Start-ups, closures and net: how we count

What counts as a start-up?

Every new VAT-registered business: a company, a sole trader or an association with a VAT registration in the CBE. Owners' associations of apartment buildings do not count. That is the same definition as Statbel's official figures.

On which day does a start-up count?

On the day the VAT registration appears in the CBE, as at Statbel. A company is often in the CBE for a few weeks before it gets a VAT number. If we counted on the start date, the last weeks would always be too low and rise later. Companies that already had a VAT registration before we tracked this count on their start date.

The CBE publishes the changes of the previous working day every morning. Today is only complete after tomorrow's update.

Two sources in one chart

The official series is published by Statbel.

For months before our own count we show Statbel's official monthly figures (new VAT-registered businesses, since 2017). After that we count ourselves, every day, in the CBE. Statbel months are lighter. Statbel does not split by province: on a province page you only see our own count.

Start-ups, closures and net

A closure is a VAT-registered business the CBE shows as stopped: its own decision, a liquidation, a merger or a closed bankruptcy. Bankruptcies are only part of closures. Net is start-ups minus closures.

What is on the pages?

• New businesses: the number in the last 7 and 30 days, the map by province, by month, by year, by week, which sectors, and the newest companies.
• Net: "Is Belgium growing?", with start-ups, closures and bankruptcies, a map in green or red, mirrored months, years with the strongest and weakest growth, growing sectors, and the newest and most recently closed companies.

Follow new companies in your area

With Pro, create a smart list with filters (for example "founded in the last 30 days" in your municipality or sector) and turn on alerts. You get an email with the new companies in the list.