Making a competitive analysis: this is what you need to know

Making a competitive analysis: this is what you need to know

April 2024 - A competitive analysis is an essential part of the business plan and an indispensable policy tool for managers and entrepreneurs. At least if it is clearly and insightfully prepared. But how do you get started? And where do you get the right data? Competitive analysis is part of the business or business plan. The aim is to paint a clear picture of a… ➤

Creating a business plan for your SME: these are the building blocks

Creating a business plan for your SME: these are the building blocks

April 2024 - A business plan is an essential document for any (starting) company. It describes your activity, the market you operate in, your competitors and your financial challenges. It helps you achieve your goals and overcome obstacles - not only during the start-up phase of your business but also later. ➤

3 strategies for service companies to work more efficiently

3 strategies for service companies to work more efficiently

April 2024 - For a service company, ‘service' is undoubtedly its greatest asset. You would rather not leave customers with a broken heating or electricity installation out in the cold for too long. So, your organisation needs to run on wheels to carry out interventions quickly and efficiently. ➤

Deadline NIS2 approaches: is your company ready?

Deadline NIS2 approaches: is your company ready?

April 2024 - The number of cyber-attacks and incidents has been rising sharply in recent years. Moreover, hackers are becoming increasingly creative, threatening companies with ransomware, data breaches, phishing, CEO fraud or reports on the dark web. To address this worrying phenomenon and make European member… ➤

Key deadlines for mixed taxpayers in 2024

Key deadlines for mixed taxpayers in 2024

April 2024 - Mixed taxpayers are taxpayers who carry out both taxed and exempt transactions. Due to this mixed tax liability, there is no full right to VAT deduction. That deduction can be made on the basis of the general ratio or by applying actual use. Mixed taxpayers must report their use through a notification. ➤

New interest rates for loans and overdrafts

New interest rates for loans and overdrafts

April 2024 - By RD of 12 January 2024 (publication on 25 January 2024), the reference interest rates for cheap loans were published. These reference rates are used to calculate the benefit in kind for a loan granted by a company to its director(s) or employee(s). This is also used to determine the overdraft interest rate for the 2023 income year. ➤

Increased cost deduction of 120% for e-invoicing software

Increased cost deduction of 120% for e-invoicing software

April 2024 - From 1 January 2026, the mandatory introduction of digital invoicing is imminent for Belgian companies. In early 2024, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives approved a change in the law that gives companies a tax advantage when they switch to e-invoicing. Specifically, sole traders and SMEs will enjoy… ➤

Higher tax increase for insufficient upfront payments: from 6.75% to 9%

Higher tax increase for insufficient upfront payments: from 6.75% to 9%

April 2024 - A company or sole proprietorship that makes too few advance payments of its income taxes must reckon with a tax increase. Until the financial year 2023, this increment was 6.75% or 4.5%. For the financial year 2024, it will be 9%. So, a proactive prepayment strategy is not a luxury! ➤

Retailers must accept cash payments

Retailers must accept cash payments

March 2024 - The House plenary approved a bill requiring retailers to accept cash payments. According to European regulations, customers in the European Union must be free to choose whether to pay in cash or electronically. However, the number of stores where this is not possible is increasing. More and more merchants are refusing cash… ➤

Mandatory training plan: deadline approaches

Mandatory training plan: deadline approaches

March 2024 - By the end of March, companies with 20 or more employees must have a labour deal training plan ready. A survey shows that nearly 4 in 10 SMEs have that plan ready today. About a third have yet to start.
What is the labour deal?
The labour deal contains a series of measures to reform the labour market. ➤

Is your company ready for e-invoicing?

Is your company ready for e-invoicing?

March 2024 - Digital invoicing between companies will be mandatory from Jan. 1, 2026. Still a long way off, you think? Yet you'd better not wait too long. Mandatory digital invoicing is the brainchild of Finance Minister Vincent van Peteghem (CD&V). But Belgium is anything but a pioneer: countries such as Italy, France and Poland have embraced… ➤

How to integrate ChatGPT into your business?

How to integrate ChatGPT into your business?

March 2024 - Whoever says artificial intelligence, says ChatGPT. But is the chatbot worth anything in your business? ChatGPT is based on a language model trained by OpenAI to handle a wide range of textual tasks. It is important to note that ChatGPT does not understand what it writes, it is only lol at estimating how human language works. ➤

Are you on board with ESG?

Are you on board with ESG?

March 2024 - The three letters stand for Environmental, Social and Governance. But what else do you know about ESG? And why is it something you really can't ignore this year as an entrepreneur? Sustainability and corporate social responsibility are terms that have been around for a long time. Most entrepreneurs don't lose any sleep over them. But that will soon change. ➤

Changes to Flemish registration fees in 2024

Changes to Flemish registration fees in 2024

March 2024 - At the start of a new year, we give you an overview of changes to the registration duties on real estate in Flanders. A landlord or leaseholder must pay registration fees on the total fees it pays to the landlord or leaseholder. Since Jan. 1, 2024, this fee has increased from 2% to 5%. (To refresh, the right of superficies is the right… ➤

Agreement on reference CO2 emissions from commercial vehicles for 2024

Agreement on reference CO2 emissions from commercial vehicles for 2024

March 2024 - At the end of January 2024, Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem reached an agreement within the federal regulation to determine the reference CO2 emissions for commercial vehicles. CO2 emissions are an important parameter to calculate the benefit in kind (VAA) for company cars. ➤

Tax changes in 2024 and their impact on your company

Tax changes in 2024 and their impact on your company

March 2024 - Like every year, in 2024 you will have to consider new tax rules that may impact your company and employees. We highlight some notable measures: Tax limit amounts re-indexed: a whole series of federal tax caps were not indexed from income years 2020 through 2023. Starting in income year 2024, these amounts will again… ➤

SME growth grant: call calendar 2024

SME growth grant: call calendar 2024

March 2024 - In 2024 you can again submit a dossier for the SME growth subsidy on three occasions. With this subsidy instrument, the Flemish government wants to support SMEs in Flanders in their growth trajectory. That trajectory must be in line with one of the following important social themes: digitalization, sustainable… ➤

6% VAT for demolition and reconstruction: update

6% VAT for demolition and reconstruction: update

March 2024 - Since January. 1, 2024, you should expect significant changes regarding the VAT rate for demolition and reconstruction of private homes. Until now, you could apply (or have applied) the 6% rate only for renovations of homes older than 10 years and for demolition and reconstruction in 32 centre cities. Since Jan. 1, 2021… ➤

Temporary tax credit for employers required to grant bike allowance

Temporary tax credit for employers required to grant bike allowance

February 2024 - Employers who have to grant bicycle allowances to their employees based on NAR CBA No 164 can temporarily count on tax compensation in the form of a tax credit. As of 1 May 2023, it will be compulsory for employers who regularly cycle to work with their employees to pay a… ➤

Everything you need to know about mandatory sustainability reporting in 2024

Everything you need to know about mandatory sustainability reporting in 2024

February 2024 - In 2024, the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD) directive will come into force, a set of laws and decrees marking a new standard around sustainability reporting. Over 50,000 large and small companies will be impacted. On 5 January 2023, the Corporate… ➤