Continuous learning is a major competitive advantage for every entrepreneur. Belgium has a particularly rich training ecosystem, with many free or subsidised resources funded by regional public authorities. Whether you are launching, growing or digitalising your business, there is a programme suited to every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.
This guide lists the best free training and resources available to Belgian entrepreneurs in 2026, organised by region and by topic.
Public support bodies by region
Wallonia
1890 — a free hotline for Walloon entrepreneurs
1890 is the single information point for entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs in Wallonia. This free service answers all your questions on setting up a business, available grants, regulations and administrative procedures.
Services:
- Free phone line: 1890
- Website: 1890.be
- Referral to the relevant bodies
- Information on Walloon grants and premiums
- Help with administrative procedures
The Agence du Numérique (AdN)
The AdN supports the digital transformation of Walloon companies. Its programmes are particularly relevant:
- Digital Maturity Diagnostic: a free assessment of your digitalisation level with a personalised action plan
- Digital business vouchers: subsidies for digitalisation support (up to 75%, capped at EUR 22,500)
- Digital Wallonia training: free or low-cost training on digital tools, digital marketing and e-commerce
Forem Formation
Le Forem (Wallonia's public employment and training service) offers a catalogue of free training for the self-employed and business managers:
Popular courses:
| Course | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting up a business | 5 days | In person | Free |
| Digital marketing | 3 days | In person/online | Free |
| Financial management for entrepreneurs | 2 days | In person | Free |
| Advanced Excel | 3 days | In person | Free |
| Sales techniques | 2 days | In person | Free |
| WordPress: build your site | 3 days | In person | Free |
| Basic accounting | 5 days | In person | Free |
| Languages (NL, EN, DE) | Variable | In person/online | Free |
Conditions: reside in Wallonia, and be registered as a jobseeker or a self-employed person with a secondary activity.
Registration: leforem.be/formations
UCM (Union des Classes Moyennes)
UCM is the leading organisation representing the self-employed and SMEs in Wallonia and Brussels. It offers:
- Business start-up training: the full creation cycle (financial plan, market study, legal steps). Price: EUR 175-350 (often subsidised via business vouchers)
- Themed workshops: taxation, employment law, marketing, management. Often free for UCM members
- Seminars and conferences: regular events throughout Wallonia
- One-to-one coaching: support for business founders and successors
Annual UCM membership: around EUR 235 (tax-deductible). Gives access to many services and courses.
Brussels
hub.brussels
hub.brussels is Brussels' entrepreneurship support agency. It is the main point of contact for any entrepreneur in Brussels.
Free services:
- 1819: a free information hotline for Brussels entrepreneurs
- One-to-one coaching: free, personalised support for founders and existing entrepreneurs
- NXT Programme: support for digital transformation
- Starters Programme: a 6-month pathway for business founders
- Group workshops: free themed sessions (taxation, marketing, finance, legal)
- Hub.business: a coworking and events space
Specific hub.brussels programmes:
| Programme | Target audience | Content | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| NXT Digital | Brussels SMEs | Digital transformation | 6 months |
| NXT Export | Exporting SMEs | International development | 6 months |
| Starters | Founders | Setting up a business | 6 months |
| Women in Business | Women entrepreneurs | Dedicated support | Variable |
| Young Entrepreneurs | Young entrepreneurs | Youth entrepreneurship | Variable |
hub.brussels premiums:
- Digital transition premium: up to EUR 5,000
- Consultancy premium: up to EUR 15,000
- Investment premium: variable by sector
Actiris (for jobseekers)
Actiris, the Brussels employment service, offers free training for jobseekers who want to start a business:
- Active idea research group: workshops to find and validate a business idea
- Business start-up training: a full pathway funded by the Brussels Region
- Business incubators: test your business for 18 months under a protected status (JobYourself, Exalis, DK Brussels)
Flanders
VLAIO (Vlaams Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen)
VLAIO is the Flemish agency for innovation and entrepreneurship. It is the Flemish equivalent of hub.brussels.
Free services:
- Starter advice: free support for business founders
- KMO-portefeuille: subsidies for training and advice (30-40%, capped at EUR 7,500/year)
- Free training: digital, management, innovation
- Innovation support: backing for innovative projects
How the KMO-portefeuille works:
- Register at vlaio.be/kmo-portefeuille
- Choose an approved provider (training, consultancy)
- Apply for the subsidy online
- Pay your share (60-70%) and the Flemish Region pays the rest
UNIZO
UNIZO is the organisation for the self-employed and SMEs in Flanders (the Flemish equivalent of UCM).
Training:
- Business start-up workshops
- Training in management, marketing, taxation
- Sector seminars
- Networking events
VDAB
The VDAB (Flemish employment service) offers free training for self-employed people with a secondary activity and jobseekers who want to start a business.
German-speaking Community
The Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft and the Arbeitsamt (the German-speaking employment service) offer training in German for entrepreneurs in the German-speaking Community (the eastern cantons: Eupen, Sankt Vith, etc.).
Free online training
Belgian platforms
| Platform | Content | Language | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Wallonia | Digital, AI | FR | Yes (some courses) |
| BeCode | Coding, AI, cybersecurity | FR/NL | Yes (for jobseekers) |
| Bruxelles Formation | Multi-topic | FR | Yes |
| Technobel (Wallonia) | IT, digital | FR | Yes (some courses) |
| Technofutur TIC (Wallonia) | IT, multimedia | FR | Yes (some courses) |
International platforms with French-language content
| Platform | Content | Certification | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera | Business, tech, management | Yes (paid) | Free courses, paid certificate |
| Google Digital Garage | Digital marketing | Yes (free) | 100% free |
| Meta Blueprint | Facebook/Instagram marketing | Yes (free) | 100% free |
| HubSpot Academy | Marketing, sales, CRM | Yes (free) | 100% free |
| LinkedIn Learning | Business, tech, creative | Yes | 1 month free |
| OpenClassrooms | Tech, business, design | Yes | Free courses |
| Fun MOOC | French-speaking universities | Yes | 100% free |
| Udemy | Everything | Yes | Paid courses (often under EUR 15 on promotion) |
Recommended Google training for Belgian entrepreneurs
Google offers several free training courses that are particularly useful:
-
Digital marketing fundamentals (Google Digital Garage): 40 hours, free certification. Covers SEO, SEM, social media, email marketing and analytics.
-
Google Analytics 4 (Google Skillshop): official training to master Google Analytics, essential for tracking your website's traffic.
-
Google Ads (Google Skillshop): certified training on Google online advertising (Search, Display, Video, Shopping).
-
Google My Business: a complete guide to optimising your Google Business Profile listing (essential for local SEO in Belgium).
Belgian incubators and accelerators
In Brussels
| Incubator | Speciality | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Co.Station | Tech scale-ups | Paid (coworking space + programmes) |
| BLSI (Brussels Life Science Incubator) | Biotech, health | By selection |
| Startit@KBC | Tech startups | Free (by selection) |
| Start.LAB (BNP Paribas Fortis) | Fintech, insurtech | Free (by selection) |
| MolenGeek | Tech, coding, inclusion | Free |
| Microsoft Innovation Center | Tech, AI | Free (some programmes) |
In Wallonia
| Incubator | Location | Speciality |
|---|---|---|
| WSL (Wallonia Space Logistics) | Liège | Space, drones |
| VentureLab | Liège (ULiège) | University startups |
| The Faktory | Charleroi | Industrial innovation |
| Digital Attraxion | Mons | Digital |
| Creative Spark | Mons | Creative industry |
| LMN (La Maison du Numérique) | Charleroi | Digital |
In Flanders
| Incubator | Location | Speciality |
|---|---|---|
| imec.istart | Leuven | Deep tech, hardware |
| Start it @KBC | Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven | Multi-sector |
| The Beacon | Antwerp | Fintech, maritime |
| BluePoint | Antwerp | Innovation |
| Flanders DC | All of Flanders | Design, creativity |
Networking events and communities
Recurring events
| Event | City | Frequency | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salon des Entrepreneurs | Brussels | Annual | Founders and entrepreneurs |
| BSIT (Brussels Startup Innovation Tour) | Brussels | Annual | Startups |
| TADx Brussels / Antwerp | Brussels, Antwerp | Annual | Innovation |
| Start it Academy | Brussels | Regular | Startups |
| UCM evenings | Wallonia (multiple cities) | Monthly | Walloon SMEs |
| UNIZO events | Flanders (multiple cities) | Regular | Flemish SMEs |
| BECI events | Brussels | Regular | Brussels companies |
| VOKA events | Flanders | Regular | Flemish companies |
Online communities
- Startup.be: the Belgian startup ecosystem's portal
- BeAngels: a Belgian business angel network (if you're looking for funding)
- LinkedIn Groups: "Entrepreneurs in Belgium", "Belgian Startups", "PME Belgique"
- Facebook Groups: "Freelances Belgique", "E-commerce Belgique", "Entrepreneurs Wallons"
- Meetup.com: many tech and entrepreneurship networking groups in Brussels, Antwerp, Liège and Ghent
Enterprise counters
Enterprise counters (guichets d'entreprises) are the mandatory intermediaries for setting up any business in Belgium (CBE registration and VAT activation). But they also offer support services:
| Counter | Main region | Support services |
|---|---|---|
| Xerius | Flanders | Training, workshops, starter advice |
| Partena Professional | National | Start-up and management training |
| UCM | Wallonia, Brussels | Training, coaching, workshops |
| Securex | National | Training, HR advice |
| Liantis | Flanders | Training, starter support |
| Acerta | National | Training, themed workshops |
Essential online resources
Government websites
| Site | Content | URL |
|---|---|---|
| FPS Economy | Regulations, consumer law, standards | economie.fgov.be |
| FPS Finance (MyMinfin) | Taxation, VAT, income tax | myminfin.be |
| Crossroads Bank for Enterprises | Data on Belgian companies | kbo-bce.fgov.be |
| NSSO | Social security, contributions | socialsecurity.be |
| National Bank of Belgium | Statistics, annual accounts | nbb.be |
| FPS Employment | Labour law, wellbeing at work | emploi.belgique.be |
| Statbel | Official Belgian statistics | statbel.fgov.be |
Free tools for entrepreneurs
| Tool | Use | Free |
|---|---|---|
| Starter financial plan (UCM/hub.brussels templates) | Business plan | Yes |
| Salary simulator (Securex/SD Worx) | Estimating salary costs | Yes |
| Companyweb (basic version) | Checking client solvency | Partially |
| NACE-BEL | Finding your activity code | Yes (statbel.fgov.be) |
| Tax simulator (MyMinfin) | Estimating tax | Yes |
| VAT check (VIES) | Checking a European VAT number | Yes |
Business vouchers and training subsidies
Wallonia: business vouchers
The Walloon business voucher system (chèques-entreprises) is the most generous subsidy mechanism for entrepreneur training:
| Voucher type | Contribution rate | Annual cap |
|---|---|---|
| Training voucher | 50-75% | EUR 22,500 |
| Advice voucher | 50-75% | EUR 22,500 |
| Digital maturity voucher | 50-75% | EUR 22,500 |
| Growth voucher | 50-75% | EUR 22,500 |
Procedure:
- Register at cheques-entreprises.be
- Choose an approved provider (training centre, consultant)
- Apply for the voucher online
- Pay your share and the Walloon Region pays the rest
Brussels: hub.brussels grants
- Free training via hub.brussels Academy
- Consultancy premium: up to EUR 15,000 for support from an approved consultant
- Digital transition premium: up to EUR 5,000 for digitalisation
Flanders: KMO-portefeuille
- Subsidy rate: 30% for SMEs, 40% for small businesses
- Cap: EUR 7,500 per year
- Eligible types: training, advice, support
- Application: vlaio.be/kmo-portefeuille
How to build your training plan
Step 1: Identify your gaps
Honestly assess your skills in the key areas of entrepreneurship:
| Skill | Level (1-5) | Training priority |
|---|---|---|
| Financial management and accounting | ? | High if under 3 |
| Marketing and sales | ? | High if under 3 |
| Team and HR management | ? | Medium |
| Digital skills | ? | High if under 3 |
| Business law | ? | Medium |
| Languages (FR, NL, EN) | ? | Depending on your market |
Step 2: Prioritise by stage
| Stage | Priority training |
|---|---|
| Pre-launch | Business model, financial plan, market study, legal steps |
| 0-1 year | Basic accounting, digital marketing, sales, time management |
| 1-3 years | Advanced financial management, team management, sales strategy |
| 3-5 years | Leadership, change management, internationalisation, delegation |
| 5+ years | Innovation, strategy, business transfer |
Step 3: Plan and budget
Recommendation: spend 2 to 5% of your time (1 to 2.5 days a month) and 1 to 3% of your turnover on continuous training.
With regional grants (business vouchers, KMO-portefeuille), your net investment is reduced by 30 to 75%. Free training worth EUR 1,000 might cost you only EUR 250 in Wallonia.
Conclusion
Belgium offers a remarkably rich training and support ecosystem for entrepreneurs. Between regional public services (1890, hub.brussels, VLAIO), professional bodies (UCM, UNIZO), incubators and online platforms, there is free training suited to every need and every budget.
The habit to build: before spending on any training, check the grants available in your region. Walloon business vouchers, hub.brussels premiums and the Flemish KMO-portefeuille can significantly cut your investment. And remember that training costs are 100% tax-deductible as business expenses.
The entrepreneur who stops learning stops progressing. Invest in your skills — it is the best return on investment you can make.
This article was written by the Espero-Soft team for the blog dedicated to entrepreneurs in Belgium. For personalised advice, do not hesitate to consult a professional.
