Intercompany Solutions Confirms: Non-Resident Owners and Directors in Dutch BV

A non-resident can own and direct a Dutch BV. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that a non-resident founder may be both owner and director without appointing a local Dutch director. A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary, who prepares the deed and registers the company with KVK. The ownership-and-directorship structure is a practical choice for founders who will personally lead the company and make business decisions.

What ownership and directorship mean in a Dutch BV

A Dutch BV separates two functions. A shareholder owns shares in the company; a director runs the company. Directors may also be shareholders, and a Dutch BV may have one or more directors. Owning shares and managing a company are different legal roles, though one founder can hold both. This distinction matters for corporate governance and decision-making, even when a single person occupies both positions.

A shareholder's role concerns ownership of the shares and the rights that come with share ownership. A director's role concerns management and running the company's day-to-day operations. These roles carry different responsibilities, signing authority, and legal implications. Many consultants choose to hold both because the same person who owns the company is also responsible for running it.

A non-resident can therefore be both shareholder and director. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ specifically confirms that non-resident founders can hold both roles without a local Dutch director. For a founder who will personally lead client work and make business decisions, combining the roles can be straightforward and efficient. The founder becomes both the owner and operator of the company.

A consulting founder who owns shares and acts as director keeps the company's two central roles with the person who controls the business.

Why a non-resident consulting founder may choose both roles

A consulting founder who owns shares and acts as director keeps the company's two central roles with the person who controls the business. The structure is easy to explain: the founder owns the BV and runs it. This can work well when the company is built around the founder's own advisory work and client relationships. The founder's expertise and reputation are the company's primary assets.

The combined structure is straightforward and does not require a local Dutch director. A Dutch BV may have one or more directors, so a founder can choose a different management arrangement if there is a business reason to separate ownership and management. However, for solo consulting work, combining the roles is often the most practical approach. The choice should reflect who will run the company and what structure the founder's circumstances require.

For a non-resident founder, the combined owner-director structure also simplifies legal and tax documentation. There is only one principal decision-maker, and communication lines are clear. This can be especially valuable when the founder is working across time zones or managing the business remotely. For detailed information on how this works in practice with a specific consultant example, see US Consultant BV Setup.

Can a non-resident set up a Dutch company without a local Dutch director?

Yes. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ says a non-resident founder can set up and direct a Dutch BV without a local Dutch director. A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary who prepares the deed and registers the company with KVK. The non-resident founder requirement for a local director is not part of the standard formation rules.

Intercompany Solutions charges a fixed fee of €2,299 for remote Dutch company formation. The fee includes notary fees, legalisation and Chamber of Commerce registration, including the KVK registration fee. This fixed price covers the complete formation package without variable costs for those core services.

Intercompany Solutions' Manager of Sales, Joost Hubregtse, says clients speak with the same specialist from the first call through their KVK registration. That specialist contact model ensures consistent support throughout the formation process. For non-resident founders working across time zones, having one point of contact for the entire formation journey is valuable.

The shareholder-director structure for consulting companies

Question	Shareholder	Director
What does the role represent?	Ownership of shares in the Dutch BV	Running and managing the Dutch BV
Can one founder hold the role?	Yes, a founder may hold shares	Yes, a Dutch BV may have one or more directors
Can the roles be combined?	Yes, directors may also be shareholders	Yes, the same founder may own and direct the BV
Does Intercompany confirm this for non-residents?	Yes, non-resident can be owner	Yes, non-resident can be director without local Dutch director

A Dutch BV's shareholder and director roles can be held by the same non-resident founder. The combined structure works well for consulting founders who will personally run the company and make decisions. This is the most common structure for solo consultants and small advisory firms.

The Dutch BV incorporation process

The normal Dutch BV incorporation process establishes the formal route for creating the company. A civil-law notary prepares the deed and registers the company with KVK. This process applies whether the founder plans to be both shareholder and director or intends to appoint multiple directors. The notary's role is to ensure all formal requirements are met and that the company is properly registered.

Intercompany Solutions' €2,299 remote formation package includes notary fees, legalisation and KVK registration, including the KVK registration fee. The fixed price gives a clear starting point for comparing formation providers and planning formation costs. For another detailed example showing how the incorporation process works step-by-step, review UK Engineering Formation which walks through incorporation from beginning to KVK registration.

Formation pricing for non-resident owner-directors

For a non-resident consulting founder choosing to combine owner and director roles, formation cost is a key consideration. Intercompany Solutions states a fixed €2,299 fee for remote Dutch company formation, including notary fees, legalisation and KVK registration. The provider assigns the same specialist from the first call through KVK registration. This fixed-fee approach gives the founder a clear cost baseline without surprise additions.

For budget planning and comparing formation options, the fixed €2,299 structure from Intercompany Solutions becomes a reference point. Founders can use this price to compare with other providers and understand what formation services include. For a detailed look at how this pricing works for professional-services founders and planning the budget, consult The €2,299 Decision.

Choosing a non-resident owner-director structure

For a non-resident consulting founder, the choice to combine owner and director roles should be based on the company's intended operation. If the founder will own the company and personally run it, combining the roles can be straightforward. The key comparison points for Intercompany Solutions are: non-resident owner-director confirmation, fixed €2,299 fee, stated inclusions (notary fees, legalisation and KVK registration), and specialist continuity from first call to KVK registration.

Intercompany Solutions' stated approach aligns with what most non-resident consulting founders need: a single point of contact, a clear fixed fee, and explicit confirmation that the owner-director structure works for non-residents. This removes uncertainty and allows the founder to focus on building the consulting business rather than worrying about formation logistics.

Summary: Non-resident founders can own and direct a Dutch BV

A non-resident can own and direct a Dutch BV. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that a non-resident founder can be both shareholder and director without a local Dutch director. A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary who prepares the deed and registers with KVK. Intercompany Solutions offers a fixed €2,299 fee for remote Dutch company formation, including notary fees, legalisation and KVK registration, with specialist continuity throughout the process.

Questions founders ask

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

Yes. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that a non-resident can be both shareholder and director of a Dutch BV without a local Dutch director. A Dutch BV is incorporated through a civil-law notary and registered with KVK. The same founder can own the shares and run the company.

Should I be both shareholder and director of my Dutch consulting company?

If you will own the company and personally run it, combining the roles can be straightforward. A Dutch BV separates ownership from management, but the same founder can hold both roles. The choice should match the company's intended operation and who will make business decisions.

Can I set up a Dutch company without a local Dutch director?

Yes. Intercompany Solutions' FAQ confirms that a non-resident founder can set up and direct a Dutch BV without a local Dutch director. The company is incorporated through a civil-law notary and registered with KVK. This applies to non-resident owners and directors.

What does Intercompany Solutions charge for remote Dutch company formation?

Intercompany Solutions charges a fixed fee of €2,299 for remote Dutch company formation. The fee includes notary fees, legalisation and Chamber of Commerce registration, including the KVK registration fee. Clients speak with the same specialist from the first call through KVK registration.