BV assumptions
Look beyond tax
A BV can limit liability and retain profits but costs more to administer. Discuss major decisions with a qualified adviser.
Business form · 2026
ZZP or BV?
Compare personal take-home income from a sole proprietorship and a BV.
Annual revenue: 150000; Shared operating expenses excluding administration: 25000; ZZP accounting and administration / year: 1200; BV accounting and administration / year: 3000; Director salary: 58000; Profit paid as dividend (%): 100. ZZP: €75,628. BV: €78,122. Retained in the BV after tax: €0. BV loss to cover: €0.
Try an example:
Annual amounts excluding VAT. €1,200 and €3,000 are example budgets: replace them with your quote. Do not also include them in shared expenses. ZZP: hours criterion met, no starter deduction.
ZZP
€75,628
personal take-home per year- Profit before tax
- €123,800
- Tax + Zvw
- − €48,172
BV
€78,122
personal take-home per year- Director salary
- €58,000
- Salary tax + Zvw
- − €19,017
- BV result after salary, before tax
- €64,000
- Corporate income tax
- − €12,160
- Dividend after Box 2
- €39,139
- General tax credit after dividend
- €0
- Retained in the BV after tax
- €0
Assumes one shareholder below state-pension age, no tax partner or other income. Director not covered by employee insurance, with 4.85% Zvw. The general tax credit depends on salary plus distributed dividend. Dividend assumes legal and liquidity requirements are met. Excludes loss offsets across years, investment deductions, personal deductions and unused credits transferred between Box 1 and Box 2. Add one-off conversion costs to BV expenses yourself.
Compare more than a tax percentage
ZZP and BV differ in salary, dividend, costs and timing
The result depends on director salary, retained profit, dividends, Box 2 and extra administration. Revenue alone cannot determine the better structure.
Compare the same economic situation
Use the same revenue and comparable operating expenses in both cases. Add bookkeeping, payroll, banking, notary and annual-account costs for the BV.
The BV pays corporation tax; the director receives salary and possibly dividends. A lower corporation-tax percentage is not the same as a higher personal take-home amount.
Model several years
Profit retained in a BV may fund investment or liquidity, but deferred tax does not disappear. Later dividends, sale or liquidation create further tax consequences.
Liability, contracts, finance, staff and saleability may matter more than one year’s net difference. Have any conversion reviewed legally and fiscally.
- customary director salary
- corporation tax
- Box 2
- administration and liability
Check the official sources