Administration
Records that are in order save you tax interest, discussions with the tax authorities and above all time. These articles cover invoices, receipts, retention obligations, debtors and everything you keep track of month after month.
37 articles on this topic
WAZO and ZEZ: what is the difference?
WAZO is the act, ZEZ is the scheme for the self-employed within it. What that means if you freelance alongside a job.
4 min readZEZ benefit conditions: are you entitled?
Sole trader, director-shareholder or contributing partner: the ZEZ scheme is broader than many entrepreneurs think. A checklist of the conditions.
5 min readApplying for the ZEZ benefit: step-by-step with deadlines
Apply four weeks before your leave, at the latest two weeks in advance. What you need, how to submit it and what goes wrong if you are late.
5 min readZEZ benefit amount: how to work out what you get
The ZEZ benefit is at most one hundred per cent of the minimum wage. Whether you reach that maximum depends on the hours criterion. With a worked example.
6 min read
Valuing stock: why your purchases aren't a cost yet
Many entrepreneurs think stock they've bought immediately lowers their profit. It doesn't. How stock valuation works at year-end.
3 min read
Passing costs on to your client: how does VAT work?
Passing on travel costs, materials or a parking ticket: which VAT rate applies? Usually not the rate on the original receipt.
3 min read
Cash records: how to keep track of cash properly
Do you handle cash? Then the tax authorities look extra closely. How to keep a cash book that survives any audit.
3 min read
Business insurance for freelancers: what do you really need?
Liability, legal expenses, contents: which policies make sense and which premiums can you deduct? We set it out.
3 min readPregnant as a freelancer: how the UWV's ZEZ benefit works
As a pregnant freelancer you are entitled to at least sixteen weeks of benefit under the ZEZ scheme. Many entrepreneurs do not know this and miss out. Here is how to apply.
8 min read
Terms and conditions as a freelancer: why you want them and how to set them up
Terms and conditions are not mandatory, but without them you are weaker in disputes about payment, liability or extra work. Here is what to include and how to make them binding.
4 min read
Sick as a freelancer without disability insurance: what are your options?
No employer to keep paying you, no government safety net: a freelancer who falls ill without disability insurance is on their own. About bread funds, voluntary UWV insurance, your buffer and the mandatory disability insurance on its way.
6 min read
The work-related costs scheme and free margin in 2026
The free margin lets you give staff tax-free allowances. In 2026 that is 2% over the first 400,000 euros of payroll. Exceed it and an 80% final levy follows.
7 min read
Outsourcing your bookkeeping: this is what you provide (and nothing more)
What do you actually need to provide when a bookkeeper does your records? Less than you think. A complete overview, from onboarding to the monthly routine.
4 min read
Behind on your bookkeeping? How to catch up without panic
Months of unprocessed receipts and invoices: it happens to more freelancers than you think. This step-by-step plan gets your records back in order.
4 min read
Switching bookkeepers: how it works (and what to expect)
Doubting your current bookkeeper? Switching is easier than you think. This is the best moment, this is what you need and this is how the handover works.
4 min read
Tax audit or books investigation: what to expect and how to prepare
A letter from the tax authorities announcing a books investigation: no reason to panic, but a reason to prepare. What does the inspector look at, what are your rights and obligations, and what do you do beforehand?
6 min read
Advances and down payments: how to record them correctly
A down payment does not feel like revenue yet, but for VAT it counts immediately. We explain how to invoice advances, when to declare the VAT and what the final invoice looks like.
4 min read
Storing receipts and invoices digitally: what is allowed and how to do it right
May you throw away paper receipts after scanning? Yes, provided you do it properly. Here is how to set up a digital administration the tax authorities accept, and how to handle lost receipts.
4 min read
Error in a sent invoice? Here is how to fix it with a credit invoice
Wrong amount, wrong VAT rate or the wrong client: you do not simply edit a sent invoice. A credit invoice fixes it properly. This step-by-step guide shows how.
4 min read
Record retention: 7 years, and 10 years for property
You keep your records for seven years, property data for ten. What may be digital, what counts as core records and what you must never discard.
6 min read
VAT return for self-employed: how it works step by step
The VAT return is a stressful moment for many entrepreneurs, but it doesn't have to be. We explain step by step how it works.
3 min read
Creating your first invoice: what must be on it?
Your first assignment is in and now you need to invoice. Which details are mandatory? We list everything.
3 min read
How much should you set aside for tax?
As a self-employed person, tax isn't deducted automatically. So how much do you reserve? We give practical rules of thumb.
3 min read
Provisional assessment: handy or not?
With a provisional assessment you pay your tax in advance, spread out. When is that smart and when not? We explain.
3 min read
Avoiding tax interest: here's how
If you pay tax late, the tax authorities charge interest. That can add up. We explain how to avoid it.
3 min read
Drawing up an opening balance at the start
At the start of your business you make an opening balance. What's on it and why is it important? We explain.
3 min read
Accounts receivable: getting invoices paid on time
Late payments are a common problem for self-employed people. With good receivables management you prevent hassle. We give practical tips.
3 min read
Depreciation: linear, declining and residual value explained
Large investments are depreciated over several years. But how does depreciation work exactly? We explain the methods.
3 min read
Capitalise or deduct directly from profit?
A purchase can sometimes be deducted directly, sometimes you must capitalise and depreciate it. How do you know which? We explain.
3 min read
Payroll taxes: how does the system work?
As an employer you withhold payroll taxes from salary. But what do they consist of exactly? We explain the system.
3 min readDisability (AOV) and mandatory insurance
If you fall ill as a freelancer, your income disappears. A disability insurance protects you. We explain how it works and what's changing.
3 min read
Mandatory pension scheme per sector: does it apply to you?
In some sectors participation in a pension fund is mandatory, also for the self-employed. We explain when this applies.
3 min read
Building a buffer as a freelancer: how much is enough?
A financial buffer gives peace of mind during setbacks. How much should you have aside as a freelancer? We give practical guidelines.
2 min read
Choosing bookkeeping software: what to look for?
Good bookkeeping software saves time and errors. But what to look for when choosing? We give practical criteria.
3 min read
What to do with a client who doesn't pay?
A client who doesn't pay is frustrating and bad for your cash flow. We give a step-by-step plan to still get your money.
3 min read
Keeping personal and business separate: why and how
Mixing personal and business is a common mistake. We explain why separating is important and how to do it.
2 min read
Keeping a mileage record: what must be in it?
For the mileage allowance or to avoid the addition you need a watertight trip record. We explain what must be in it.
3 min readRather not figure this out yourself?
We handle your bookkeeping, VAT returns and income tax for a fixed monthly fee. Book a no-obligation introduction.
