You are passionate about the building trades, you have gained solid experience on the construction site, but you do not have an official diploma? Good news: in Belgium, it is entirely possible to create a construction company without a diploma, provided you meet certain specific conditions.

In this article, ArtiBox explains the steps to follow, the options available to you, and tips for starting legally and effectively in the building sector in 2025.

Creating a construction company without a diploma: is it legal in Belgium?

Yes, it is legal… but regulated. Since 2018, Belgium has relaxed the access conditions to certain professions. However, activities known as "regulated" remain subject to professional skill requirements, particularly in the building trades (masonry, electricity, heating, etc.).

If you wish to work as a self-employed person or create your company in the construction sector, you must be able to prove your entrepreneurial capacity and, in some cases, your technical skills in the trade practiced.

What are the mandatory skills to get started?

To be able to create a building company, two types of skills may be required:

  • Basic management skills: mandatory for any self-employed activity. It proves that you are capable of managing a business (accounting, quotes, VAT...).
  • Technical professional skills: required for certain specific activities (heating, electricity, structural work, etc.).

If you do not have a diploma, you can still demonstrate your skills through other means.

How to prove your skills without a diploma?

1. Through professional experience

Proof of experience is the most common route. If you have worked several years in the building sector (employee, worker, or even volunteer under certain conditions), you can request a validation of your acquired skills. For example:

  • 3 years as a qualified worker may be sufficient to prove your professional skills,
  • 6 years as an unqualified worker may also be accepted.

These experiences must be justified by contracts, pay slips, employer certificates, or extracts from the Business Register.

2. Through a third party in the company

You can also partner with someone who possesses the required skills. This can be:

  • a partner or manager,
  • a helping spouse,
  • an internal salaried collaborator in the company.

This person must be actively involved in the company and able to justify their skills through a diploma or experience.

3. Through equivalence or accelerated training

If you have a foreign diploma or a qualification not recognized in Belgium, you can start a request for equivalence or take a short certified training course (through IFAPME or other competency centers) to gain access to the profession.

Key steps to create your construction business in 2025

Once the conditions are met, here are the main steps to create your business:

  1. Choose your legal status: self-employed as a natural person or company (SRL, SC, etc.).
  2. Open a professional bank account.
  3. Go through an accredited business counter to:
    • obtain your BCE business number,
    • verify your access to the profession,
    • register for VAT.
  4. Affiliate with a social insurance fund.
  5. Take out professional civil liability insurance (often mandatory on construction sites).

You can then start your activities legally, even without a formal diploma.

ArtiBox supports you in your first construction sites

At ArtiBox, we know it is difficult to get known when starting out. That’s why our platform helps new construction entrepreneurs to:

  • find their first construction sites through our construction exchange,
  • build a local network of clients and partners,
  • gain visibility through a well-filled professional profile,
  • organize their activities with simple and adapted tools for quotes, invoicing, and tracking.

We also highlight artisans in the launch phase to help them quickly obtain concrete assignments, without having to solicit or invest in advertising.

Creating a construction business without a diploma is possible and accessible

Not having a diploma does not mean you have to give up on starting a business in construction. With experience, good organization, and the right tools, you can build your own business legally and gradually develop your clientele.

ArtiBox Belgium is by your side to turn your know-how into real professional success.

Sign up today on ArtiBox and bring your construction business project to life, even without a diploma.