Financial support for self-employed professionals (Bbz)

If you are self-employed in the Netherlands and in need of financial support, your municipality can offer you various forms of social benefit options under the Decree on Assistance to the Self-Employed (Besluit bijstandverlening zelfstandigen, Bbz). The Bbz offers loans, credits or low income supplements. Also, your municipality can offer you coaching free of charge.

Different groups of self-employed persons are eligible:

• those starting a company;
• established entrepreneurs who are experiencing temporary financial problems;
• entrepreneurs who are 55 or older with a non-viable company;
• entrepreneurs who wish to end their company.

When do you qualify?

You must satisfy various conditions to be eligible for this facility, including:

• your income is below the welfare assistance level;
• you have been unable to find funds elsewhere;
• you spend at least 1,225 hours a year on your company.

How to apply?

Submit your application to your local municipal authority.