The document provides information and advice for starting a business in Belgium. It discusses registering intellectual property assets like trademarks, patents, and copyrights. It recommends setting up a legal entity for the business and obtaining proper insurance. The document also covers paying income taxes and considering VAT implications in contracts. It notes available subsidies and sources of venture capital for startups in Belgium, provided through various EU, Belgian federal, and regional programs and organizations.

1. Starting up in Belgium
What we can do for you (and more)
Brussels, 7 December 2014 – Loyens & Loeff

2. It is not how good you are,
It’s how good you want to be (without a lawyer?)*
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*Paul Arden

3. • Energy, it’s 75% of the job!
• Do not seek praise, seek criticism
• Do not cover your ideas – give away, more will come back
• When it can’t be done, do it. If you don’t do it, it doesn’t exist
• It’s right or wrong
• Play your cards right
• It’s not what you know. It’s who you know
• If you get stuck, draw with a different pen – “call Wolf”*
• Work with the best
• Eliminate the negative
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*John Travolta – Pulp Fiction

4. The ten (legal) commandments
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5. • Be aware of your IP assets and check the IP of your
competitors!
- Registration of Trademarks, Designs and Models:
• Benelux: Benelux Office for IP : https://www.boip.int/wps/portal/site/home/
• EU: https://oami.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/
• Worldwide: http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html
- Registration of Patents:
• Belgium: http://economie.fgov.be/fr/entreprises/propriete_intellectuelle/BE_Benelux_Patent_Platform/#.VIciOJ0VFaQ
• EU: http://www.epo.org/
• Worldwide: http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html
- Registration of Copyright: not required
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6. • Don’t forget your IP rights when signing a contract…
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7. • Starting a business is like getting married
• Setting up a legal entity benefits your business
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8. • Never start without a work accident insurance
(unless you want to end up in jail or close down your business)
• Do your hiring of key people smartly
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9. • Pay income taxes!
• But not too much
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10. • If you have a limited turnover (< 15,000) and very few
input VAT you can opt out of the sometime
burdensome VAT compliance requirements and apply
the special regime for small enterprises
• Keep VAT in mind when you negotiate your contracts
(inclusive or exclusive ?) It can be a 21% mistake…
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11. And what about subsidies ?
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12. Subsidies – Venture Capital
• No general subsidies for start-ups ( activity driven)
• Multiple sources of subsidies: EU / Belgian Federal State / Belgian Regions
• Online databases
- www.agentschapondernemen.be
- www.aides-entreprises.be
- www.ecosubsibru.be
• Venture capital  PMV, SRIW, FPIM, GIMB, Gimv (risk capital, guarantees, loans,
etc)
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13. Thank you !
http://www.loyensloeffnews.be/en/publications/books/read-our-e-book-about-
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legal-aspects.html

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Filip Saelens
Employment Law
T +32 2 773 23 29
M +32 478 401 623
filip.saelens@loyensloeff.com
Bert Gevers
VAT/Customs
T +32 2 743 43 18
M +32 496 125 357
bert.gevers@loyensloeff.com
Robrecht Coppens
Corporate Law/M&A
T +32 2 700 10 12
M +32 497 219 281
robrecht.coppens@loyensloeff.com
Maxime Vermeesch
Tax
T +32 2 773 23 76
M +32 476 252 906
Maxime.Vermeesch@loyensloeff.com
Evelina Roegiers
IP/IT Law
T +32 2 773 23 67
M +32 477 139 882
Evelina.Roegiers@loyensloeff.com

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