How do I receive business mail without a physical office in Brussels?

You can use a licensed domiciliation provider like YELOMEX. They receive all your mail at their Brussels address, scan it the same day, and send it to you by email. No physical office needed — your registered address remains fully legal for BCE and VAT registration.

Is mail scanning included in Brussels domiciliation services?

Not always. Some providers charge per scan (€1–3 per page). YELOMEX includes unlimited scanning in its all-inclusive €60/month package — no extra fees regardless of mail volume.

How quickly is business mail scanned and forwarded in Brussels?

At YELOMEX, 85% of mail is scanned and emailed within 8 hours of reception. Urgent registered letters and official correspondence (tax authorities, ONSS) are prioritised and notified immediately.

Can I receive registered letters and official government mail at a domiciliation address?

Yes. A licensed domiciliation address in Brussels is fully recognised by Belgian tax authorities (SPF Finances), the social security office (ONSS), and the BCE. All official correspondence — including registered letters — can be received and managed at your domiciliation address.

What is the difference between a PO box and a business domiciliation address in Belgium?

A PO box is a mail collection service only — it cannot be used as a legal registered office for a Belgian company. A domiciliation address from a licensed provider is a real physical address that satisfies Belgian company law requirements for BCE registration, VAT, and banking.

How much does mail forwarding cost for a Brussels business address?

Costs vary by provider. Some charge €5–25 per forwarding shipment on top of the base subscription. YELOMEX includes mail scanning and digital forwarding (email) in its flat €60/month rate. Physical postal forwarding is available on request at cost price.

Can I use a Brussels domiciliation address to open a Belgian business bank account?

Yes, provided your domiciliation provider is registered with the Belgian FPS Economy. YELOMEX was among the first providers to obtain this registration in Belgium. Banks including BNP Paribas Fortis, ING, and KBC accept YELOMEX addresses for professional account opening.

Can a freelancer have a registered office address in Belgium?

Q: How can a self-employed person protect their home in Belgium?

Through the declaration of unseizability (déclaration d'insaisissabilité), signed before a notary. It protects your home from professional debts arising after the date of the declaration. It does not cover private debts or tax debts, and does not apply to debts that predate it.

VARO
Jun 23
3 min read

Yes. But if you're self-employed as a sole trader (personne physique), you don't get to choose that address : it is automatically your home address. In Belgium, a sole trader and their business form a single legal entity. There is no separation between you and your activity. Your professional assets and your personal assets are one and the same.

Here is what that means in practice, and what you can do if it creates a problem.

Your personal assets are exposed: what that actually means

If your business generates a debt you can’t pay, creditors can pursue your personal assets: your current account, your car, your home. In some situations, a spouse’s assets can also be affected, unless there’s an explicit prenuptial agreement in place.

Belgian law provides one partial protection: the declaration of unseizability (déclaration d’insaisissabilité) of your primary residence. It shields your home from professional debts, but only those arising after the date of the declaration, it doesn’t cover tax debts, and you have to actively request it before a notary. It doesn’t activate itself.

If you want to know whether this step makes sense in your situation, a notary can advise you. The directory is available at notaire.be.

Want a professional address without exposing your home?

There’s an option most sole traders don’t know exists. Your legal registered office stays at your home address, that doesn’t change. But nothing prevents you from using a coworking space’s address as your commercial reference address: on your website, your invoices, your business cards, in your day-to-day communication with partners and clients.

This address is not your registered office in the legal sense. It doesn’t replace your BCE registration. But it lets you display a professional address in your business communications without mixing private and professional life.

At Yelomex, self-employed sole traders can also access our coworking spaces in central Brussels and use our address as their commercial reference. A real address, in real premises, with a real team available.

Differences between registered office and commercial address for freelancers

Moving? There’s a step most freelancers miss

When you change your home address, you notify the municipal population service at your new place of residence. The commune updates the national register, and your registered office address with the BCE is updated automatically. It follows your home address with no additional step required.

But your establishment address in the BCE is a separate piece of data. It does not update automatically when your domicile changes, even if they’re in practice the same address.

That means after a move, you need to do two things: notify the commune, and separately update your establishment address with an accredited business one-stop shop (guichet d’entreprises agréé). If you only do the first, your BCE file remains partially incorrect.

Yelomex can handle that administrative step for you.

Yelomex offers sole traders the use of its Brussels address as a commercial reference address. Mail reception and scanning, access to coworking spaces, reachable team: everything is included at €60 excl. VAT per month, no deposit, no notice period.

If you would like to find out more before deciding, get in touch, we will be happy to answer your questions.

FAQ

Can a sole trader in Belgium choose a different registered office address than their home?

No. A sole trader’s registered office is automatically their home address. To choose a different address, you need to create a company (SRL, SA, etc.).

How can a self-employed person protect their home in Belgium?

Through the declaration of unseizability (*déclaration d’insaisissabilité*), signed before a notary. It protects your home from professional debts arising after the date of the declaration. It does not cover private debts or tax debts, and does not apply to debts that predate it. Find a notary at notaire.be.

Can a sole trader still use a professional address for their business communications?

Yes. Nothing prevents using a coworking space’s address as a commercial reference address (website, invoices, business cards). It’s not a legal registered office, but it lets you avoid displaying your home address in your professional communications.

What should a freelancer do to update their address in the BCE after moving?

Two separate steps are required: notify the commune (which automatically informs several organisations, including the BCE for your domicile), then separately update your establishment address through an accredited business one-stop shop. The second step is frequently forgotten.