What It Takes to Be a Business Owner

June 1, 2026 | Blue Ninja

Starting a business is often associated with freedom, flexibility and the opportunity to build something of your own. While all of that can be true, the reality is more complex. Becoming a business owner is not just about having a good idea. It requires commitment, structure and a willingness to learn quickly.

In the Netherlands, the process of setting up a business is clear and well supported. However, a well-defined system does not remove the need for strong foundations or the day-to-day realities of running a business.

The mindset shift: from idea to responsibility

One of the biggest shifts for new business owners is mindset. You are no longer just doing the work; you are responsible for everything around it.

That includes:

Decision-making without a safety net
Managing uncertainty
Taking ownership of both success and failure

Whether you are a freelancer working with international clients or setting up a local service, the responsibility sits with you. It is less about “being your own boss” and more about being accountable for how the business operates.

I know when I first set up my business in the UK, I was still acting like an employee. I would sit at my desk at 9am, check emails, follow up, lunch from 12-1pm, then more emails, project work then finish at 5pm. It took a while to realise that the routine and daily grind was up to me.

Owning a business does give you control over your direction. But it also means:

You create your own structure
You manage your own workload
You build your own momentum

There is no fixed path. That is both the opportunity and the challenge.

A structured system, but not a simple journey

One of the advantages of starting a business in the Netherlands is the structure. The process is clearly defined, and once you understand it, it is relatively straightforward to follow.

You will need to:

Register your business with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK)
Set up your tax registration with the Belastingdienst
Choose a legal structure, such as a sole proprietorship or a BV

This structure provides a strong starting point. But it does not replace the need to understand how your business actually works.

In cities like Leiden and The Hague, where international professionals, local communities, and small businesses all interact, this becomes even more important. You are often operating in a mixed environment, which requires clarity in who you serve and how you position your business.

Although I am based in Leiden, I quickly realised that my client base did not need to be limited by geography. Looking beyond my immediate area opened up opportunities to work with international clients and organisations across South Holland and further afield.

Foundations matter more than speed

It can be tempting to launch quickly, especially when the setup process feels efficient. But strong businesses are not built on speed, they are built on clarity.

Before focusing on growth, you need to understand:

What your business actually does
Who it serves
How it delivers value
How money flows in and out

Without this foundation, even a business with strong demand can become difficult to manage. Opportunities are constantly emerging, but not all of them contribute to long-term progress. Some can take time and energy without delivering meaningful results.

In my own experience, building a network early on made a significant difference. Attending local events, connecting with other business owners and simply being open to conversation led to some of the strongest working relationships I have today.

Being clear about what you offer is equally important. People cannot recommend you if they do not fully understand what you do.

Learning through experience

I have set up two businesses in The Netherlands. The first was an Eenmanszaak, or sole trader and the other was a VOF, or general partnership. The process in The Hague was fairly straightforward, particularly for a non-Dutch speaker where I had initial concerns about my ability to follow the requirements. The staff were helpful and the process was around 15-20 minutes.

At the time I still had the UK business so I closed that down and focussed on growing in The Netherlands but knowing I could still do business in the UK and abroad with the right set up.

Banking was one of the biggest challenges I had, as I needed flexibility to be able to support multi-currency transactions. Yes, there are Dutch banks, but I looked for an online bank that gave me flexibility and decent rates.

I also knew that visibility consistency is key. I looked at my SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to evaluate what weaknesses I needed to work on and strengthen. I engaged with other businesses and started to meet people. Some of my best working relationships have come from being open to a conversation.

Resilience and adaptability

No business journey is entirely predictable. Markets shift, client needs evolve and initial ideas often change over time.

In an international city like Leiden, these changes can happen quickly. What resonates with one audience may not connect with another.

Successful business owners are those who continue to learn, adapt and remain consistent. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about navigating them with clarity and perspective.

Building something sustainable

Ultimately, being a business owner is about building something sustainable. It involves balancing ambition with structure, being open to opportunities while staying grounded in clear foundations.

For me, that has meant being intentional about where I invest time and energy, and recognising that not every opportunity is the right one. A business is not only defined by what it offers, but also by how it is built and maintained over time.

For those starting out in the Netherlands, the systems are in place to support you. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in how you use them.

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About the Author

Louisa Stewart is the Founder of Blue Ninja and one of the founders of Setting Up Shop, Foundational Business Mastery for New Entrepreneurs. With Mindset Coach Tony Gordon, Storyteller extraordinaire Mags Thomson and Louisa as the data wizard, we provide clear, honest advice about getting your business off the ground in the first 12 months. Visit https://settingupshop.online and click here to download our free guide ten recipes about running a business; the kind of things we wish someone had told us when we first started. Each one comes with some ingredients and a question to help you reflect, refocus, and move forward with confidence. Because who doesn’t love cake!