Assistance for the Self-Employed (BBZ) | the benefit for entrepreneurs in difficult times

If you are a self-employed person with a (temporary) low income, you may be able to apply for a BBZ benefit. Bbz stands for Besluit bijstandverlening zelfstandigen (Bbz). The municipality decides whether a (starting) self-employed person can get a BBZ benefit.

• Do you have your own business and temporary financial problems?
• Have you just started and cannot make ends meet yet, or do you have to stop your own business?

This is a temporary benefit and/or working capital (loan) from the Besluit bijstandsverlening zelfstandigen (Bbz). The municipality decides the right to support and the amount of the benefit. For information you can often visit the site of your own municipality or contact your municipality.

Conditions municipality of Utrecht

You meet at least the following conditions:

• You are 18 years or older and younger than the AOW pension age.
• You work at least 23.5 hours per week on average in your business (i.e. the hour criterion of 1225 hours per year).
• You depend on income from your business for your livelihood.
• Your (family) income is not enough to make ends meet.
• Your company is established in the Netherlands and you live in the Netherlands.
• You have all the permits required to run your business.
• You have no savings or other immediately available capital and you cannot obtain financing from a bank.

More info and applications

On the site of the Municipality of Utrecht you can find more information about the BBZ and how to apply for it.

BBZ