Key takeaways
- For self-employed people, convenience, a fixed price and Dutch support are what matter most.
- Please note iDEAL via Mollie, VAT/Chamber of Commerce convenience and no increasing app costs.
- A platform that is too complex will mainly cost you time.
- Microcart is built for self-employed persons/SMEs: all-in-one at a fixed price.
As a self-employed person, you want an online store that you can run on your own. Little technical hassle, predictable costs, and features that evolve as you grow — without having to switch halfway through.
That sounds logical, but most platforms are built for larger teams or are aimed at hobbyists. This article lists what you should pay attention to as a self-employed person, how you can arrange your administration and taxes smartly, and which options are appropriate. Then you choose based on your situation, not on the largest advertisement.
What makes a webshop suitable for self-employed people?
A platform that suits a self-employed person scores on five points:
- Low maintenance. You don't have a web builder or technical team. Updates, security and hosting must be arranged without you having to worry about it.
- Predictable costs. One fixed monthly payment that you know in advance, no bills that increase with your turnover.
- Dutch payment methods. iDEAL is a must in the Netherlands; Bancontact for Belgium.
- Connection to your administration. Invoices, VAT and stock must be correct without duplication.
- Room to grow. What works today should also work with a hundred orders per month.
Are you just starting out and unsure if you're even ready? Then first go through the step-by-step plan to start an online store — it tells you what you do and don't need to get started.
The pitfall: a platform that grows too large or too expensive
Many self-employed people choose a platform based on the entry price and encounter problems a year later. Two scenarios are common:
- The platform is so extensive that you pay for functions that you never use.
- Or it is so basic that you need a paid app for every serious function, which silently doubles your monthly costs.
For a self-employed person, the sweet spot is a platform that is complete enough to do everything you need, without having to pay extra for individual modules.
Costs: your margin is your salary
Every euro of fixed costs is at the expense of what you have left. Don't just count the subscription, but also the costs per sale and the apps you really need.
Calculation example. If you sell 40 products per month with a margin of 12 euros, that is 480 euros. If you pay 35 euros in fixed costs, you will have 445 euros left. If a transaction fee of 1.5% is added to 1,500 euros in turnover (22.50 euros) plus two apps (20 euros), that drops to 402 euros — a difference of more than 40 euros per month, every month. A platform that charges a percentage per order becomes more expensive as you become more successful. We have worked out the full calculation in what a webshop costs.
Arranging administration and invoicing
As a self-employed person, you are liable for VAT as soon as you make structural sales. This means: VAT on your invoices (usually 21%, sometimes 9%), periodic declaration, and neat accounting for purchases and sales. If you expect little turnover, the small business scheme (KOR) may be suitable: you do not charge VAT, but you are also not allowed to reclaim it.
Choose a webshop that automatically creates correct invoices and neatly exports your sales data to your accounting package. If you do this manually, it will cost you hours every month. A platform that has this built-in will pay for itself in time.
Tax benefits that you can be entitled to as a starter
As an entrepreneur you can, under certain conditions, make use of a number of schemes for income tax purposes:
- Self-employed deduction — a fixed amount that you can deduct from your profit if you meet the hour criterion (guideline: 1,225 hours per year in your company).
- Starter deduction — an extra deduction in your first years as an entrepreneur.
- SME profit exemption — a percentage of your profit that is exempt.
- Investment deduction — if you invest in business assets above a threshold in a year.
The exact amounts and conditions change every year and depend on your situation. Keep track of your hours from day one and agree with your accountant or the tax authorities what you are entitled to — it can quickly save you hundreds of euros.
The options at a glance
For a Dutch self-employed person, these are roughly the routes:
- Shopify — big and flexible, but in dollars, with many features in paid apps and a percentage per sale if you don't use their own payment solution. Strong if you want to adjust a lot, less predictable in costs.
- Lightspeed, CCV Shop, Mijnwebwinkel — Dutch players with local support and a familiar package model. You calculate with a subscription plus separate modules.
- All-in-one platforms such as Microcart bring your webshop, products, variants and orders together. Microcart charges 0% transaction fees of its own; your payment provider's fees still apply. Connect a payment provider for iDEAL and configure the VAT settings for your webshop.
If you want to see them side by side in detail, the best Shopify alternatives for Dutch entrepreneurs are listed.
All-in-one or put it together yourself?
The choice comes down to how much time you want to put into technology. Putting it together yourself - separate webshop, separate payment provider, separate apps - gives maximum freedom, but you also manage multiple subscriptions, links and accounts.
For most self-employed people, peace and quiet outweighs freedom. One platform with one price means one point of contact, one monthly payment and nothing that can break between each other. That saves you exactly the time you would rather spend on selling. Many self-employed people started small, next to their job — you can read about what that looks like in practice in these stories. And you can read exactly which payment methods you need in Accept iDEAL in your webshop.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register with the Chamber of Commerce as a self-employed person with a webshop?
Yes, as soon as you sell structurally for a profit. For most self-employed people, a sole proprietorship is the logical legal form.
Do I have to charge VAT?
Yes, unless you opt for the small business scheme (KOR). Charge VAT on your invoices and submit periodic returns.
Which webshop platform is the cheapest for a self-employed person?
Not necessarily the lowest subscription. Calculate the total costs in your turnover, including transaction fees and apps; a fixed rate without fees is often cheaper once you sell.
Can I link my webshop to my accounting?
Yes. Choose a platform that creates invoices and exports sales data, so you don't have to retype everything.
As a self-employed person, can I run a webshop in addition to my job?
Sure. Many self-employed people start part-time. Pay attention to the hour criterion if you want to claim the self-employed deduction.
Do I need technical knowledge?
No. With an all-in-one platform you can build and manage everything without code.
Your next step
List your requirements: how much time do you want to spend on management, which payment methods do you need, and which connection with your accounting is a must. Then calculate two platforms based on your expected turnover. The platform that takes care of the most work at a predictable price is almost always the better choice for a self-employed person. Do you sell in a specific industry? Then view the approach for your type of webshop.
Further reading
step-by-step plan to start an online store
the best Shopify alternatives for Dutch entrepreneurs
You can read what that looks like in practice in these stories
