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.

If googling “How to set up a company in Belgium" left you more confused, start here

Q: Can I register for VAT and get a company number with a domiciliation address?

Yes. A registered address provided by an accredited business center is a valid registered office for the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and for VAT registration. Your enterprise number is tied to that address exactly like any other registered office.

VARO
Jul 17
5 min read

If you've ever Googled 'how to set up a company in Belgium' and ended up more confused than when you started, you're not alone. The process involves terms that don't translate cleanly into English, steps that assume you already know the sequence, and official resources that are almost entirely in French or Dutch.

So let's start at the beginning. The very first thing you need, before a notary, before a bank account, before anything, is a registered address. In Belgium, this is called business domiciliation. Here's what it means, why it exists, and what it actually includes.

What is business domiciliation?

Business domiciliation means using the address of an accredited business center as the official registered office of your company. Your company is legally "based" at that address. It appears on your articles of association, your invoices, your official correspondence, and your entry in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE), Belgium's central company register.

You do not work from the business center. You simply use its address as your company's legal home. The center receives your mail, signs for registered letters, and forwards your correspondence.

This is not a mailbox service. A business domiciliation through an accredited center is a formal legal arrangement governed by a written contract: the domiciliation agreement. That document is what your notary and enterprise counter will ask for when you register.

Why Belgian law requires a registered address

Under the Companies and Associations Code (CAC, law of March 23, 2019), every company incorporated in Belgium must have a registered office on Belgian territory. This address is not optional.

Without it, you cannot:

Obtain a company number from the CBE
Register for VAT
Proceed with notarial deeds for company formation
Open a professional bank account

The CBE is the federal database that centralizes all basic company data and assigns a unique enterprise number to every registered entity. That number is tied to an address. No address, no number. No number, no company.

For foreign entrepreneurs, this creates a specific friction: you may not have a Belgian address when you decide to set up here. That's exactly what business domiciliation solves.

Who can use a business domiciliation?

Any company or self-employed person registered in Belgium can use a business center as their registered office. This includes:

EU citizens setting up a sole proprietorship or a company (BV/SRL, SA/NV, and others). No additional permit required.

Non-EU citizens establishing a company. A professional card is typically required before or alongside the registration process. Your company's registered address determines which regional authority handles your application. We cover this fully in our article on professional cards for non-EU entrepreneurs in Belgium.

Foreign companies opening a Belgian branch. A registered address in Belgium is required for the branch to appear in the CBE. There is no minimum activity requirement. You do not need to prove that your company operates from the address. The business center is your legal base, not your workplace.

What a domiciliation contract actually includes

A standard domiciliation agreement with an accredited business center in Belgium covers:

Legal registered office use. The address is yours to use on all official and commercial documents: articles of association, invoices, contracts, website, email signatures.
Mail reception and management. The center receives all your professional mail, including ones from the CBE, SPF Finances, social security, and other official bodies. Most centers scan or forward important correspondence, or hold it for collection. Registered letters from courts or bailiffs are also received and documented.
The domiciliation agreement itself. A formal signed contract, required by Belgian law and by your enterprise counter for company registration.

What is not included by default: physical workspace, meeting rooms, phone answering, or secretarial services. These are add-ons, not part of a standard domiciliation offer.

Business domiciliation vs. a physical office

A physical office is a space you rent and occupy. It comes with a lease, a deposit, monthly rent, and utility costs. For a company in its early stages, that structure rarely makes sense.

A business domiciliation gives you a real, legal address. No lease, no deposit, no fit-out costs. You pay a flat monthly fee. Everything that legally requires an address is covered. Some entrepreneurs use domiciliation as a permanent arrangement, others start there and move to their own premises once their activity requires it. Belgian law does not require you to work from your registered address. What matters to your bank, your notary, and the CBE is that the address exists, and is stable.

Infographic comparing business domiciliation and a physical office as a registered address option in Belgium. Criteria include legal registered address, contract type, deposit, monthly cost, utility costs, mail reception and handling, and minimum commitment.

What to look for in a business center

Belgian business centers that provide domiciliation must be registered to the FPS Economy (SPF Économie). This means the center meets the legal requirements to act as a registered office provider. Not every center makes this visible. Check before you sign.

Practical criteria beyond accreditation: location, price, and mail handling reliability. An address in central Brussels (postal code 1000) carries more practical weight than a peripheral one when dealing with banks, notaries, and partners unfamiliar with the Belgian context.

Yelomex has operated as an accredited business center in Brussels for nearly ten years, among the first to register to the FPS Economy. One offer, one flat rate: €60/month excl. VAT. No deposit. No tiers. No hidden fees. The domiciliation agreement is ready from day one.

Getting in touch with an registered center is what actually closes this out: a registered address, a signed domiciliation agreement, and a CBE number issued without gaps in your file. Not a workaround, but the legal route the CAC requires, done once and done correctly.

FAQ

Is business domiciliation legal in Belgium?

Yes, business domiciliation is entirely legal in Belgium. It rests on two legislative pillars: the Companies and Associations Code (CAC), which requires every legal entity to have an official registered office, and the law of March 29, 2018, on the registration of service providers to companies.

Can I register for VAT and get a company number with a domiciliation address?

Yes. A registered address provided by a registered business center is a valid registered office for the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and for VAT registration. Your enterprise number is tied to that address exactly like any other registered office.

How much does business domiciliation cost in Belgium?

It depends on the provider and on what the contract includes. At Yelomex, domiciliation is a single flat rate of €60/month excluding VAT, with no deposit and no tiered packages (rate valid July 2026). Before signing anywhere, check whether mail handling is included or billed on top.

Do I have to work from my domiciliation address?

No. Belgian law does not require you to carry out your activity at your registered office. The address is your company's legal base. It must be a real address held by an accredited operator, not a fictitious one.

Looking for a professional address in Brussels?

Yelomex offers commercial domiciliation from €60/month, in real premises in the heart of Brussels. No long-term commitment required.

See pricing and options