How to Become a Student-Entrepreneur in Belgium: Complete 2025 Guide

Belgian students are fortunate to benefit from an advantageous status: the one of student-entrepreneur.

Until recently, it seemed impossible to combine studies and entrepreneurship. Yet, the majority of students already work through a student contract. So why not create your own job and start your own business while studying?

The Student-Entrepreneur status: test your project legally

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This brand-new status, the student-entrepreneur, appeared in 2017. It was created to provide a legal framework and more favorable conditions for young people who combine their studies with independent activity - offering them the opportunity to test an entrepreneurial project legally. As Arthus Haulot, student-entrepreneur and founder of Sportivision, explains:

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"My name is Arthus Haulot, I’m 20 years old, and I’m studying Public Relations at HELB. I created Sportivision, a platform for photographers and participants of sports events. The student-entrepreneur status mainly allows me to benefit from reduced social contributions. I recently learned that thanks to this status, I could also slightly adjust my studies."

Since its launch, the number of student-entrepreneurs in Belgium has been steadily increasing, with an average annual growth rate of +8.2% between 2017 and 2024. In 2024, there were over 8,700 student-entrepreneurs. (source: Acerta)

How to combine studies and entrepreneurship

Managing studies and a business may seem complicated, but it often just requires the right support.

1. Benefit from business support

To develop your project from idea to growth, incubators like StartLab.Brussels offer free, personalized support.

• The Build track is adaptable to student schedules: workshops take place in the evenings and on weekends, allowing you to follow the program without disrupting your university courses.
• You participate in workshops, receive mentorship, and join a network of peers to test and evolve your project.

As Arthus highlights:

"Support from StartLab.Brussels changes everything! It actually forces me to work on my project. This support is what truly transformed me into an entrepreneur. The community and coworking are great, and the workshops are really interesting."

2. Benefit from administrative support

For administrative matters, student-entrepreneurs can turn to Acerta, which provides free tools and support to manage social status, contributions, and legal obligations. Specifically, Acerta helps with:

• obtaining your business number and registering with the BCE;
• activating your VAT;
• setting up the permits and insurance needed for your activity.

This allows you to focus on developing your project while benefiting from security from day one.

Dare to start with a small budget

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need much money to start a business as a student. A computer and a business number are often enough to get started. Social protection and Acerta’s support provide a solid safety net, dispelling the old idea that a young entrepreneur could lose everything overnight. The key is to start small, with resources adapted to a student’s reality.

Arthus adds:

"But beyond the most interesting aspect of the status, the best part is that as a student, you have time to make mistakes, and often you’re also financially supported by your parents. That’s my case, and it allows me to test and develop all my ideas without too many consequences if I fail."

Why becoming a Student-Entrepreneur is a unique experience

Of course, entrepreneurship requires a certain responsibility. But don’t let that hold you back: every successful entrepreneur has gone through this stage. Start modestly, inform yourself, and above all, surround yourself well. With an incubator like StartLab Brussels and administrative support from Acerta, you can turn your ideas into concrete projects without compromising your studies.

For Arthus, the advice is clear:

"Why hesitate? Just go for it! If you don’t like it, stop. Either way, it will be a valuable learning experience. But like anything, do it smartly, get help, and don’t put all your eggs in one basket."

You will enjoy the satisfaction of working for yourself, learning at an accelerated pace, and wearing multiple hats at once - an experience that no traditional student job can offer.