Coaches and therapists. You help people forward, we help your practice.
For coaches, complementary and psychosocial therapists, haptotherapists, massage therapists, career coaches and job coaches. Usually on your own, sometimes with a few colleagues. VAT or no VAT, a practice at home and what you keep net: Alvelion handles the accounting around it.
Request an introductory meetingSole proprietorship or BV? Work it outWhat matters in a coaching or therapy practice?
Most coaches and therapists work on their own. You are practitioner, entrepreneur and administrator at the same time. And the rules depend on exactly what you do: care, support or coaching.
There is no single SBI code. A complementary therapist or haptotherapist is usually under 86.96, massage therapy or art therapy under 86.99, a life coach under 85.59 and a job coach under 88.99. In the old classification, Statistics Netherlands counted more than 50,000 businesses in the group of other paramedical practices on 1 October 2026. More than 9 in 10 are one-person businesses.
If you grow, with your own practice room, training courses or a colleague joining, you deal with splitting VAT, rent and perhaps a BV. That is where we help.
Where things go wrong for coaches and therapists
Do you recognise one of these situations? Then your accounting needs attention.
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Doubt about VAT
You are not sure whether you should charge VAT. Or you charge it to one client and not to another. The exemption only applies to healthcare by a BIG-registered profession or someone with an equivalent level. If you wrongly charge no VAT, you can receive an additional assessment.
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Therapy, coaching and training lumped together
A treatment can be exempt, coaching and training often are not. If they are not separate in your accounts, you cannot show what is exempt. And then the deduction of VAT on your costs is wrong too.
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A practice room at home deducted
You converted a room at home and deduct the costs. That is only allowed if the room is a self-contained part of the home, for example with its own entrance and its own toilet, and you earn a large part of your income there. Otherwise the Tax Administration can disallow the deduction.
With your accounting in order, you know what is exempt, what is taxed and what you keep net.
Two choices for your practice
VAT-exempt or 21%
What does it mean for your price?
If you are exempt, you charge no VAT. That suits private clients, but you may not deduct the VAT on your costs. If you charge 21%, you may. If your turnover is no more than €20,000 a year, you can choose the small business scheme.
Practice at home or rented
Which costs may you deduct?
A room at home is cheap, but the costs are only deductible for a self-contained part of the home. If you rent a practice room, the rent is simply a business expense. And you keep work and home separate.
We work out what each choice leaves you net.
How Alvelion handles the figures of your practice
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Getting to know you and setting up
We look at what you do, for whom, with which training and in which register. On that basis we determine what is exempt and what is taxed, and set up your accounting.
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Keeping up to date
Invoices, costs and bank are processed continuously, with therapy, coaching and training kept separate. Every month you see what you earn.
Every month
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Tax returns on time
The VAT return and your income tax return with the self-employed deduction go out on time. If you have a BV, so do your salary and the corporate income tax.
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Looking ahead
Your own practice room, a colleague joining or a BV? We work out in advance what it costs and brings in.
You work with one dedicated contact who knows your business, not a changing team or a general helpdesk.
Where Alvelion helps your practice
Bookkeeping for your practice
Invoices, costs and bank are processed continuously, with exempt and taxed turnover kept separate.
Go to online bookkeepingVAT: exempt or taxed
We check whether your treatments are exempt and what you need to be able to show for it. Also if you charged VAT for too long.
Go to tax adviceIncome tax return
With the self-employed deduction, the start-up deduction and the right costs for your practice room.
Go to tax returnsTerms and complaints procedure
General terms, a privacy statement and what the Wkkgz asks of you. Our own legal team helps you.
Go to legal adviceSole proprietorship or BV
Is your profit growing, or are you going to work with colleagues? We set up the structure properly.
Go to structure and controlColleagues in your practice
Do you work with other therapists or coaches? We help with the agreement, so that it does not become disguised employment.
Go to employment lawCalculators
Sole proprietorship or BV?
Is your practice growing? Enter your expected profit and see what you keep net as a sole proprietorship and as a BV, with the 2026 rates. Do you drive to clients? Also work out whether a company car pays off for you.
Calculate sole proprietorship or BVWhether you charge VAT does not depend on your title. It depends on what you do and what you can show.
Your practice and your figures with one team
Knows the rules for your profession
The medical VAT exemption, the education exemption, the small business scheme and the practice at home: we know the rules that apply to coaches and therapists.
From sole trader to practice
We help you when you are just starting, and when you grow into a practice with colleagues.
One contact
Bookkeeping, payroll and advice with the same dedicated team.
Frequently asked questions
Sometimes. The exemption applies to healthcare by a BIG-registered profession, or by someone with an equivalent level of quality. That means at least a completed health-related higher professional bachelor's degree of 240 credits, or a training course supplemented by another course or relevant experience at that level. You also need basic medical or psychosocial knowledge. Proof can include registration with a professional association recognised by the health insurer. Judges do not always rule the same way on this. Have your own situation checked.
Usually yes, 21%. Life coaching and business coaching are not healthcare. An exception can apply if you genuinely provide education, see the question on career coaching. If your turnover is no more than €20,000 a year, you can choose the small business scheme. You then charge no VAT, but you may not deduct any VAT either.
Only if you genuinely provide education: you pass on knowledge or skills for work using a method. You must also be listed as an institution in the Central Register for Short Vocational Training (CRKBO). If you are only listed as a teacher, the exemption only applies to teaching for educational institutions. A conversation about choices and wellbeing is not education. Then you charge 21%.
Then you have a mixed practice. You keep the exempt treatments and the taxed training or coaching separate in your accounts. You may only deduct the VAT on costs insofar as they relate to taxed turnover. Costs that serve both, you split.
Possibly. For that you must object in time. So do not wait. The reverse also applies: if you charged no VAT when you should have, the Tax Administration can issue an additional assessment.
Usually not. It is allowed if the room is a self-contained part of your home, for example with its own entrance or stairway and its own toilet, so that you could rent it to someone else. You must also earn a large part of your income there. If the room is not self-contained, a deduction is only possible if you own the home and it belongs to your business.
If you provide care to clients, including complementary care, you are as a rule covered by the Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz). You then need a complaints procedure and must be affiliated to a recognised disputes body. A duty to notify under the Healthcare Providers (Admission) Act may also apply. Have that checked for your situation. If you only provide career or life coaching, the Wkkgz does not apply.
That depends on your client's supplementary insurance, and on whether your professional association is on that insurer's list. There is no central rule. Many complementary therapists are affiliated to a register, such as RBCZ, through their professional association. Such a registration can also help with the VAT exemption.
Most coaches and therapists work as a sole proprietorship. You are then entitled to the self-employed deduction, €1,200 in 2026, if you work at least 1,225 hours a year on your business. In the first years the start-up deduction of €2,123 is added. A BV only becomes attractive at a higher profit. Work it out with our calculator.
Ready to grow your practice further?
Tell us how your business runs now. We deliberately work with a limited number of clients. That is why we first look together at whether we are a good fit. You'll hear back within one working day.
Request an introductory meeting