documents
The new owner will be asked for additional supporting documents, such as a lease contract for office space, or a franchise contract.Date of entry
KVK processes the transfer from the date of entry. Directly after the transfer has been processed, you can order a certified KVK Business Register extract.
Changes
Changing the ownership of a sole proprietorship also means a new KVK number and btw-id (VAT identification number). KVK takes care of these changes, in the Business Register and at the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst).Registration fee
Registration of a company under a new KVK number comes with a one-time fee. You can pay this fee using your debit or credit card, but not in cash. If your transfer does not require a physical appointment, you will receive the invoice by post.Existing contracts
All contracts made out in the name of the sole proprietorship have to be redrafted and made out in the name of the new owner. Think of rental agreements, service contracts, domain names or insurances.More information
Find more information on company transfers on Business.gov.nl.When you are in the process of taking over or transferring a business, you need expert advice. Is your situation not among the ones listed here? Then contact us.
Last updated on 10 September 2021
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