Accountant for shop owners
Clothes shop, grocer, bookshop, bike shop, florist: your accountant must understand your margins, your stock and your VAT (TVA/btw) regime. With the flat-rate scheme set to end, now is the right time to take stock with a Viseeon network accountant.
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What are the sensitive points in a shop's accounting?
The end of the flat-rate VAT scheme
Many small shop owners declare VAT using flat rates by sector. This scheme is due to disappear by 1 January 2028 at the latest. You will then have to move to the normal regime, with a suitable till and bookkeeping.
Stock that ties up your cash
Every item on the shelf is idle money. Unsold goods, breakage and theft eat into your margin without showing clearly. A poorly done inventory distorts your profit and your tax.
Eroded margins
Rising supplier prices, commercial rent, energy, card payment commissions: the gross margin on paper does not tell the whole story. Without tracking by product family, you do not know which ones really keep you going.
In-store and online sales to reconcile
Many shops also sell through a website or social media. Multiple payment channels, different VAT rules depending on the customer, handling returns: the bookkeeping must bring it all together.
What your accountant does for your shop
A shop owner's VAT
Review of your current regime (flat rate, exemption or normal), preparation for the move to the normal regime, rate setup in your till, returns and listings.
Stock and inventory
Inventory method, valuation at purchase price, write-downs on unsold goods, tracking of shrinkage. You know the true value of your stock.
Margin and profitability
Gross margin by product family, stock turnover, turnover per square metre, monthly break-even point. Simple figures to decide on your purchases and your prices.
Flat rate, exemption or normal regime: which VAT regime suits your shop?
| Regime | Who it is for | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Small business exemption | Annual turnover up to €25,000 | No VAT charged, no deduction. The e-invoicing obligation still applies for your business customers |
| Flat-rate regime | Some small shop owners, based on flat rates by sector | Ends by 1 January 2028 at the latest. No obligation to issue electronic invoices until then |
| Normal regime | Everyone else | VAT calculated on actual sales, periodic returns |
What to prepare before the flat rate ends. A till that records each sale with its VAT rate, complete purchase bookkeeping and a routine for periodic returns. [A_VERIFIER: exact date for abolition of the flat-rate regime (art. 56 VAT Code) and planned transitional measures]
Supplier invoices. Since 1 January 2026, your Belgian VAT-registered suppliers send you their invoices in structured electronic format. You must be able to receive them.
Electronic payment. Shop owners who sell to consumers must offer at least one electronic payment method. [A_VERIFIER: obligation to offer electronic payment, date of entry into force and FPS Economy source]
Commercial lease. A commercial lease follows its own rules on duration and renewal, set by the law of 30 April 1951 on commercial leases. Property withholding tax (précompte immobilier) can be passed on to you only if the lease expressly provides for it.
Tax calendar for shop owners
VAT returns, social contributions, inventory, annual accounts: all the dates in a retail shop's year, and the steps to prepare for the end of the flat-rate regime.
Get the guideIs the flat-rate VAT regime going to disappear?
Yes. The flat-rate regime will end by 1 January 2028 at the latest. Until then, flat-rate shop owners do not have to issue structured electronic invoices. It is worth preparing the move to the normal regime now.
I am under the VAT exemption. Does e-invoicing apply to me?
Yes. Small businesses under the exemption, with annual turnover of no more than €25,000, remain subject to the obligation for their invoices to Belgian business customers.
How do I value my stock at year-end?
At purchase price excluding VAT, allowing for write-downs on damaged, outdated or unsellable items. The physical inventory must be dated and kept.
What gross margin should I aim for?
It depends enormously on the sector. What matters is to track it by product family and compare it with your fixed costs to find your break-even point. Your accountant helps you calculate it each month.
Do I need a cash register?
The certified cash register system targets operators whose turnover from meals eaten on the premises exceeds €25,000 excluding VAT per year. A retail shop without catering is therefore not subject to it. A reliable till does, however, make VAT and the move to the normal regime easier.
How much social contribution does a self-employed shop owner pay?
In 2026, 20.50% of income up to €75,024.54, then 14.16% up to €110,562.42. The quarterly minimum for a main-occupation self-employed person is €890.42. A spouse who helps you may have their own status.
I also sell online. Which VAT rules apply?
For your sales to consumers in other EU countries, a common threshold of €10,000 per year applies. Above it, the VAT of the customer's country is due, and can be declared through the OSS one-stop shop.
I am taking over an existing shop. What should I check?
The commercial lease and its transfer, the condition and value of the stock, the goodwill, the seller's debts and any staff. An accountant can review the latest accounts before you sign.
Run the shop as a sole trader or through an SRL/BV?
The SRL/BV (private limited company) in principle protects your personal assets and can lower tax as profit grows. It requires a financial plan and a notarial deed, with no minimum capital, and fuller bookkeeping.
Let's talk about your shop
Book a 20-minute video call with an accountant who already works with shop owners.