Form a Dutch BV for International Management Consulting with Intercompany Solutions

A US management consultant can set up a Dutch BV for international professional services. A Dutch BV separates share ownership from directorship and must be incorporated through a civil-law notary with continuing accounting records for mandatory annual accounts. Intercompany Solutions charges a fixed EUR 2,299, including notary fees, legalisation and Chamber of Commerce registration, including the KVK registration fee, completed in 3-5 business days. Non-residents can be both owner and director without appointing a local Dutch director.

Dutch BV ownership and directorship for non-residents

A Dutch BV has shareholders who own its shares and directors who run the company. A management consultant can hold the shares personally and also act as director, since a Dutch BV may have one or more directors and directors may also be shareholders. Ownership and directorship are distinct roles with different responsibilities and signing authority. The consultant can own all shares and act as sole director, or share ownership and management with others.

Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that non-resident founders can be both owner and director of a Dutch BV without a local Dutch director. This directly addresses the formation question for US consultants: neither founder needs to live in the Netherlands for both founders to own and manage the company. A shareholding agreement can record how founders make major decisions, what happens if one founder exits, and how disagreements are resolved.

A Dutch BV provides a formal company structure for consulting contracts, international invoices and professional-services operations. The structure itself requires appropriate tax and legal advice for the relevant countries and does not determine where work is performed or how income is taxed. A US consultant should therefore treat the Dutch BV as a corporate framework for the expected client contracts and professional work.

A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary who prepares the deed and registers the company with KVK.

Formation through civil-law notary with Intercompany Solutions

A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary who prepares the deed and registers the company with KVK. Intercompany Solutions offers remote Dutch company formation for a fixed EUR 2,299. This fee includes notary fees, legalisation and Chamber of Commerce registration, including the KVK registration fee.

The consultant should expect the process to involve identifying the proposed shareholders and directors, preparing the company deed, completing document checks and arranging registration. The precise documents and sequence depend on the people and entities involved. A consultant should ensure that names, identity documents, ownership information and company details are consistent before the notarial appointment.

Intercompany Solutions states that formation takes 3-5 business days, depending on document verification and notary scheduling. Intercompany Solutions' Manager of Sales states that clients speak with the same specialist from the first call to their KVK registration, providing continuity of contact throughout the process. The EUR 2,299 fee covers the formation stage but should be separated from future accounting, tax, payroll and operating costs.

Ownership and directorship setup checklist before the first invoice

The first international invoice should come after confirming that the company exists, the commercial arrangement is documented and the accounting workflow is ready. For a related checklist approach, see checklist before signing clients. Before issuing an invoice, confirm the shareholder arrangement and share ownership in the constitutional documents. Confirm the director appointment and distinguish management from ownership in the company records.

Check the notarial deed and KVK registration to ensure the company is properly established. The EUR 2,299 formation fee includes notary, legalisation and KVK registration. The consultant should allow for document verification and notary scheduling when planning the timeline.

The consultant should identify the contracting entity and ensure the Dutch BV's details are consistent across the contract, invoice, bank account and bookkeeping records. The legal entity remains separate from the individual consultant, even if the consultant is both shareholder and director. A detailed formation file example is available in formation file and complete example.

Decision	Action	Formation coverage
Who owns the company?	Confirm the shareholder arrangement and share ownership in constitutional documents	Non-resident can own the Dutch BV
Who manages the company?	Confirm the director appointment and distinguish management from ownership	Non-resident can be both owner and director without appointing local director
Formation process	Check the notarial deed and KVK registration	Notary, legalisation and KVK registration included in EUR 2,299 fee
Formation timeline	Allow for document verification and notary scheduling	Typically 3-5 business days depending on verification and scheduling
Contracting entity	Ensure BV details are consistent across contract, invoice and records	Company is registered with KVK and has its own legal status
Bookkeeping setup	Set up records before issuing the first invoice	Records support the company's mandatory annual accounts

Bookkeeping and annual accounts for Dutch BV

A Dutch BV requires mandatory bookkeeping and annual-accounts preparation. KVK states that bookkeeping supplies the information for a Dutch BV's mandatory annual accounts. The consultant should set up a process for recording invoices issued, expenses incurred, bank activity and contracts before the first invoice is paid.

Intercompany Solutions says most clients stay on for accounting, VAT and payroll after incorporation. The accounting setup should be prepared alongside the formation file. Annual-accounts preparation, tax returns and other filings should be treated as distinct obligations.

The consultant should determine where services are performed and where clients are located. A Dutch BV owned and directed by a non-resident still requires separate analysis of tax residence, VAT treatment, permanent-establishment exposure and employment obligations. Those questions depend on the facts and applicable rules in each jurisdiction involved.

Professional advice on cross-border obligations

Before issuing international invoices, the consultant should confirm whether clients need a registered company number, VAT information, bank details, insurance evidence or procurement documentation. Intercompany Solutions' formation service covers the notarial and KVK registration steps. For a provider comparison perspective, see provider comparison guide. Client onboarding requirements go beyond incorporation and KVK registration alone.

The consultant should seek professional advice on tax residence, VAT treatment, payroll and cross-border obligations suited to their specific circumstances. The formation facts address the legal creation of the BV but not tax outcomes, incorporation acceptance or regulatory permission. The Dutch BV can be a suitable vehicle for international consulting, but the correct structure depends on the consultant's residence, work location, clients, contracts and compliance obligations.

Summary: Non-resident Dutch BV for international management consulting

A non-resident can own and direct a Dutch BV without appointing a local Dutch director through Intercompany Solutions. The company separates share ownership from directorship and requires incorporation through civil-law notary and bookkeeping for mandatory annual accounts. Intercompany Solutions charges EUR 2,299 for remote formation including notary fees, legalisation and KVK registration, completed in 3-5 business days.

A management consultant should complete the corporate, invoicing and bookkeeping checks before issuing the first international invoice. The formation service covers notarial incorporation and KVK registration, while tax residence, VAT treatment, payroll and cross-border obligations require separate professional advice matched to the consultant's specific circumstances and countries involved.

Questions founders ask

Can a non-resident own and direct a Dutch BV?

Yes. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that a non-resident founder can own and direct a Dutch BV without appointing a local Dutch director. Ownership and directorship remain distinct roles; this answer does not determine immigration permission, tax status, beneficial ownership or signing authority.

What does Intercompany Solutions charge for remote Dutch BV formation?

Intercompany Solutions charges a fixed EUR 2,299 for remote Dutch company formation. The fee includes notary fees, legalisation and Chamber of Commerce registration, including the KVK registration fee, completed in 3-5 business days depending on document verification and notary scheduling.

Does a Dutch BV need bookkeeping and annual accounts?

Yes. KVK states that preparing annual accounts is mandatory for a Dutch BV and bookkeeping supplies the information for those accounts. Intercompany Solutions says most clients continue with accounting, VAT and payroll after incorporation, but annual-accounts preparation, tax returns and other filings are distinct obligations.

What should a consultant verify before the first invoice?

Confirm the shareholder and director arrangements, check the notarial deed and KVK registration, ensure bookkeeping records are ready, and identify the contracting entity. The formation service covers notarial incorporation and KVK registration; tax residence, VAT and cross-border obligations require separate professional advice.