From a good grasp of finances to proper certification from the Chamber of Commerce, there are plenty of requirements and necessities to becoming a freelancer in the Netherlands.
Tackling the financial aspect of it all can be difficult if you’re just getting started — but this is why services like Finom exist.
Freelancing and finances in the Netherlands
Becoming a freelancer in the Netherlands can seem challenging. From finding clients to establishing a personal brand, you learn a lot of things on the job.
But from the get-go, you’ll have to be really involved with your finances — and many freelancers struggle with this.
This is especially the case if you don’t know all the jargon or every single detail about which subsidies, tax returns, and deductibles apply to your situation.
You have to consider:
- What’s a reasonable billing rate per hour
- How to send bills to your clients in an effective and organised way
- Filing and paying income taxes, as well as BTW and other potential business taxes
- Setting up your pension fund when you don’t have an employer who contributes
- Managing the day-to-day business expenses while keeping personal finances separate.
Sounds a bit overwhelming, right? Geen stress, this is where Finom can help out.
What is Finom?
Finom is a financial tech company based in the Netherlands focused on helping entrepreneurs (freelancers included!) with their finances.
The company sets a standard for “doing business” by creating a platform where freelancers (and other self-employed, and small businesses) can manage their finances and account for their expenses.
Managing your finances with Finom
So, what does all this actually mean for your business? How is Finom going to help you manage the financial side of your business?
Put simply: you can open bank accounts, get physical or virtual bank cards, make international payments, invoice clients, and more, all in one place. Talk about a Swiss knife for your finances!
As a freelancer, you’ll benefit from a ton of Finom’s services. Now, let’s get into the specifics of this handy tool.
Finances have never been more simple, accessible, and safe
Perhaps the scariest thing about being a ZZP’er in the Netherlands is managing your finances and keeping track of how much money should be here, there and everywhere.
This quickly makes the process seem quite chaotic. What happens when you remove that chaos and simplify your finances? Things become a lot more manageable — and that’s exactly what Finom can do for your business.
Separate your personal and business finances
Firstly, you can easily separate your work finances and your personal finances and get a fresh Dutch IBAN. This makes your accounting and expenses much easier to keep track of.
All your finances — in one place
Are you an international freelancer in the Netherlands? Geen probleem, It’s also easy to integrate other banks and financial matters from all over Europe through Finom.
This means you can see where your money is going (and coming from) all in one place.
And protected under top security measures
Whether you’ve got business elsewhere in Europe or just in the Netherlands, you can rest easy knowing your money and data will be safe through Finom’s top security measures.
Freelance like a pro
On top of helping you keep track of the numbers, Finom offers many other handige features that are essential for freelancers.
Automated invoices? Yes, please
For example, one extremely helpful tool that Finom also offers is an invoicing service.
Through this, you can automate sending your bills to clients — super handy if you have to handle lots of requests at once (and no more worrying about whether you’ve charged someone twice, or worse, not at all.)
Cashback for transactions? Now we’re talking
What’s more, you can get up to 3% cash back on most of the transactions you make.
This means that you get a small percentage of money back for the transactions you make using physical or virtual debit cards from Finom! This amount is between €10 and €20 per month and depends on the plan you have at Finom.
If you’re ever in doubt or confused about their services and how they work, you can easily check in with customer care. That way, you can get the most out of Finom’s services and features.
Sign me up! How can I start using Finom?
Finom’s services are super customisable for your needs — you can opt to use a range of packages with different services for a monthly fee.
It costs just €3 per month for a Solo plan with 0% cash back, or you can choose a Start plan for €14 per month, which includes two accounts and 2% cashback.
If you want a plan that can accommodate more people, you can check their Premium and Corporate subscriptions for even more services.
Finom’s primary focus is working with freelancers and small to medium-sized businesses, so you can be sure you’re making the most out of their services and getting help from the experts who are trained to help people exactly like you.
Do you have experience with managing your finances as a freelancer? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2023, and was fully updated in August 2023 for your reading pleasure.
Does it also help with filling taxes?