From jobseeker to entrepreneur

Are you a jobseeker wanting to become an entrepreneur? As a jobseeker, you can benefit from various mechanisms and support measures to help you get started and maximise your chances of success.

This page lists all the aids that will allow you, as a jobseeker, to receive training and support and help you financially as you launch your project.

Also download our brochure "From job seeker to entrepreneur" (PDF). You will find all the information available on this page but also inspiring testimonies of former jobseekers who started their own business, just like you!

Training and preparation

Before starting your own business, what could be more normal than wanting to use your available time to acquire new skills and/or plan your entrepreneurial project? But how can you train and plan your project when you have to meet the obligations of an active job search?

Exemption from availability for training

The conception of an entrepreneurial project sometimes requires the acquisition of new skills that are useful for managing a company (marketing and communication, commercial, digital and finance aspects, foreign languages, etc.), or exercising a new profession within the framework of professional retraining.

As a jobseeker, you are able to request an exemption from availability which releases you from your active job search obligations during your training.  You can follow a work-study programme, an internship (thanks to the professional immersion agreement), or even studies.

Remember to always submit your exemption requests before the start of your training, internship or studies.

More information?
👉 Find all the eligible training organisations and the steps to take on the dedicated Actiris page.

Exemption from availability for planning

Before you launch, you can also take the time to plan your project for a period of up to six months, while continuing to receive your unemployment benefits. This may involve a project feasibility study, the fitting out of premises, administrative formalities, etc.

What formalities must you complete at the beginning of your preparations?
You must first make a written planning declaration to the unemployment office using a form available on the NEO website or from your payment agency. During this preparatory period, you must remain registered as a jobseeker and remain in possession of a control card that you must complete according to the instructions on the card.

More information?
👉 Consult the dedicated page on the NEO website

Getting support

When you want to become an entrepreneur, getting support is the key to success!

Brussels is full of competent organisations. A number of them specialise in supporting (future) entrepreneurs who have the status of jobseekers. They are supported by the public authorities in this mission and offer programmes that are truly adapted to your needs as well as free assistance.

They can offer the following services:

• help with drafting your financial plan and business plan
• help with finding the necessary funding
• support with your administrative procedures

Choose the location closest to you, or according to its potential speciality.

• Centre Dansaert (Local Economy Office of the City of Brussels)
• Credal - specialised in supporting women
• Euclides (Local Economy Office of Anderlecht)
• Local Economy Office of Molenbeek
• Local Economy Office of Schaerbeek
• ILES asbl - specialised in cultural and creative projects
• JobYourself
• Microstart
• Village Partenaire (Local Economy Office de Saint-Gilles) - specialised in sustainable projects

Sign up for one of their information sessions via their websites to find out about their services and how they work.

Getting started

Before starting your own business as a self-employed person and losing your unemployment benefits, there are different options available for jobseekers to start their business while limiting the risks.

Here, we help you understand the differences between them, their implications for your status and benefits, and the (in)compatibilities between them.

All these options are also covered in an information session entitled "Cooperatives, springboards, self-employed grant: which option to choose to limit the risks". Watch the replay here (in French).

Summary of start-up assistance for jobseekers

1. The activity cooperative (JobYourself)

Activity cooperatives allow jobseekers (as a priority) to test their activity without directly taking on entrepreneurial status.

You will be able to produce and invoice as a real self-employed person but under the protection of the activity cooperative. After 18 months (maximum) of testing, you have the necessary hindsight to decide whether you want to become an entrepreneur with the status of your choice or remain a jobseeker.

If you need it, they will also support you in the first phase as you plan the start-up of your business (see section on "Getting support").

Your status

You remain a jobseeker; you do not have self-employed status. You invoice using the VAT number of the activity cooperative.

Your unemployment benefits and obligations

You continue to receive your benefits throughout the test with a degressivity freeze in period 2 (phase 2A). You do not return to this phase if you have passed it.

You can also receive an exemption from availability on the job market during the test phase and so devote yourself 100% to your project.

The income from your activity

The income from your activity can reimburse your professional expenses, but you will not be able to directly use all your own funds to pay yourself (above a ceiling fixed by the NEO). However, you will be able to get your funds back at the end of the test phase.

The administrative management and accounting are managed by the activity cooperative. In return for this supervision, you have a cooperative participation of 10% of your gross margin.

Your support

Depending on your needs and the progress of your project, you will receive a first phase of support that is mainly collective. After this preparation phase, or if you are ready to invoice right away, you enter the test phase, which lasts up to 18 months. During this phase, you invoice via the VAT number of the activity cooperative and continue to receive support throughout the process.

access to the profession

If access to the profession is necessary for your activity, you will have to obtain this before the test phase.

Which activity cooperative to choose

Brussels has two activity cooperatives grouped together at JobYourself:

• JobYourself is a generalist activity cooperative.
• Baticrea is a sub-section of JobYourself aimed at project leaders in the construction, craft and green trades sectors.

Note that some projects or sectors of activity are excluded (liberal professions, transport of persons, etc.).

👍Certainly, if:

• You want to plan your project with supervision and in a collective dynamic.
• You want to take the time to test the economic viability of your project as well as your suitability for it before you launch.
• You want to initially free yourself from administrative and accounting procedures to concentrate on your project.
• You can afford to continue living on your unemployment benefits for a while without directly receiving the income generated by your activity (until the end of the test phase). 

👎 Probably not, if:

• You want to receive all the income from your activities immediately and with no impact on your unemployment benefits.
• You are registered as a jobseeker but are not receiving unemployment benefits.
• Your activity requires too much investment or financial risk (commercial lease, large production equipment, etc.).
• You are independent by nature and do not want anyone to interfere in the development of your project.

✊ Incompatibilities

Your situation is incompatible with the activity cooperative if:

• You receive, or have received, the self-employed grant
• You are already being supported by another activity cooperative (in Flanders or Wallonia).
• You are currently benefiting from the springboard plan. In this case, you will have to give up your complementary self-employed status to join the cooperative.

More information?
👉 Consult the websites of JobYourself and JobYourself Baticrea.

2. The self-employed Springboard Plan

The Springboard Plan is the possibility for a jobseeker to start (or continue) a self-employed activity on a complementary basis while keeping their jobseeker status and unemployment benefits.

It requires prior approval of NEO via procedures to be carried out with its payment agency.

Your status

You remain a jobseeker on a primary basis and become self-employed on a complementary basis for a maximum period of 12 months.

Your unemployment benefits and obligations

You keep your unemployment benefits while you start your activity. However, you must remain available for employment, respond to job calls and keep track of your activities.

The income from your activity

You invoice using your VAT number and directly receive the income from your activity. However, there is an income limit beyond which you will have to repay all or part of the benefits you received. Similarly, the social security contributions you pay are provisional and will be adjusted according to your income.

You will then have to repay the excess income and your contributions will be recalculated. It is therefore imperative that you keep your accounts up to date (and, if necessary, have someone support you) and put aside anything that will potentially have to be repaid so you avoid unpleasant surprises!

Your support

You are not obliged to receive assistance from a support organisation to activate the springboard plan, but customised support is strongly recommended, especially at the start of your activity (see the section on "Getting support"). Contact one of these organisations, as they will help you limit the risks and plan your project.

access to the profession

You must have access to the profession if your business requires it.

Is the self-employed springboard for you?

👍 Certainly, if:

• You want to take the time to test your business and find your customers before launching your main activity
• You can afford to have a low income from your activity (coupled with your unemployment benefits)
• You potentially have high business expenses, which allows you to lower your net income (and avoid having to pay back all or part of your unemployment benefits)
• You are independent and proactive in your project and do not necessarily need to be supervised
• You know how to keep your accounts and control the consequences that your self-employed activity can have on the amount of your unemployment benefits, social contributions and taxes.

👎 Probably not, if:

• You plan to make a significant turnover with few professional expenses
• Your activity does not allow you to meet the availability obligations on the job market (opening hours too restrictive, for example)
• You want to work in an artistic field
• You have only one client, with potentially a subordinate relationship. In which case you could be considered "false-self-employed"

✊ Incompatibilities

Your situation is incompatible with the springboard plan if:

• You receive, or have received, the self-employed grant
• You are already being supported by an activity cooperative
• You have already benefited from the springboard plan less than six years ago
• You have already been self-employed in this profession as a main occupation less than six years ago.

More information?
👉 To learn more about the Springboard Plan, visit the NEO website.

3. The self-employed grant

The self-employed grant is financial aid granted to jobseekers by Actiris, that allows them to receive financial support for a period of six months maximum when they start out as self-employed on a primary basis.

Your status

You leave your status as a jobseeker and become self-employed as a primary occupation. You will no longer receive unemployment benefits but will receive a grant to help you during the first months of your activity.

The income from your activity

You invoice using your own VAT number and receive a grant of up to €4,000 (for 2022) paid in six successive monthly instalments.

You can use this money however you want. If you stop during the first six months, you will not receive the remaining undelivered payments.

The bonus is considered as income, i.e. it will be taken into account in the calculation of your social security contributions and personal income tax.

Your support

The first phase, even before you have self-employed status, is to meet a support that will analyse your project. If it is considered viable, the structure will issue a document allowing you to start the process to becoming self-employed and submit your grant application. Your support will continue throughout the time you receive the grant.

 These approved organisations are the five Local Economy Offices, Credal, Iles asbl, Microstart and JobYourself. These organisations are listed in the "Getting Support" section.

It is important to carefully follow the different steps before taking up your self-employed status, otherwise the grant will not be paid. Similarly, procedural delays can take time, so anticipate them!

access to the profession

You must have access to the profession if your business requires it.

Is the self-employed bonus for you?

👍 Certainly, if:

• You have planned your project well and you know your market and your customers
• You are confident about the profitability of your project
• You do not qualify for the springboard plan or the activity cooperatives

👎 Probably not, if:

• You want to test the economic viability of your project as well as your suitability for it before you launch
• You do not feel comfortable combining the start-up of your new activity with the administrative and accounting obligations it requires

✊ Incompatibilities

Your situation is incompatible with the self-employed grant if:

• You are already involved in the test phase of an activity cooperative
• You received the self-employed grant less than two years ago
• You have benefited from the Springboard Plan less than two years ago
• You have been self-employed as a main occupation less than two years ago.

More information? 
👉 Visit the page dedicated to the independent premium on the Actiris website.

4. Shared or payrolling companies (Smart, Tentoo, Amplo, MERVEILLE + INTERIM)

Shared or payrolling companies allow you to invoice for your services through them while keeping your unemployment benefits between your services. This allows you to test the profitability of your activity before taking on self-employed status.

Your status

You remain a jobseeker. You will sign successive fixed-term contracts with the shared company thanks to which you will be able to provide services or make sales within a legal and secure framework.

Your unemployment benefits and obligations

You will not receive unemployment benefits for the days you work, but you will receive them between contracts.

The income from your activity

The administrative management (contributions, VAT, etc.) is taken care of by the shared company, so you directly receive a net income from your services. In return, they charge a percentage on these services.

Your support

You are not required to have support from a certified support organisation to invoice via a shared enterprise, but support is still strongly recommended. The shared enterprise also offers individual and group support and training programmes.

access to the profession

If access to the profession is required for your activity, and if this activity is accepted by the shared company, you will have to prove that you have it. 

Is shared enterprise for you?

👍 Certainly, if:

• You want to start slowly by testing services on a one-off and/or irregular basis
• You don't want to worry about the administrative or accounting management of your business
• You want to set up a quick solution so you can invoice while keeping your unemployment benefits for the days you don't work.

👎 No, if:

• You want to perform regular and frequent services
• You don't want to delegate the administrative and accounting management of your business
• You want to test your activity while keeping 100% of your unemployment benefits

Which shared company to choose?

Choose the shared company located not far from you and/or according to your sector of activity.

• Smart is intended for all trades with a few exceptions such as activities protected by an order (lawyer, doctor, etc.) or certain building trades.
• Tentoo also works with all professions (with exceptions)
• Amplo is a Social Agency for Artists
• MERVEILLE + INTERIM specialises in artistic services, audio-visual and communication, but is also open to all sectors of activity.

5. Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE)

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is quite different from the other alternatives proposed in this article because it does not allow you to run your business directly. Instead, it offers help to prepare you for the entrepreneurial profession and deepen the preparation of your project.

This is a cross-border exchange programme that offers jobseekers (in particular) the opportunity to train for one to six months with experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in different participating countries.

You receive monthly financial support of between €550 and €1,100 (depending on the chosen destination) granted by the European Commission. This financial support can be combined with unemployment benefits.

Is Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs for you?

👍 Certainly, if:

• You want to familiarise yourself with the entrepreneurial profession and develop new skills before launching your business
• You want to discover a new country and a new market and create international contacts
• You can plan this project in advance, as the steps require some time.

👎 No, if:

• You're looking for help to get started rather than plan.
• You want to launch your project quickly without going through an observation and learning stage.

More information? 
Visit the page dedicated to Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs on the hub.brussels website

What if my business doesn't work?

If you start out as a jobseeker in a self-employed activity as your main occupation, you keep your rights to reactivate your unemployment for 15 years.

If you stop your activity within the first six months, this period will be taken into account when calculating the decrease in your benefits. If you stop your activity after six months, you will in principle receive an allowance equal to the one you were receiving previously.

In any case, starting a complementary activity does not end your unemployment rights, which act as a solid safety net if your business does not work out as expected.

More information on the dedicated page on the NEO website.