A record number of start-ups, but accountants remain in short supply: ING Belgium launches ‘Accountants Open for Business’
Belgium has more start-ups than ever before. According to the latest ‘Startersatlas’ published by GraydonCreditsafe, UNIZO and UCM, over 127,000 new businesses were set up last year. At the same time, the profession of accountant remains an occupation in short supply in the country’s three regions. As a result, many new entrepreneurs are finding it increasingly difficult to find an accountant who is still taking on new customers. With the launch of ‘Accountants Open for Business’, ING Belgium is making it easy for entrepreneurs and accountants to connect with one another.
For many business owners, an accountant plays a crucial role in the start-up and continued growth of their business. As well as providing support with accounting and tax matters, an accountant also helps business owners to monitor the financial health of their business, make key decisions and comply with legal obligations. However, it seems that these days it is not always easy to find an accountant who still has the capacity to take on new customers.
Furthermore, for many years now the profession of accountant has featured on the lists of occupations in short supply compiled by VDAB, Le Forem and Actiris. Demand for accountants remains high, while at the same time many firms are looking to recruit new employees.
Bringing together supply and demand
With ‘Accountants Open for Business’, ING Belgium aims to make it easier for people starting up a new business to find an accountant. Through the online platform, business owners can quickly find accountants who are still accepting new customers. The initiative is aimed not only at traditional start-ups in the form of companies, but also at sole traders, self-employed people working on a part-time basis and self-employed students. It is often precisely these groups that find it difficult to find an accountant who is still available.
At the same time, the platform offers accountants an additional channel to boost their visibility and connect with potential new customers. Firms decide for themselves whether to register on the platform and they can manage their profile and availability. In doing so, they can, among other things, specify the types of business and sectors in which they have expertise. Furthermore, thanks to the extensive network of affiliated accountants, business owners can turn to professionals who offer support in more than twelve different languages. This makes it easier for them to find an accountant who not only has the right expertise, but who can also guide them in a language they feel comfortable with. Accountants, in turn, are given the opportunity to stand out on the basis of their expertise, specialisms and language skills.
Saskia Bauters, Head of Business Banking at ING Belgium: ‘Belgium has a vibrant entrepreneurial dynamic, with thousands of new start-ups every year. A good accountant is often an indispensable partner in this regard. However, we regularly hear that business owners are finding it difficult to find a firm that still has the capacity to support them. As we support business owners and accountants alike on a daily basis, it seemed logical to us to build a bridge between the two. With ‘Accountants Open for Business’, we make it easier for start-ups to connect with a strong network of accountants, while giving accountants the opportunity to showcase their expertise and reach new customers.’
An initiative with advantages for both parties
‘Accountants Open for Business’ was developed starting from the realisation that not only business owners but also accountants stand to benefit from more efficient matching. For start-ups, the platform saves time during what is often a busy start-up phase. For accountants, it offers an accessible way to raise their firm’s profile among businesses that are actively seeking guidance.
Today, more than 200 accountancy firms are already connected to the platform, which is open to ITAA-accredited accountants1 who are ING customers and who are active in Belgium.
About ‘Accountants Open for Business’
‘Accountants Open for Business’ is an online platform that helps new business owners find an accountant who meets their needs. Business owners can search for accountants by location and area of expertise, while accountants can register free of charge to make their services visible to potential customers.
More information:
For business owners: https://www.ing.be/en/business/starters/i-am-looking-for-an-accountant
For accountants: https://www.ing.be/en/business/my-sector/find-an-accountant
1 ITAA accreditation is the official and legally required authorisation in Belgium to work as a self-employed accountant or tax adviser. See https://www.itaa.be/nl/home/
Gianni De Muynck
About the ‘Accountants Open for Business’ tool
The ‘Accountants Open for Business’ tool is intended solely to facilitate access to information regarding businesses and accountants. ING Belgium neither verifies nor guarantees the quality, availability, expertise, or suitability of the services offered by the accountants listed in the tool. The inclusion of an accountant in the tool does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement, or certification by ING Belgium. Businesses remain free to engage the accountant of their choice, whether or not that accountant is listed in the tool. Businesses are responsible for verifying that the accountant they choose holds the required professional qualifications and authorizations, including by consulting the official ITAA register. Except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, ING Belgium shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, claim, or dispute arising from the selection of an accountant listed in the tool, the contractual relationship with that accountant, or the services provided by the accountant.
About ING
ING Belgium is a universal bank that provides financial services for private individuals, businesses and institutional customers. ING Belgium SA/NV is a subsidiary of ING Group NV via ING Bank NV (www.ing.com).
ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its subsidiary ING Bank. The purpose of ING is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.
ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).
ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI has been upgraded from ‘AA’ to ‘AAA’ in October 2025. As of June 2025, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’ with an ESG risk rating of 18.0 (low risk). ING Group shares are included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell.