<article class="article"> <!-- Header --> <header class="article-header"> <div class="article-meta"> <span class="article-category">Business Operations</span> <span class="article-meta-dot">&bull;</span> <span class="article-read-time">14 min</span> </div> <h1 class="article-title">Starting a moving company in 2026: the complete paperwork for the Netherlands and Belgium</h1> <p class="article-intro">Buy a van and start moving. It used to be that simple. In 2026, not so much. Here is what you really need to set up a moving company in the Netherlands or Belgium - without fines, and with a foundation you can build on for years.</p> </header> <!-- Hero Image --> <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/webflow-prod-assets/671a2b3d0c3830f284c6ac20/69e0e12f5097b278a4bebb46_verhuisbedrijf-starten-nederland-belgie.jpeg" alt="Entrepreneur with clipboard next to white van on Dutch street preparing to start a new moving company." class="article-hero" width="1200" height="675"> <!-- Content --> <div class="article-content"> <p class="lead-text">Anyone with a van and a strong back thinks: I can do this too. Technically, yes. But between "I do some moving jobs" and "I run a moving company" sits a serious pile of paperwork in 2026. Permits, insurance, collective labor agreements, road levies, vehicle inspections. Do it right and you have a professional base from day one. Skip it and you face fines, claims and a year of hell.</p> <p>We talk to new movers every month. Most of them start with good intentions and a second-hand box truck. One in three quits within two years. Not because the work is too hard. Because the overhead was underestimated. This article is for anyone considering starting a moving company in the Netherlands or Belgium and wanting to do it well. With a complete checklist of what needs to be in place in 2026. And with grounded advice to avoid unpleasant surprises.</p> <h2>The hard truth about starting a moving company</h2> <p>The moving industry looks easy to enter. No diploma needed to carry boxes. Some common sense, a van, a strong colleague, and off you go. That picture no longer holds. The industry has professionalized over the past decade, partly because customers demand more, partly because regulators added rules.</p> <p>The numbers are blunt. About one in three new moving companies stops within two years. The reasons are consistent:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Prices set too low</strong>. Newcomers undercut market rates to win their first jobs and never reach a viable cost price.</li> <li><strong>Permits not in order</strong>. A roadside check reveals the missing euro permit, unprovable professional competence, or financial backing that cannot be demonstrated.</li> <li><strong>Insurance not fit for purpose</strong>. The first big claim comes in and the policy turns out not to cover what you thought it did.</li> <li><strong>No administration</strong>. Invoices go out late, VAT returns are forgotten, customer data lives everywhere. And one day the tax office shows up.</li> </ul> <p>The good news: anyone who handles the paperwork properly from day one has a professional base to build on. You stand out from the cowboys immediately. You can take on business clients with stricter requirements. And you sleep better.</p> <div class="highlight-box"> <p>"Starting a moving company in 2026 is not the same as in 2010. The barrier to starting is low. The barrier to doing it right has gone up."</p> </div> <h2>Starting a moving company in the Netherlands: what needs to be arranged?</h2> <p>We start with the Netherlands. The checklist below runs from "without this you cannot start" to "smart to plan ahead for". Work through it in this order and you build a complete business step by step.</p> <h3>1. Register with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK)</h3> <p>First step: register your business officially at the Dutch chamber of commerce (KvK). You pay a one-time registration fee and pick a legal form. For most starting movers this is a choice between sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) or private limited company (BV).</p> <p>A sole proprietorship is quickly set up and fine if you start alone or with a small crew. Fiscally attractive in the beginning. Downside: you are personally liable for debts and damages. A BV costs more to set up (notary, at least a symbolic deposit) but limits your liability to the BV. The moment you hire staff or put vehicles on the business, a BV starts to make real sense.</p> <p>Important rule of thumb: in 2026 the tipping point to switch to a BV only arrives around <strong>90,000 euro annual profit</strong>. Two reasons. First, as director-major shareholder (DGA) of a BV you must pay yourself a customary salary of at least 58,000 euro in 2026 (up from 56,000 in 2024/2025), with full payroll taxes. Second, the self-employed deduction for sole proprietors is being phased down to 1,200 euro in 2026 and will disappear in 2027, but the MKB profit exemption of 12.7 percent stays in place. Below 90k profit, a sole proprietorship is usually still the cheaper option. Work through this with an accountant before you decide. The difference in tax burden can easily save thousands per year, and a sole proprietorship can be converted to a BV later as you grow.</p> <h3>2. NIWO euro permit for commercial road transport</h3> <p>This is the permit that is often underestimated, and also the one where outdated information keeps circulating. The current rules for 2026:</p> <p>Since 1 January 2024 a lower weight threshold applies: you need a euro permit the moment you transport goods for third parties with a vehicle above <strong>2.5 tonnes maximum authorized mass (MAM)</strong>. Even for domestic Dutch transport. This is a consequence of the EU Mobility Package. In practice: a 3.5 tonne Luton van that used to fall under the exemption now requires a permit. Moving your own goods (for example your own company relocating its own office) counts as own-account transport and does not require a permit. But every moment you transport for a paying customer, the rules apply.</p> <p>The euro permit has three requirements: professional competence, financial standing and good repute. We cover each below.</p> <p><strong>NIWO costs and lead time for 2026:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Euro permit application: 255 euro one-off</li> <li>Per permit certificate (per vehicle, valid 5 years): 27 euro</li> <li>Annual levy per permit certificate: 51.60 euro</li> <li>Official lead time: 8 weeks, can be longer during peak periods</li> </ul> <p>Documents required with the application: your professional competence certificate (or that of your transport manager), a recent VOG-NP or VOG-RP certificate of conduct (not older than 2 months), annual figures with an accountant statement for financial standing, vehicle registration documents, and if you use an external transport manager also an employment contract. Prepare these documents before filing the application, otherwise you lose weeks waiting. The current procedure is published on niwo.nl.</p> <h3>3. Professional competence for commercial transport</h3> <p>For the euro permit someone in the company must hold professional competence. That can be you, or a hired transport manager. Professional competence is demonstrated with the Dutch professional competence certificate for commercial road transport (Vakbekwaamheid Beroepsvervoer), or through a recognized exemption based on a minimum of ten consecutive years of management experience in commercial transport (this last route is being reviewed more strictly every year).</p> <p>You get the certificate through a recognized training provider. A course typically costs 1,500 to 2,500 euro and takes three to six months of study. Plan accordingly: the certificate must be there before the permit can be issued.</p> <h3>4. Proving financial standing</h3> <p>NIWO requires you to be financially sound. Specifically: 9,000 euro in equity for your first vehicle and 5,000 euro for each additional vehicle. Three box trucks means you need 19,000 euro demonstrably available. You prove this with an accountant statement or a bank guarantee.</p> <p>Plan this in advance. Many starters only discover this at application time and have to push their entire start date because the money is not liquid.</p> <h3>5. Good repute</h3> <p>NIWO requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) for the company. Have you or your directors been convicted of certain offences recently? Then no permit. For most starters this is a formality.</p> <h3>6. Vehicles: MOT, inspection, tachograph, onboard computer</h3> <p>Your vehicles must be in order:</p> <ul> <li><strong>MOT (APK)</strong> for all vehicles according to the regular schedule.</li> <li><strong>Commercial transport inspection</strong> for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes: annually.</li> <li><strong>Digital tachograph</strong> mandatory in vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for commercial transport. Drivers need a driver card.</li> <li><strong>Onboard computer Taxi and Freight</strong> is not mandatory for moves themselves, but tachograph registration is.</li> </ul> <p>Heads up: the smart tachograph version 2 is mandatory since 2024 for all new vehicles and from August 2025 for older vehicles operating internationally. We wrote a dedicated blog about this - see <a href="/blog/slimme-tachograaf-verplicht-per-1-juli-2026-wat-betekent-dit-voor-verhuisbedrijven">smart tachograph mandatory in 2026</a>.</p> <h3>7. Road tax, BPM and the truck levy</h3> <p>You pay road tax on every vehicle. Vans under 3.5 tonnes used commercially fall under the reduced grey-plate rate. Trucks have a higher rate. BPM is a one-off tax paid on purchase (or waived if the vehicle qualifies as a commercial vehicle).</p> <p>Important addition: from 1 July 2026 a truck levy applies to Dutch motorways and selected N-roads. Vehicles above 3.5 tonnes pay per kilometer, with rates between 14 and 28 cents depending on emission class and weight. For an active moving truck that adds up fast. Factor it into your cost price from day one. Read our full analysis in <a href="/blog/vrachtwagenheffing-2026-verhuizers">truck levy from 1 July 2026</a>.</p> <h3>8. Insurance you actually need</h3> <p>This is where starters cut corners most often and pay for it later. The minimum insurance set for a moving company:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Business liability insurance (AVB)</strong>: covers damage caused by you or your staff to property or people. For movers this is essential: a scratched table, a broken window, a fall on the stairs.</li> <li><strong>CMR / carrier liability</strong>: specific cover for damage to the goods during transport. Standard AVB often does not include this.</li> <li><strong>Vehicle insurance</strong>: third party for every vehicle, partial or full cover for more expensive trucks.</li> <li><strong>Employee insurance</strong>: once you hire staff you must insure them for sickness and work accidents.</li> <li><strong>Legal assistance</strong>: handy for legal disputes with customers or suppliers.</li> <li><strong>Disability insurance (AOV)</strong>: for you as the entrepreneur. In a physically demanding profession like moving, a must.</li> </ul> <p>Budget 400 to 900 euro per month in total insurance costs for a small moving company. Anything less is almost always underinsurance.</p> <h3>9. Certification as a moving company (over time)</h3> <p>Not mandatory, but recommended if you want to be taken seriously. The quality mark Erkend Verhuisbedrijf of the Stichting Erkende Verhuizers shows customers that you meet the AVVV (general conditions for moves) and additional requirements for safety, environment and business operations.</p> <p>Important: this certification <strong>cannot be applied for right at the start</strong>. Your company must exist for at least two years before it qualifies. An independent audit by Kiwa assesses your operations on entry, with periodic re-audits afterwards. Plan this as a goal for your third year, not your first. For corporate relocation and business assignments the certification is often a requirement, so it is worth working towards. Fees are not public - call 070-3401788 for current membership costs.</p> <h3>10. Collective labor agreement for commercial road transport</h3> <p>The moment you hire staff you fall under the collective labor agreement for commercial road transport and mobile crane rental (CAO Beroepsgoederenvervoer). This agreement sets minimum wages, allowances, holiday entitlements, pension and expense reimbursements. In 2026 a new wage increase rolls in. Across 2026 and 2027 the increase quickly adds up to six to eight percent. See our explanation in <a href="/blog/urenregistratie-en-cao-vergoedingen-zo-regel-je-het-in-een-paar-klikken">CAO 2026: wage increase and rates</a>.</p> <h3>11. GDPR and privacy policy</h3> <p>You store customer data: addresses, phone numbers, sometimes inventory lists. That is personal data. GDPR requires a privacy statement on your website, a data processing agreement with your software vendors, and a data-breach procedure. Not rocket science, but it needs to be set up. Adapting a generic template to your company takes about an hour.</p> <h3>12. Zero-emission zones in city centers</h3> <p>From 2025 and building up to 2030, a growing number of Dutch city centers apply zero-emission zones for delivery and commercial traffic. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Eindhoven, Groningen and Tilburg lead the way. Lots of jobs inside city centers? Then think about electric vans or box trucks, or about exemptions for older vehicles. Our blog <a href="/blog/elektrisch-verhuizen-zo-ver-is-de-branche-in-2026">zero-emission zones for moving companies</a> goes deeper.</p> <h2>Starting a moving company in Belgium: what needs to be arranged?</h2> <p>Starting a moving company in Belgium resembles the Dutch route, but the authorities have different names and the details differ. Here is the complete Belgian checklist, with emphasis on the differences.</p> <h3>1. Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO)</h3> <p>First step: apply for a business number via the KBO (the Belgian Crossroads Bank for Enterprises). You do this at a business counter (ondernemingsloket). You pick a legal form (sole proprietorship, BV, CommV) and register under the correct NACEBEL code for moving activities (49.420 for moves).</p> <p>Just like in the Netherlands: a sole proprietorship is faster and cheaper to start, but you are personally liable. A BV (since 2019 without minimum capital but with a mandatory financial plan) limits liability and becomes relevant once you hire staff or run several vehicles.</p> <h3>2. Transport permit via FOD Mobiliteit</h3> <p>For goods transport on account of third parties, Belgium requires a transport permit from FOD Mobiliteit en Vervoer (the Belgian Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport). Two variants exist:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Community permit</strong>: for vehicles above 2.5 tonnes, valid throughout the EU. This is what most movers need in practice.</li> <li><strong>National permit</strong>: for vehicles between 500 kg and 3.5 tonnes, valid only within Belgium.</li> </ul> <p>Heads up: since May 2022 the threshold for international EU transport dropped to 2.5 tonnes. Smaller vans that cross the border also need a permit.</p> <h3>3. Certificate of professional competence or transport manager</h3> <p>For the permit, someone in the company must hold professional competence. That is proven with the certificate of professional competence for goods transport, issued after passing an exam of the FOD Mobiliteit. Cannot pass yourself? Then hire an external transport manager. That person must work at least ten hours per week for your business.</p> <h3>4. Financial standing</h3> <p>Identical amounts to the Netherlands: 9,000 euro for the first vehicle, 5,000 euro for each additional vehicle. Proven via annual accounts, bank guarantee or joint and several guarantee.</p> <h3>5. Good repute</h3> <p>An extract from the criminal record (in Belgium: "bewijs van goed zedelijk gedrag"). Certain convictions exclude you from obtaining a permit.</p> <h3>6. Social security and VAT</h3> <p>Affiliating with a social insurance fund for the self-employed is mandatory within ninety days of starting. You pay provisional social contributions based on expected income. You also activate your VAT number at FOD Financien (the Belgian Federal Public Service for Finance) - this is your business number prefixed with BE. Standard VAT rates are 6 percent for residential moves within Belgium and 21 percent for business moves.</p> <h3>7. Insurance in Belgium</h3> <p>The minimum set resembles the Netherlands: general civil liability for business operations, professional liability, vehicle insurance (mandatory third party), CMR for the transported goods, work accident insurance for staff, optionally legal assistance. For you as a self-employed person: social status via the social fund and a guaranteed income policy (the Belgian equivalent of the Dutch disability insurance).</p> <h3>8. Joint committee and CAO 140</h3> <p>Once you hire staff you fall under joint committee 140 (goods transport). CAO 140 regulates minimum wages, allowances and working conditions for drivers and movers in Belgium. Proper payroll is essential: a social secretariat (SD Worx, Securex, Acerta) usually handles this for you.</p> <h3>9. LEZ zones in Belgian city centers</h3> <p>Antwerp, Ghent and the Brussels Capital Region use Low Emission Zones. Diesel vehicles below certain Euro norms are not allowed in. In 2025 the rules tighten further, and Brussels is preparing a full diesel ban for vans and trucks. Working regularly in these cities? Then a recent Euro 6 vehicle or an electric one is a must.</p> <div class="highlight-box"> <p>"The rules in the Netherlands and Belgium look alike, but the counters have different names. Anyone working cross-border must have the paperwork right in both countries."</p> </div> <h2>Vehicles and equipment: choosing with intent</h2> <p>Once the paperwork is running, the next big call: what vehicle and what equipment? This decision shapes your start-up costs and your operational reach for years.</p> <h3>Buy, lease or rent?</h3> <p>Three flavors, each with a different trade-off.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Buy second-hand</strong>: lowest entry cost but more maintenance. Good for starters with tight cash flow and practical skills. A solid second-hand Mercedes Sprinter or VW Crafter Luton with 150,000 km runs 15,000 to 30,000 euro.</li> <li><strong>Financial lease</strong>: you are the economic owner, the vehicle sits on your balance sheet. Fixed monthly cost, depreciation as an expense. Fits growing companies preserving cash for expansion.</li> <li><strong>Operational lease</strong>: the leasing company stays the owner, you pay all-in per month including maintenance, tires and insurance. Predictable, easy, but more expensive long term. Suitable if you want to avoid large swings.</li> </ul> <h3>Which vehicle type fits your start?</h3> <p>A small mover often starts with a 3.5 tonne Luton (van with closed cargo area at the back). You can drive it with a regular category B license, saving wage costs on specialized drivers, and it fits most city centers. Downside: limited cargo space (average 18-22 m3). For a standard family move you either do two trips or add a rental for bigger jobs.</p> <p>If you go all in, you move up to a 7.5 or 10 tonne box truck with a C1 or C license. Cargo space of 35 to 50 m3, a full family move in one run. Higher investment, higher road tax, but also a higher day rate.</p> <h3>Moving equipment: the base kit</h3> <p>Good equipment is not a luxury. Anyone cutting corners on ratchet straps and blankets gets damage claims. The base kit for a starting moving company:</p> <div class="info-cards"> <div class="info-card"> <div class="info-card-value">30-50</div> <div class="info-card-label">Moving blankets (standard size)</div> </div> <div class="info-card"> <div class="info-card-value">20+</div> <div class="info-card-label">Ratchet straps and belts</div> </div> <div class="info-card"> <div class="info-card-value">100+</div> <div class="info-card-label">Boxes in various sizes</div> </div> </div> <p>On top of that: hand truck, furniture dolly, piano kit (straps and support), hydraulic lift or moving elevator (rent or buy), stair protectors, floor runners, packing material (bubble wrap, tape, foam) and hand tools (screwdriver, Allen keys, tape measure). Total starting equipment investment: 3,000 to 8,000 euro, depending on whether you buy or rent the moving lift.</p> <h2>Software and administration from day one</h2> <p>This is where most starters drop the ball. They focus on operations (vehicle, equipment, first customers) and let administration slip. Three months later they spend three evenings a week on it, because customer data is scattered across a notebook, a WhatsApp archive and an inbox.</p> <p>Good software from day one is cheap and saves enormous time. The minimum you need:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Quoting software</strong>: not every customer needs a hand-typed Word document. A tool that auto-generates quotes based on volume and distance saves hours per week. Read also <a href="/blog/de-perfecte-verhuisofferte-checklist-voor-hogere-slagingskans">the perfect moving quote checklist</a>.</li> <li><strong>CRM</strong>: all customer data in one place. Who requested what and when? Who is waiting for a quote? Who became a customer? Without CRM, leads disappear in your inbox.</li> <li><strong>Planning</strong>: the moment you run more than one crew, Excel falls apart. See our recent analysis in <a href="/blog/planning-software-voor-verhuisbedrijven-wat-je-echt-nodig-hebt">planning software for moving companies</a>.</li> <li><strong>Time tracking</strong>: mandatory for staff, useful for yourself. Linked to payroll.</li> <li><strong>Invoicing</strong>: auto-invoicing after the job, Peppol-ready for business clients, connected to your bookkeeping.</li> <li><strong>Bookkeeping</strong>: Exact, Snelstart, Moneybird, Teamleader or - in Belgium - WinBooks or Billit. Ideally connected to your invoicing to avoid double entry.</li> </ul> <p>Many starters begin with five or six separate tools. That works. Until you hire your first employee and add a second truck, and every job has to be entered three times. Then the business case tips towards integrated moving software: a platform that ties quote, planning, execution and invoicing together. We at Bas obviously advocate for this, but even without our brand: think from day one about how your stack will grow. Read our comparison in <a href="/blog/erp-voor-verhuisbedrijven-losse-tools-vs-alles-in-een-software">ERP for moving companies: separate tools vs. all-in-one</a>.</p> <h3>Website, Google and online visibility</h3> <p>You need a website. Not because you must, but because 80 percent of your future customers Google first. Minimum: a landing page with services, contact details and a quote button. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is free and essential for local visibility. Start collecting reviews from customer number one.</p> <h3>Pricing: hourly rate versus fixed price</h3> <p>Many starters copy a competitor's rate and die on poor margins. Calculate your actual cost price. A 7.5 tonne box truck with two people a day runs you 450 to 600 euro in direct costs (wages, diesel, depreciation, insurance, levies). On top of that you have overhead (admin, insurance, software) of 15 to 25 percent. Add profit margin on top.</p> <p>A realistic hourly rate range for the Dutch moving market in 2026, per man-hour excluding VAT:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Starting freelance mover:</strong> 35 to 45 euro</li> <li><strong>Experienced freelance or small moving company:</strong> 45 to 60 euro</li> <li><strong>Small moving company with staff:</strong> 55 to 70 euro</li> <li><strong>Certified moving company:</strong> 65 to 75 euro</li> </ul> <p>Hitting the market at 75 euro per man-hour as a starter? You lose. Starting at 30 euro? You cannot make cost. Sit down, calculate it against your situation (wages, vehicle costs, insurance, admin) and pick a rate you can structurally live on. Market surcharges are fairly standard: Saturday +25 percent, Sunday +75 percent, evening and holiday jobs 10 to 50 percent extra.</p> <div class="highlight-box"> <p>"Copying your hourly rate from a competitor often means copying their losses too."</p> </div> <h2>Step by step: from idea to first move</h2> <p>Everything combined, this is a realistic timeline for a well-prepared start. Plan three to six months from "I am going to do this" to "my first job is running".</p> <div class="checklist-box"> <h3>Month 1: preparation and knowledge</h3> <ul class="checklist"> <li>Market research: who are your regional competitors, what do they charge?</li> <li>Write a business plan with cost-price calculation and revenue forecast</li> <li>Register for the professional competence course (NL) or prep for the exam (BE)</li> <li>Choose a legal form and meet with an accountant</li> <li>Financing plan: how much own funds, how much credit needed?</li> </ul> </div> <div class="checklist-box"> <h3>Month 2: official start</h3> <ul class="checklist"> <li>Register with KvK (NL) or KBO (BE)</li> <li>Activate VAT number</li> <li>Open a business bank account</li> <li>Optional: BV incorporation deed (notary)</li> <li>Affiliate with social fund (BE) or sort Tax Office setup (NL)</li> <li>Secure a domain name and set up a first website</li> </ul> </div> <div class="checklist-box"> <h3>Month 3-4: permits and insurance</h3> <ul class="checklist"> <li>Complete professional competence certificate</li> <li>Apply for NIWO euro permit (NL) or FOD Mobiliteit permit (BE)</li> <li>Have financial standing verified by an accountant</li> <li>Arrange VOG or criminal record extract</li> <li>Put insurance package in place (AVB, CMR, vehicle, AOV/guaranteed income)</li> <li>Consider industry association membership (Erkend Verhuizer)</li> </ul> </div> <div class="checklist-box"> <h3>Month 5: vehicle and equipment</h3> <ul class="checklist"> <li>Purchase or lease vehicle</li> <li>Arrange inspection and tachograph installation</li> <li>Apply company branding to the truck</li> <li>Purchase moving equipment (blankets, straps, boxes, lift, tools)</li> <li>Work clothes with company logo</li> </ul> </div> <div class="checklist-box"> <h3>Month 6: software, marketing and first jobs</h3> <ul class="checklist"> <li>Set up software stack: quoting, planning, CRM, invoicing, bookkeeping</li> <li>Google Business Profile and basic SEO</li> <li>Fix tariffs based on the calculated cost price</li> <li>Build templates: quote, work order, job sheet, invoice</li> <li>Win first jobs via network and online</li> <li>Ask for reviews from satisfied customers starting with job one</li> </ul> </div> <h2>What does it cost to start?</h2> <p>A realistic starting budget for a moving company with a 3.5 tonne Luton and a small starter equipment pack looks like this in broad strokes:</p> <h3 class="table-title">Indicative starting investment moving company 2026</h3> <div class="table-container"> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Line item</th> <th>Netherlands</th> <th>Belgium</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>KvK/KBO registration + BV incorporation (optional)</td> <td>75 - 1,500</td> <td>95 - 1,500</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Professional competence course/exam</td> <td>1,500 - 2,500</td> <td>800 - 2,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>NIWO / FOD permit fees</td> <td>250 - 500</td> <td>150 - 400</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Demonstrable equity (blocked or guarantee)</td> <td>9,000</td> <td>9,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Second-hand Luton 3.5 tonne vehicle</td> <td>18,000 - 28,000</td> <td>18,000 - 28,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Starter moving equipment pack</td> <td>3,000 - 8,000</td> <td>3,000 - 8,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Insurance first year</td> <td>5,000 - 8,000</td> <td>5,000 - 8,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Website, software, marketing first year</td> <td>1,500 - 4,000</td> <td>1,500 - 4,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="positive"><strong>Total starting investment</strong></td> <td class="positive"><strong>38,000 - 60,000</strong></td> <td class="positive"><strong>37,500 - 59,000</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <p>This is the minimum variant. Starting with a 7.5 tonne box truck and a small warehouse runs up to 70,000 to 100,000 euro starting investment fast. On top of that, budget at least three to six months of working capital before your first customers pay.</p> <h2>Common mistakes by starters</h2> <p>After hundreds of conversations with starting movers, we see the same mistakes recur. A list to avoid:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Quoting too low</strong> to win the first customers. You learn nothing from it and attract customers who will always push on price.</li> <li><strong>Working cash on the side</strong> because "things are tough right now". One inspection and your permit is gone, plus fines, plus tax arrears.</li> <li><strong>No contract with the customer</strong>. Verbal agreements get remembered differently. Use the AVVV and have the customer sign off.</li> <li><strong>Putting off admin</strong>. After three months you have a paper mountain that takes a week to sort. Do it weekly.</li> <li><strong>No buffer</strong>. A broken-down truck or a sick crew member in May can kill two weeks of revenue. Keep two months of fixed costs in reserve.</li> <li><strong>Competing only on price</strong>. In the moving industry companies win on quality, communication and reliability. Not on the lowest price.</li> </ul> <h2>Conclusion: starting well is half the battle</h2> <p>Starting a moving company in 2026 is not a weekend job. The paperwork in both the Netherlands and Belgium takes about three months of preparation, a sizable investment, and real decisions on legal form, vehicle and software stack. But doing it right gives you a professional base you can build on for years.</p> <p>The moving industry is not a hobby market anymore. Customers expect a mover with a permit, insurance that pays out, and an invoice that adds up. Corporate clients even demand certification and GDPR compliance. Anyone who has all that from day one speaks a different language than the van-mover operating below the radar. And that language wins over time.</p> <p>Our tip for anyone considering a start: invest the first three months in paperwork and systems, not in jobs. Once everything is right, you are set for ten years. The <a href="/en/oplossing/verkoop">quote</a>, the <a href="/en/oplossing/planning">planning</a> and the <a href="/en/oplossing/uitvoering">execution</a> can run beautifully, but without a solid administrative foundation you will not last. Want to read more about professionalizing your moving company? Our blog on <a href="/en/blog/digitalisering">digitalization in the moving industry</a> gives you the next step.</p> <!-- CTA (international -> /en/contact) --> <div class="cta-section cta-coffee"> <div class="cta-coffee-icon"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512" width="48" height="48" fill="currentColor"><path d="M80 0C71.2 0 64 7.2 64 16c0 24.7 9.8 48.5 27.3 65.9l18.7 18.7C121.5 112.2 128 127.8 128 144c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16s16-7.2 16-16c0-24.7-9.8-48.5-27.3-65.9L113.9 59.3C102.5 47.8 96 32.2 96 16C96 7.2 88.8 0 80 0zM32 224l304 0 16 0 0 192c0 35.3-28.7 64-64 64L96 480c-35.3 0-64-28.7-64-64l0-192zm352 0l16 0c44.2 0 80 35.8 80 80s-35.8 80-80 80l-16 0 0-160zm0 192l16 0c61.9 0 112-50.1 112-112s-50.1-112-112-112l-48 0-16 0L32 192c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32L0 416c0 53 43 96 96 96l192 0c53 0 96-43 96-96zM224 16c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16s-16 7.2-16 16c0 24.7 9.8 48.5 27.3 65.9l18.7 18.7C249.5 112.2 256 127.8 256 144c0 8.8 7.2 16 16 16s16-7.2 16-16c0-24.7-9.8-48.5-27.3-65.9L241.9 59.3C230.5 47.8 224 32.2 224 16z"/></svg> </div> <h2>Let us talk</h2> <p>Just started or still in the planning phase? We are happy to think along with your setup.<br>Online or on location - you pick.</p> <a href="/en/contact" class="cta-button">Get in touch</a> </div> <!-- Sources --> <div class="sources"> <strong>Sources:</strong> NIWO - Euro permit requirements 2025, FOD Mobiliteit Belgium - Goods transport permit 2025, KvK - Starting as an entrepreneur 2026, FOD Economy - Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, CAO Beroepsgoederenvervoer 2026-2027, Joint Committee 140 Belgium, Ministry of I&W - Truck levy from 1 July 2026, Dutch municipalities - Zero-emission zone roadmap, Stichting Erkende Verhuizers - Quality requirements 2025, Bas Software customer data. </div> </div> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Starting a moving company in 2026: the complete paperwork for the Netherlands and Belgium", "datePublished": "2026-04-16", "dateModified": "2026-04-16", "url": "https://www.bas.software/en/blog/verhuisbedrijf-starten", "inLanguage": "en", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/webflow-prod-assets/671a2b3d0c3830f284c6ac20/69e0e12f5097b278a4bebb46_verhuisbedrijf-starten-nederland-belgie.jpeg", "width": 1200, "height": 675 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Casper Janssen", "jobTitle": "Director & Sales", "url": "https://www.bas.software/en/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.bas.software/#organization", "name": "Bas Software B.V.", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/671a2b3d0c3830f284c6ac20/671a38cb4e140824f446da48_logo512.png" } } } </script> </article>