Step-by-step plan for starting a catering business in the Netherlands

Good preparation saves you months of hassle later. Work your idea into a business plan. There are plenty of examples and templates online for putting one together. It's also wise to talk through your financial plan with an accountant.

Set out in that plan what you're going to make, for whom, and at what price. Work out properly, just once, what an average job costs you in purchasing, hours and transport. Then you know whether your rate is right before you send the first quote.

Which start-up formalities are mandatory when starting a catering business?

Now it's time to make the call. You're about to turn your culinary ambition into a real business. Keep the following mandatory start-up formalities in mind:

• If you're starting a sole trader business, you need to contact the Chamber of Commerce to register your business and get a KvK number.
• If you set up a company, its incorporation has to be published in the KvK's Trade Register (Handelsregister).
• Register with the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) for a VAT number too, either through the Chamber of Commerce or directly with the Belastingdienst.

You can also bring in an accountant to handle the administrative tasks above for you. On top of that, an accountant can support you with tax questions, VAT formalities and questions around the Registered Cash System, the Dutch requirement for tamper-proof tills.

If you take on staff, or if you pay yourself a salary as the owner, you'll also need to contact a payroll administration office to handle the payroll.

Which permits and certificates does your catering business need?

• Registration with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) for food safety (apply through the NVWA or the Chamber of Commerce)
• A permit for selling on public land (if applicable)
• Permission from your local council to use a pitch at a market
• A catering licence for selling alcoholic drinks (through your local council)
• A licence for playing music on site (through a copyright organisation such as Buma/Stemra)
• A certificate of professional competence or entrepreneurial skills isn't required to start a business in the Netherlands.

Don't forget to arrange the right insurance through a bank or insurance broker either.

Check with your local council what rules apply to the spot where you'll be set up or delivering. This varies by council, and you don't want to find out on the day that your pitch isn't allowed.

What do you set up before the first order comes in?

Nail down your prices, your standard wording and your terms and conditions before client number one calls. Then every new enquiry is just a case of filling in the date and the numbers.

Agree how you'll invoice too: a deposit upfront, or everything afterwards. In catering, your purchasing is already out the door before the event even starts, so a deposit saves you from fronting the money.

Track what a job actually costs you from day one. After ten jobs you'll see which kind of work pays and which kind mostly just keeps you busy. That steers your pricing better than any business plan.

In short

Before opening your catering business, you need to visit the Chamber of Commerce, an accountant and the local council where your business is based. Also get in touch with the NVWA to find out which hygiene rules and measures you need to meet to guarantee food safety.

Catermonkey works out your quote from your recipes and builds the purchasing list and preparation list underneath it straight away, so from your first order you can see what you're left with.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a qualification to start a catering business in the Netherlands?

No. A certificate of professional competence or entrepreneurial skills isn't required to start a business in the Netherlands. The food safety rules of the NVWA (the Dutch food safety authority) still apply though, so you need to set up your way of working around those.

Where do I need to register when I start catering?

You register with the Chamber of Commerce and arrange a VAT number with the Belastingdienst, either directly or through the KvK. You also register your business with the NVWA for food safety. If you take on staff, a payroll administration office joins the mix to handle payroll.

Which permit do I need to serve alcohol at a job?

You need a catering licence for that, which you apply for through your local council. If you're at a market or on public land, permission for the pitch comes on top of that. Check with your specific council, as the conditions vary.

Can I cater from my own kitchen at home?

You can, but you'll still need to register your business with the NVWA and your kitchen has to meet hygiene requirements. Check with the NVWA what applies to your situation before taking on your first job. If in doubt, also check with your local council that the zoning plan allows it.

What do I need to arrange if I take on staff?

Get in touch with a payroll administration office to handle the payroll. That also applies if you pay yourself a salary as the owner. Your accountant can help with that and pick up your VAT formalities at the same time.

Do I need a music licence on site?

If you play music on site, you'll need a licence for that through a copyright organisation such as Buma/Stemra. That's separate from your catering licence. Sort it before opening, then it won't catch you out later.

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