Starting a business
Ready-Made Companies in the Netherlands, from the Buyer's Side
Buying a BV? We help you check it before you pay, prepare your side of the notarial deed and make the filings after it.
- Shares pass by notarial deed (art. 2:196 BW)
- KVK changes within one week (art. 20 Hrw 2007)
- Buyer side only, no company list
Check before you sign, and before you pay.
Buyer-side assistance and where it stops
For founders who would rather buy an existing BV than form one: another way to start a business in the Netherlands.
Buy or form, compared on the statutes
The clock, the KVK fee, the second deed a new name needs and old losses, side by side. You decide; we recommend neither.
The seller checked in DNB's register
If a professional sells you the company, we help you look them up in the register of trust offices kept by DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank) before you pay.
Due diligence before any payment
We help you pull the public records, ask the seller for books and returns, and take open points to your own lawyer and tax adviser.
Your side of the notarial deed
Identity documents, ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) data and the file the notary of your choice needs. The deed, the identification and the client checks are the notary's.
The first-week filings
After the deed, the KVK and UBO changes due within one week, and the deposit of amended articles when a second deed follows.
A first-year calendar
The statutory duties that come with the company, from returns and records to the annual accounts, as information, not tax advice.
Where it stops: we do not sell, source, match or broker companies, hold shares or publish a list; no director seat, nominee or general power of attorney; no tax advice; a client of this service does not take our address.
What a ready-made company is in Dutch law
A ready-made or shelf company is an existing BV whose shares you buy. Dutch law has no term for it: the only official phrase, handel in lege vennootschappen (trade in empty companies), sits in an anti-fraud instruction. The shares pass only by notarial deed (art. 2:196 lid 1 BW); the legal person stays the same.
Looking to buy a business in the Netherlands? Taking over a BV works the same way: shares by notarial deed, with due diligence a mandatory step of business.gov.nl's takeover plan. No businesses are listed here. A shelf NV is rare, since an NV needs EUR 45,000 of capital (art. 2:67 lid 2 BW).
Ready-made BV or a new BV
Where the routes differ, by statute, with no verdict. For the new-BV route, see the first Dutch BV of a starter.
2026 figures. Sources: Book 2 of the Civil Code, arts. 2:175a and 2:234; Wna art. 54; Wet Vpb 1969 art. 20a; the KVK fee page; business.gov.nl; the Belastingdienst.
| Point | Existing BV, by share transfer | New BV |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory clock | No official time is published for a share transfer | Electronic incorporation: five working days with the model deed and natural persons only, otherwise ten, for founders who are EU nationals (art. 2:175a lid 3 BW) |
| KVK registration fee (2026) | The KVK charges it on a first registration or on a takeover that creates a new KVK number; a share sale keeps the number | EUR 85.15, one-off, on a first registration |
| Notary's fee | Not fixed by statute (art. 54 lid 1 Wna); no official figure exists for a transfer deed | business.gov.nl's indication for an incorporation (2026): EUR 500 to 1,500, and it varies |
| New name, seat or objects | A second notarial deed amending the articles, in Dutch (art. 2:234 BW) | Not applicable |
| Earlier losses | No longer carried forward once the ultimate interest changes by 30 percent or more (Belastingdienst, art. 20a Wet Vpb 1969) | Not applicable |
| Past tax and filing history | Inherited whole: the tax file, the VAT registration and every past return continue | Not applicable |
What passes with the shares, and where to check it
A share purchase includes the company's whole history, the KVK says, and the official takeover plan makes due diligence mandatory. Check before you pay.
KVK tariffs for 2026: art. 1, Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019 (consolidation of 1 July 2026). "No tariff stated" means none is named, not that it is free.
| What passes with the shares | Where you check it | State tariff (2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The legal person, its directors, address and deposited articles | KVK extract, register history and overview of deposits | EUR 2.95 each, online | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019, art. 1 |
| Every filed annual account; missing accounts bring the art. 2:248 BW presumption, and a year in default lets the KVK dissolve the company (art. 2:19a BW) | KVK | EUR 3.90 per document | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019, art. 1; Book 2 BW |
| Group links | KVK group relations | EUR 3.40 per concern relation | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019, art. 1 |
| Past disqualifications of directors | KVK Director Disqualification Register, public section | No tariff stated | KVK |
| Insolvency history | Central Insolvency Register (Rechtspraak) | No tariff stated | Rechtspraak |
| An individual director under guardianship or administration | Central Register of Guardianship and Administration, CCBR (Rechtspraak) | No tariff stated | Rechtspraak |
| The tax file and the VAT registration, with every past return | The seller's returns and Belastingdienst letters, any payroll registration, any pension or annuity obligation | Not applicable | Belastingdienst |
| Contracts, staff, licences, powers of attorney, and books and records kept for seven years | The seller | Not applicable | KVK; art. 2:10 BW |
| The articles: pre-emption rights and the language they are written in | The seller and the KVK deposits | EUR 3.90 per deposited document | arts. 2:195 and 2:234 BW; Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019, art. 1 |
| The seller's licence, if the seller is a professional | DNB public register of trust offices, updated every business day at 06:00 | No tariff stated | art. 9 Wtt 2018; DNB |
How a share purchase works
Who acts at each step; only the filings have a set deadline.
Compare the routes
(you, with us). The points in the table above, weighed before you commit.
Check the seller
(you, with us). A professional seller needs a DNB licence: look them up in DNB's public register of trust offices, updated every business day at 06:00.
Due diligence before any payment
(you, with us). The registers above and the seller's books and returns; open points to your own lawyer and tax adviser.
Agreement and articles
(you and the seller, with advisers). Liabilities stay in the company, so advisers consider warranties and an indemnity; the articles are checked for pre-emption (art. 2:195 BW).
The deed
(the civil-law notary, notaris). The notary identifies every party (art. 39 Wna), runs client due diligence under the Wwft, the anti-money-laundering act, and executes the transfer.
Acknowledgement, then the new director
(you, as shareholder). Share rights work once the company acknowledges the transfer or is served with the deed (art. 2:196a BW); the general meeting then appoints the director.
A second deed, if needed
(the notary, then the directors). A new name, seat or objects needs a deed amending the articles, in Dutch (art. 2:234 BW), deposited at the KVK.
KVK and UBO filings
(each director). Within one week of each change (arts. 18 and 20 Hrw 2007); most notaries inform the KVK, and you may file too. Not filing is an offence (art. 47).
- Compare the routesYou, with usNo official time is published
- Check the sellerYou, with us: look a professional seller up in the DNB public register of trust officesDNB register updated every business day at 06:00
- Due diligence before any paymentYou, with us: the registers, and the seller books and returnsNo official time is published
- Agreement and articlesYou and the seller, with advisersArticles checked for pre-emption (art. 2:195 BW)
- The deedNotary (notaris): identifies every party and executes the transferNo official time is published
- Acknowledgement, then the new directorYou, as shareholder: the general meeting then appoints the directorAfter the deed (art. 2:196a BW)
- A second deed, if neededNotary (notaris), then the directors: a new name, seat or objectsNo official time for the deedDeposited at the KVK (art. 2:234 BW)
- KVK and UBO filingsEach director; most notaries inform the KVKWithin one week of each change (arts. 18 and 20 Hrw 2007)
Found a company you want checked before paying?
Send us what the seller gave you: the extract, the accounts, the draft agreement. We go through it with you before money moves.
Legal notes and limits
What the statutes say about buying a Dutch company.
Who may sell you a company
Selling or mediating in the sale of legal entities professionally needs a DNB licence, and DNB counts advertising it (arts. 1 and 3 Wtt 2018). That is why this page shows no list.
The incoming director and the company's taxes
Directors are jointly and severally liable for wage tax and VAT; inability to pay is notified within two weeks of the due date (art. 36 Invorderingswet 1990). Its reach before your appointment is for your own advisers.
Transfer tax on the shares
Transfer tax can arise on shares only where the BV's assets are mostly real estate and at least 30 percent of them Dutch real estate (art. 4 Wet BRV).
A new name or seat
A new name, or a seat moved for starting a business in Amsterdam, needs a second deed in Dutch. English only if the BV was formed by an English electronic deed and its articles stayed English (art. 2:234 lid 4 BW).
Frequently asked questions from buyers
Is it legal to buy a shelf company in the Netherlands?
Yes. Buying the shares of an existing BV is not prohibited, and the shares pass by a deed executed before a notary holding office in the Netherlands (art. 2:196 lid 1 BW). The limit is on the seller: selling or mediating in the sale of legal entities professionally needs a DNB licence under the Wtt 2018.
Why does this page show no list of companies for sale?
Selling or mediating in the sale of legal entities is a trust service (art. 1 Wtt 2018) that needs a DNB licence when provided professionally (art. 3), and DNB says advertising it brings the licence requirement. So we act for the buyer only: we help check a company you found, and never sell, source or match one.
Can a shelf BV come with debts even if it never traded?
It can. The company keeps its whole past through a share sale, and the Belastingdienst expects a dormant BV to keep filing returns until it is wound up. Unfiled accounts make improper management presumed on a later bankruptcy (art. 2:248 BW). Nobody can promise a clean company; the registers and the seller's records show what is there.
How do I know the seller is allowed to sell?
If the seller sells or brokers companies as a business, they need a DNB licence (art. 3 Wtt 2018). Look them up in the public register of trust offices that DNB keeps under art. 9 of that act, updated every business day at 06:00. Do this before you sign or pay anything.
Am I liable as the new director for the company's taxes?
Every director is jointly and severally liable for the company's wage tax and VAT (art. 36 Invorderingswet 1990). If the company cannot pay, it notifies the tax collector in writing at the latest two weeks after the tax was due (art. 7 Uitvoeringsbesluit). How far this reaches debts from before your appointment is for your own lawyer and tax adviser.
Is buying faster than forming a new BV?
Not necessarily. No official time is published for a share transfer, and the notary identifies every party and carries out client due diligence before the deed. Electronic incorporation has a statutory clock: five working days with the model deed and natural persons only, otherwise ten, for founders who are EU nationals (art. 2:175a lid 3 BW).
Do the tax losses of the old company carry over?
Not after a substantial change of ownership. The Belastingdienst says earlier losses are no longer carried forward once the ultimate interest changes by 30 percent or more (art. 20a Wet Vpb 1969), with exceptions through an asset test and an activity test. Whether one applies to a given company is for your own tax adviser.
Does a ready-made BV come with a VAT number and a bank account?
An existing VAT registration and number continue on a share sale, together with every past VAT obligation, the Belastingdienst says. Whether a BV that never traded holds a VAT number is a point to check, so none is promised here. A bank account is the bank's own decision, and we promise neither an account nor a time for it.
What do I take over when I buy a BV?
Everything in it. The KVK says a share transaction includes all assets and liabilities, rights and obligations, staff, contracts, licences and the entire history of the business. The Belastingdienst adds that the legal person and the business do not change, so the tax file and the VAT registration continue with the company you now own.
Can I rename the company or move its seat?
Yes, by a second notarial deed amending the articles, decided by the general meeting. The deed is in Dutch; English is possible only for a BV formed by an electronic deed in English whose articles never changed language (art. 2:234 lid 4 BW). The directors then deposit the amendment at the KVK within one week (art. 20 Hrw 2007).
What should I check before paying?
At the KVK: the extract, register history, overview of deposits, every filed annual account and group relations. Then the Director Disqualification Register, the Central Insolvency Register and, for an individual director, the guardianship register. From the seller: seven years of books and records, every return and Belastingdienst letter, payroll registrations, any pension or annuity obligation and running contracts.
How fast must the changes be filed at the KVK?
Within one week of each change, such as a new director or amended articles (art. 20 lid 2 Hrw 2007). Each director owes the filing (art. 18), and not filing is an offence (art. 47). A change of UBO is also notified within one week. Most notaries inform the KVK after a share transfer; you may file too.
What does the state charge on a share transfer?
The KVK charges its one-off registration fee (EUR 85.15 in 2026) on a first registration or a takeover that creates a new KVK number; a share sale keeps the number. The KVK checks cost EUR 2.95, 3.90 or 3.40 per item in 2026. Transfer tax arises only for a BV holding mostly real estate. No statute fixes the notary's fee.
Can a foreigner buy a Dutch BV?
The share purchase runs through the notary: every party identifies from an identity document (art. 39 Wna), and the notary carries out client due diligence under the Wwft before the deed. Residence, nationality and work permits are not covered on this page; tell us your situation and we set out the questions to settle first.
Can a foreigner open a business in the Netherlands?
This page covers buying an existing BV. Starting a business from scratch, with the choice of legal form, the KVK registration and the permits a newcomer may need, is set out on our home page and the service pages it leads to. Tell us where you live and what you plan, and we map the steps.
Thinking of buying an existing BV?
Talk the purchase through before anything is signed or paid. We set out the checks, the deed and the first-week filings.