Starting a business: main or secondary occupation?

Founding a business? That’s all well and good but does being self-employed really mean I have to go all-in and make this my main occupation? Isn’t it better to be cautious and build my business gradually as a sideline? Truth be told, both options have their pros and cons.

Is entrepreneuring in your blood? Are you utterly convinced and raring to get cracking? Then you will obviously invest as much time in your business as you possibly can and a self-employed activity as a main occupation is the way to go.

However, if your business won’t be profitable anytime soon, if a project is a long time in the making or if you simply don’t like to take chances then you can also run your company as a sideline.

Come again?

Simple. If you spend every single day toiling away on your independent activity - or nicely put: if this is your main or only professional activity - then you are self-employed as a main occupation.

As a salaried employee or civil servant you can become self-employed in a secondary occupation. But:

You are self-employed in a secondary occupation if your social rights are already arranged as an employee or civil servant. The condition is that you work at least half-time as an employee and that you work at least 235 hours each quarter (calculated in a 38-hour week). Even if you have a replacement income as an employee or civil servant - for example an unemployment benefit or a disability benefit - you can, under certain conditions, be considered self-employed in a secondary occupation.

Social security contributions

The biggest difference between the two statutes lies in the social security contributions. A main occupation presupposes a certain income. Even if you make less, your contributions are still calculated on that amount.

If you’re self-employed in a secondary occupation the same percentages apply but only as of a certain income. If you make less you pay no contributions whatsoever. Incidentally, in your salaried activity you build up most other social rights.

In addition to the most common distinction between a main or secondary occupation there are also exceptions such as assisting spouses, pensioners and those who are self-employed in a main occupation equated to a secondary occupation. But that’s yet another entrepreneurial story.

Best of luck with your main or secondary occupation!

Source: UNIZO
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