Ending your company per legal structure
Are you thinking about closing your business, or have you already decided to do so? On this page, you can find out what you need to arrange and what you need to consider before deregistering your business with KVK.
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If you are closing your business, there are many matters to sort out. You’ll need to update your records, cancel subscriptions or insurance policies, and sell off stock. You’ll also need to inform staff and customers, and settle your accounts with the Netherlands Tax Administration. Exactly what you need to do varies depending on the business structure.
Step-by-step plans for each business structure
Follow the step-by-step plans for ending your business’s legal structure.
Specific reasons for closing your business
If you have debts you can no longer pay, you may need to close your business. Sometimes a restart is possible, for example during bankruptcy proceedings. In such cases, the trustee will temporarily manage the business.
Is your business no longer making a profit due to falling sales or changes in the market? If so, you may choose to close it to avoid (further) debt.
You can also explore whether you can resolve your debts through suspension of payment, the WHOA, or another arrangement. These options may help to prevent bankruptcy or closing down. Would you like to know which steps suit your situation? View the Debt Flowchart (KVK)
If you are getting divorced, the terms of your relationship will determine how assets and debts are divided. If you have not set out any arrangements in a prenuptial or civil partnership agreement, you may need to sell your business to ensure a fair division of assets. Read more about running a business and divorce (KVK)
Are you moving abroad? You do not always have to close your business. Sometimes you can simply continue to run your business from abroad, for example if your work is online or if you retain a permanent base in the Netherlands. If you are unable to take your business with you or are ceasing all activities, the steps you need to take are the same as if you were closing your business for any other reason. More about moving and freelancing abroad (KVK)
Anyone who has lived or worked in the Netherlands accrues a basic state pension: the AOW. From your state pension age, you will receive the AOW state pension. Do you not wish to close your business just yet? You are allowed to earn additional income without restriction alongside your AOW pension. Even if you earn a lot from your business, your AOW benefit will remain the same.
Do you want to stop working and do you need to dismiss staff? In that case, you will need to pay them a transition payment. If your business has fewer than 25 employees on average, you may be eligible for compensation for the transition payment.
More about compensation for the transition payment (UWV, in Dutch)
Statistics: how many companies quit each quarter?
The graph shows the number of business endings in the Netherlands per quarter.