There is no difference between a CBE number or company number. ‘CBE’ states Crossroads Bank of Enterprises, a handy online database where you can find all companies.
A synonym of the CBE number is the company number. Both names stand for the unique 10-digit identifier assigned to each Belgian company.
What is the CBE number? 🔎
CBE stands for Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, which is a publicly accessible database in which you can find all the identification data of a company. So a CBE number is simply the unique company number you can find through the CBE.
You can find all kinds of data in it, such as: the name of the company, the people behind it, the address, activities of the company and the form of the company (sole proprietor, limited partnership, etc.).
If you want to look up a company, you can do so from its company number, but also from its name, activities, admission and address. Would you like to know more? Find out for yourself in our handy video below:
What is a company number?
Every company in Belgium has a company number. Applying for such a number is the very first step in starting up an independent activity. You get your company number via a recognised enterprise office.
Why does a company number exist?
A company number is a unique number consisting of 10 numbers. That number ends up in the KBO (Crossroads Bank for Enterprises), a public database in which you can find a lot of data on all Belgian companies.
This 10-digit number is crucial for any communication you will have in name of your company, as it allows everyone to know immediately and without any doubt which company it is.
Sole proprietors, companies and VZWs all have to have a company number – required by law – as it is the basis of an independent activity.
Did you know?
CBE number = company number ≈ vAT number
How to ask a company number?
Applying for one is legally reserved to accredited one-stop business shops. These accredited one-stop business shops are non-profit organisations set up by the government to act as a contact point for entrepreneurs.
You may have heard of some of them, think of: Acerta, Liantis or Xerius.
It is these enterprise counters that are the only ones in Belgium that can apply for a company number. Fortunately, almost all business counters offer a convenient digital flow so you can get started all by yourself quickly and completely digitally!
What do you need to request a company number?
When you apply for a company number at a recognised one-stop business shop, they will question you about a few things. So it is best to state them beforehand:
Step 1: What activities do you want to undertake?
The activities you want to carry out are the so-called nacebel codes. A long and complex list full of activities that are sometimes worded somewhat strangely. Often, enterprise offices have handy search forms to still quickly find your way through the nacebel codes.
Step 2: At which address will you carry out these activities?
The entrepreneur’s home address is often chosen. This is because all official communications will be sent to this address, which is why the home address then often comes out as the best choice. But it could just as easily be an external office space, for example.
Step 3: Would you like a commercial name for your business?
As a sole proprietor, the name of your business is just your own by default, but you can always add a commercial name. Of course, always be careful that this is not this commercial name does not already exist.
Step 4: Do you have a professional bank account number?
Do you need to opena professional account as a sole proprietor? Not required as sole proprietors, sometimes convenient, but never legally required.
Step 5: If necessary, can you demonstrate professional knowledge?
Proving professional knowledge is no longer necessary for a lot of sectors, find out all about professional competence and its disappearance via the Vlaio website. It is the absolute minority who still have to demonstrate professional knowledge, such as doctors, physiotherapists, lawyers…
If you choose an activity that still requires you to demonstrate professional knowledge, the accredited enterprise office will ask you for the necessary proof.
Would you like to start a business?
We make it easy for you thanks to the starters’ guide!
What is the price of a company number?
The cost of questioning a company number is fixed by law. Each recognised enterprise office therefore questions the same price. The cost currently amounts to €105.5 (price 2024). This rate is indexed yearly.
What is the difference between a company number and a vAT number?
By now you already know that a CBE number and a company number are the same thing. But there is a third number is this trio: the vAT number. If you are still in doubt about the difference between a company number and a vAT number, find out in the video below:
Summary: Your company number and your vAT number are identical; they are the same 10-digit code. However, a vAT number will have ‘BE’ in front of it. Not every company number will be activated for VAT purposes (and thus become a vAT number).
Fortunately, having this number activated with the VAT administration can also be done by a recognised company office, which you can apply for at the same time as you apply for a company number.
The cost of activating your company number with the VAT administration depends on the registered office, but is usually around €70. Of course, you can also do this yourself for free.
Whether your company number also becomes a vAT number depends on your activities. What this means per statute:
Entrepreneurssubject to VAT
These entrepreneurs have a company number as well as a vAT number.
Entrepreneurs not subject to VAT
These entrepreneurs have a company number, but no vAT number. In other words, their company number is not activated for VAT administration.
Entrepreneurs exempted from VAT
These entrepreneurs have a company number as well as a vAT number. Despite the VAT exemption, their company number is activated for VAT administration. They are exempted from VAT declarations, but are essentially subject to VAT.
The subject here is the exemption scheme: small business subject to the exemption scheme, turnover less than €25,000 on an annual basis.
Not sure which vAT type of statute is right for you? Then be sure to read the starter’s guide.
Want a numerical example that shows the differences? Then read subject to VAT, exempt from VAT or subject to VAT.
I have applied for my company number, now what?
Congratulations! Now you are officially self-employed!
After you have applied for your company number, there is still a lot of work to do. To help you get started, Dexxter has created a complete step-by-step plan for you, full of tips and tricks for a smooth start.
The first step after you start your business is to start with your accounting. You can do that easily and cheaply yourself through Dexxter. Everyone can do it, especially thanks to the free accounting course. That way, you can save more than €2,000 on an annual basis.
The software includes your own custom-generated tax timeline. This allows you to see all tax deadlines relevant to your vAT type.
Still have specific questions?
This is precisely why we have also built a community in Dexxter. That is a place in the application where entrepreneurs can ask questions and get answers from other entrepreneurs, sparring together to find solutions.
Start your free trial today. So you can quietly discover all the functionalities, such as creating invoices, adding daily receipts or entering expenses. The tool automatically adapts to your vAT type, whether you are a VAT liable, VAT exempted or VAT liable entrepreneur.
