Holding Company Formation: Intercompany Solutions for First-Year Dutch Setup

Holding Company Budgets Depend on Share Structure

A holding BV is a parent company that owns one or more subsidiaries. The cost depends on share structure complexity rather than tax considerations. Intercompany Solutions quotes a fixed remote formation fee of €2,299 covering notary fees, legalisation and Chamber of Commerce registration. For a simple holding with one owner and one share class, this fee is the baseline cost. When the structure becomes more complex, with multiple shareholders, different share classes or special voting arrangements, notary fees can range from €500 to €1,500 depending on the discussion scope. This range sits inside the fixed fee, not added on top, which is why scope confirmation matters before paying.

What the €2,299 Formation Fee Covers

The €2,299 covers notary fees, legalisation and the KVK (Chamber of Commerce) registration fee. KVK lists this fee as a one-time €85.15 for a new business. The €2,299 applies to a standard holding structure. If your holding has an unusual design, confirm in writing before paying whether the fixed fee covers your specific articles of association and share arrangement, or whether non-standard elements would be priced separately. The provider advertises all government levies included with no hidden fees, which means a founder can get clear scope confirmation as a written statement before commitment.

The capital requirement is separate from the formation cost. Business.gov.nl states a minimum contribution of €0.01 on incorporation, payable in cash or in kind. This capital is funding for the company, not a fee, and it is listed separately from notary and registration charges. When a holding receives assets or shares in kind, professional valuation is needed.

Notary Fees and Share Structure Complexity

A notary drafts the deed and discusses the articles of association with the founder, covering company purpose, directors' powers, and share structure. These discussions can be simple or complex. A simple structure with one owner and one share class sits at the low cost end of the notary fee range. Holdings with multiple shareholders, different share classes or special voting arrangements require more notary discussion and planning, pushing toward the higher end of the €500 to €1,500 range described by Intercompany Solutions. How the holding will eventually serve customers across different geographies is worth considering during this phase. The guide on whether a Dutch BV serves customers across Europe explores those multi-country scenarios.

Get the scope confirmation in writing because it protects both sides. If the notary discovers during the formation process that the articles need to be more complex than initially assumed, the provider can adjust the approach rather than argue about scope later. This written confirmation is also essential for co-founders or advisors who need to understand exactly what is included in the fixed €2,299 fee and what falls outside it. The notary will explain what each level of complexity requires, and the formation provider will confirm which level matches the founder's needs.

Monthly Overhead: Address and Bookkeeping

A holding that does minimal trading still faces mandatory Dutch obligations. KVK states that annual accounts are mandatory for a Dutch BV, and bookkeeping supplies the information for them. Intercompany Solutions notes that the registered address typically costs between EUR 60 and EUR 150 per month. Whether the holding and its subsidiary can use the same address is a practical question for the address provider and depends on the specific business activities. Whether Intercompany Solutions arranges the address or you find your own, confirm the monthly cost and the service scope in writing before the company is registered. If goods move across borders as part of your operation, the article on Dutch customs and VAT for foreign companies covers the import budget impact.

Bookkeeping for the mandatory annual accounts has no price in the standard formation fee and needs a separate quote. Get that quote early, because some holdings have very light transaction volumes while others are just as complex as an operating company. The accounting cost depends on the specific activities and the number of subsidiary transactions, not the legal structure alone. Most formation providers keep clients on for ongoing accounting, VAT and payroll after incorporation, which simplifies administration by keeping all documents and records in one place.

Single Entity vs. Multi-Entity Holding Structures

A simple scenario has one founder owning a single holding with one share class. The €2,299 fee covers the formation, notary fees sit at the simple end of the range, and recurring costs are one address and one set of annual accounts. This is the straightforward path for a founder who wants a holding structure but keeps the legal structure minimal.

A more complex scenario has multiple founders owning the holding together. The articles of association must address how decisions are made, voting rights, profit distribution and exit arrangements. This adds notary discussion time and complexity. This is where scope confirmation becomes essential before paying, because it determines whether the standard fee applies or whether additional work is priced separately. Providers like Intercompany Solutions quote scope before beginning, which prevents surprises during formation.

A two-entity scenario has the holding above an operating company that conducts actual business. Two separate incorporations are needed, each with its own formation cost, address and accounts. Ask your provider whether the €2,299 applies per entity or as a single package for a multi-entity holding structure. Some providers offer package rates for structures with a parent and subsidiaries, while others quote per entity. Confirming this in writing prevents billing disputes and makes your budget accurate from the start.

Five Questions Before You Pay for Formation

First, does your formation provider apply the €2,299 fixed fee per company formed, or is there a package rate for multi-entity structures? Second, does the standard formation cover the share classes and articles you want, or would non-standard arrangements be priced separately? Third, who arranges legalisation for shareholders who are themselves companies abroad, and is that inside or outside the fixed fee? Legalisation depends on document type and the country that issued them, so confirming this early matters.

Fourth, what happens if the formation needs a change after the notary deed is prepared but before registration with the Chamber of Commerce? Fifth, what are the address and accounting arrangements if you have multiple entities in your holding structure? When Intercompany Solutions advertises fixed fees with all government levies included and no hidden fees, a founder receives clear, written answers to these five questions. The comparison of legal setup versus full service packages shows what founders gain or lose by choosing different service scopes when they incorporate. With these answers and a clear picture of the full service scope, the budget will hold throughout the incorporation process.