Step-by-step plan for starting a catering business from home
Do you want to start a catering business from home? Making snacks, meals, or cakes, for example? Before you start, check if you need to register with KVK. There are also food safety regulations to follow, such as the HACCP hygiene code. Read what to do and arrange before getting started.
When is catering your business and not just a hobby? The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK has conditions you must meet to qualify as an entrepreneur. If you meet these conditions, you must register with KVK.
Check the local environment plan (omgevingsplan) to see whether a catering business is allowed at your address.
If your plans fit within the environment plan, you usually need to notify the municipality about your business from home (step 3).
If your plans do not fit with the environment plan, you can apply for an environment and planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) or request an exemption or amendment to the environment plan.
Find out about working with the environment plan.
Use the ‘permit check’ tool on the online service counter Omgevingsloket (in Dutch) to find out what permits you need.
Check with your municipality whether you need to notify them that you are starting a catering business from home. The regulations differ per municipality. So, ask your municipality for the exact conditions before you start.
Common municipal rules
Your house must remain a home. In most municipalities, this means that:
- You can use no more than 1/3 of your house for your business
- Your business must not cause your neighbours any inconvenience
- You cannot advertise on your building
Find out what you need to consider when running a business from home.
Do you own your home and have you taken out a mortgage to finance it? Then read the terms of your mortgage agreement to find out if you are allowed to start a home business.
Are you renting your home? Then check the terms of your rental contract. Contact your landlord and discuss your plans for starting a catering business from home.
Do you qualify as a Dutch entrepreneur (see step 1)? Then you can register your business with KVK.
After registering, KVK will pass on your details to the Netherlands Tax Administration. You do not need to register your business separately with the Tax Administration.
You often need eHerkenning to deal with government matters on behalf of your business. For example, when applying for permits, subsidies, or arranging tax matters. It is a secure way to log in online.
You request your login for eHerkenning from an approved supplier. During the application process you will need your KVK number. You pay for the application and for use of eHerkenning. The cost depends on the provider.
Find out more about eHerkenning and how to apply.
Once you have registered with KVK, the Tax Administration will assess whether you are:
If this is the case, you must submit a VAT return. You charge VAT to your customers. And you are entitled to deduct the VAT that your suppliers, for example, have charged you. You will receive your VAT tax number and VAT identification number (VAT ID) from the Tax Administration.
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If this is the case, you will need to file an income tax return as a self-employed person. You will also be entitled to claim various deductions, such as the private business ownership allowance (zelfstandigenaftrek) and tax relief for new companies (startersaftrek). To use deductions, you must be able to show the Tax Administration that you spend enough hours working on your business.
Find out more about:
When are you an entrepreneur for income tax purposes
Tax deductions and tax schemes for entrepreneurs
The Dutch hours criterion on kvk.nl
Does the Tax Administration not consider you an entrepreneur for income tax purposes? Then you must include your income from your catering activities in your income tax return as ‘income from other work’.
Because your catering company cooks and sells food, you must register with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). You will need eHerkenning to do this.
Do you work with meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or sprouting seeds? Then you need to apply for special recognition and registration for making, using, or selling food.
Do you sell food and drink? Then you must comply with food safety regulations. This ensures that your products do not make people sick. The NVWA checks whether you work safely and hygienically.
You must work with a food safety plan (in Dutch) based on HACCP. HACCP stands for ‘Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points’. You can draw up a plan yourself, based on the 7 basic principles of HACCP. Inspectors from the NVWA assess this plan when they visit for an inspection. But it is easier to work with an approved hygiene code from your sector association. For example, that of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN). A hygiene code contains rules on how you monitor food safety and hygiene.
There are rules for disposable plastic cups and food packaging. Check the rules on the use of disposable plastic.
You may not give free plastic meal containers and cups to customers when they collect or have meals delivered. Check the rules for plastic packaging in your situation.
General terms and conditions are not mandatory, but wise. You set the rules for your catering business. This helps you avoid problems with your clients over matters such as transportation, delivery time, payment, and warranty.
Read more about general terms and conditions.
If you are going to run a catering service from home it is sensible to have business insurance. Some insurances are mandatory. For example, if you are going to deliver food to clients using a motor vehicle you must have third party liability insurance for vehicles.
Other examples of insurances are:
A buildings insurance (opstalverzekering) covers you for damage to your business premises. For example, after fire or burglary. Your mortgage provider will often require this.
Business liability insurance (Bedrijfsaansprakelijkheidsverzekering, AVB) protects your business against damage you, your employees, or your products cause to others.
In the future, you may be required to have disability insurance (AOV). You will then be entitled to disability benefits if you can no longer earn the minimum wage due to long-term illness. It is not known when the new law will come into effect.
Read more about arranging business insurance.
You are legally required to set up and keep business records. Keeping business records gives you insight into your financial situation. It also means you have all the data you need for your tax returns. You can do the administration yourself or outsource it to an accountant or bookkeeper.
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