How to make money as an artists and designer in Belgium

If you are an artists and designer in Belgium and want to earn on the side or build a full activity, the practical reality is finding paying customers, setting clear prices, and sorting legal and payment details. This guide explains where customers actually come from, how to set a first price and talk about money, what your first ten customers typically look like, what to check with Belgian authorities when you start taking money, common early mistakes, and how a Websta profile with services, prices and online booking fits into that process.

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers come from

Clients come from a mix of local and online sources. Neighbours and friends often give the first commissions - a portrait, a mural on a shopfront, or a logo for a hobby business. Workplaces and colleagues can ask for event posters or internal branding. Schools, community centres and local businesses commission workshops, murals or small runs of prints. Online search and social media bring people who are looking for a specific style or product. Word of mouth remains important: a few satisfied local clients can generate referrals.

Across Belgium you will see the same channels: private commissions in homes, repeat work from small businesses, schools and non-profits, gallery or market sales at local fairs, and requests found via search or marketplaces. On Websta the category for this trade is artists and designers and the marketplace path is /marketplace/art which is another channel to be discovered.

  • Neighbours and friends - quick wins and early references
  • Workplaces and local businesses - repeat small contracts
  • Schools and community groups - workshops and projects
  • Online search, social media and marketplaces - wider reach
  • Word of mouth - referrals from early customers

Setting a first price and talking about money

Start by covering your costs - materials, time, local studio overhead, and any taxes or social contributions you will pay. Track how long a typical project actually takes before you commit to a price. Use either an hourly rate or a fixed-price model per deliverable; fixed prices are often easier to sell to private clients because they reduce sticker shock.

When you discuss price, be transparent about what is included - how many revisions, delivery or installation, and whether VAT applies. Offer a clear written estimate and ask for a deposit before starting if the job has significant upfront costs. If you are unsure about VAT rules or whether you must include VAT on your invoices, ask SPF Finances or your guichet d'entreprises what applies to your situation.

  • Calculate materials + time + overhead before adding profit
  • Decide hourly rate or fixed price and be consistent
  • State what is included and request a deposit for larger jobs
  • Make invoices clear - include VAT number if required

What your first ten customers usually look like

Most early customers are people who already know you or can see your work in person. Expect friends and family, neighbours, colleagues, and clients from local groups or markets. A small handful may come from an online listing or a marketplace posting where someone found your style. You may get a local business that hires you for branding or murals and a school or association that wants a workshop.

Early orders tend to be small, simple jobs that build your portfolio and reviews. Focus on delivering clear communication, meeting deadlines, and asking for permission to show the work in your portfolio. These first customers matter more for referrals and testimonials than for revenue size.

  • Friends and family commissions
  • Local private clients - portraits, home decor
  • Small businesses - logos, signage, posters
  • Schools and community groups - workshops
  • Online or marketplace customers seeking a style match

What to sort out when taking money in Belgium

You need to register and comply with Belgian administrative and fiscal rules. The practical first checks are with a guichet d'entreprises or business counter - they handle registration and can tell you whether to operate as a sole trader or set up a company. For questions about VAT rules and issuing invoices, check with SPF Finances. For social security contributions and mandatory insurance for self-employed people, ask your social insurance fund for the self-employed or the relevant local authority.

If you are unsure about contracts, consumer rules or copyright issues, consult a legal advisor or a recognised professional organisation. Keep separate business banking records, and make sure any platform payments are paid into an account you control so you can reconcile income and VAT if applicable. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe when you use a marketplace that offers that service.

  • Register at a guichet d'entreprises - ask about registration and legal form
  • Ask SPF Finances about VAT registration and invoice requirements
  • Check social contributions with your social insurance fund for the self-employed
  • Keep separate records and bank account for business income

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Common early mistakes are underpricing, not tracking time, unclear scope leading to endless revisions, late invoicing, and mixing personal and business finances. You may deliver work and forget to issue a clear invoice or to include payment terms, which makes chasing late payments harder. Another frequent issue is not budgeting for taxes and social security, which creates a cash flow problem when contributions are due.

Avoid these by using simple written agreements, clear invoices, a requirement for deposits on larger projects, and a basic bookkeeping routine. Set boundaries about revisions and delivery dates, and keep a running list of prospective clients instead of relying on one source of work.

  • Underpricing and not tracking time
  • Unclear scope and endless revisions
  • Late or missing invoices, no payment terms
  • Not setting money aside for taxes and social contributions

How a Websta profile fits into this

A Websta profile gives you a single page that looks like a website with services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. It is a place you can send to potential clients and a way people nearby can find you through the platform. You set your own prices and describe services in plain terms. When card payments are accepted through the platform, payouts go to your own bank account through Stripe.

Use the profile to show recent work, list clear service descriptions and terms, and link to booking slots or a contact form. Treat the profile as one part of your online presence alongside social media and direct outreach - it is useful for referrals because it provides consistent information you can share quickly.

  • Single sharable page with services, photos and booking
  • Payments can be routed to your bank account through Stripe
  • List clear deliverables and terms to reduce disputes
  • Use alongside social outreach and local networking

Practical next steps

Test a small, well-defined offer you can deliver quickly and use the results as portfolio material. Register with a guichet d'entreprises and ask SPF Finances about VAT rules if you expect regular sales. Prepare a simple contract or terms, a basic invoice template and a bookkeeping folder for receipts. Create a Websta profile in the artists and designers category and use the /marketplace/art path if you list on that marketplace so you can be found and send a tidy page to prospects.

Expect to refine prices and processes as you learn. Focus first on delivering quality to your earliest clients and on building a short list of reliable local referrers.

  • Set one small offer and price it to cover costs and time
  • Register and ask SPF Finances about VAT and invoicing
  • Prepare invoices, simple terms and a deposit policy
  • Create a Websta profile and share it with prospects

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register to sell my art in Belgium?
Most regular economic activity requires registration. Check with a guichet d'entreprises about registering as a sole trader or company and ask SPF Finances whether you must charge VAT.
How should I set a price for a commission?
Cover materials, time and overhead, choose hourly or fixed pricing, and include terms on revisions and delivery. Track real time spent on early jobs to adjust later prices.
Can I keep my job and freelance as an artist?
Yes, many people start part-time. Ask a guichet d'entreprises how registration affects your situation and check social security implications with your social insurance fund for the self-employed.
Do I have to charge VAT on my artwork or services?
VAT rules depend on turnover and the type of service. Ask SPF Finances for the rule that applies to your activity and how to show VAT on invoices.
How do I get my first paying clients?
Start with people you know, local businesses, markets, and targeted online listings. Deliver clear agreements and ask early clients for referrals and permission to show the work in your portfolio.

About the numbers

Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.

Related guides

All guides