Vetting a tradesperson before you sign: the CBE checklist

Before you hand your house and a deposit to a tradesperson, take the time to check who you are dealing with. Nothing complicated: five free checks, most of them online, using the company number printed on the quote. A serious pro won't take offence. One who bristles has already told you what you need to know.

1. Check the CBE registration

The Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) is Belgium's official business register. A company operating legally in Belgium is listed there.

How to check

1. Note the company number on the quote (format BE 0XXX.XXX.XXX).
2. Go to kbopub.economie.fgov.be, the CBE's public search service.
3. Enter the number and run the search.

What to look at

• The status: the company must be active. Bankruptcy or cessation should stop you in your tracks.
• The registered activities: check that they match the work requested. A mismatch is not necessarily illegal, but it deserves a question.
• The date of incorporation: a young company is not a bad sign in itself, but ask for solid references.
• The registered office address: it should match the one on the quote.

On Batizzy

A pro can have their CBE number checked on Batizzy (VIES check). If they do, a "CBE verified" badge shows on their profile. Not every pro has done it, so the check above is still worth doing.

2. Check the VAT number

Being registered with the CBE does not mean being VAT-registered.

How to check

Go to VIES, the European Commission's service, and enter the VAT number (format BE0XXXXXXXXX, without dots).

A VAT-registered company can:

• apply the 6% rate for renovating a home over 10 years old, if the conditions are met;
• give you an invoice with deductible VAT if you are VAT-registered yourself;
• exchange structured electronic invoices with other businesses, compulsory between Belgian businesses since 1 January 2026.

A very small business may fall under the VAT exemption scheme: it then invoices without VAT, so without any reduced rate. That is not illegal, but check that this status matches the size of the job.

3. Ask for the insurance certificate

Since 1 July 2018, insuring ten-year liability has been compulsory for work on a home in Belgium that requires an architect (permit issued after that date). It covers damage that compromises the solidity, stability or watertightness of the closed structure, for ten years after the work is accepted. For other jobs, professional liability insurance is still strongly recommended.

The question to ask

"Can you send me your insurance certificate, valid for the period of the work?"

A pro who hesitates, refuses or promises to "send it later" should put you on alert. An organised professional has that document to hand.

What the certificate should show

• The name of the insurer
• The policy number
• The type of cover (ten-year liability or professional liability)
• The period of validity, which must cover the duration of the job
• The site or type of work covered

4. Read reviews and cross-check sources

Online reviews are useful, but easy to inflate. Cross-check several sources:

• Google Business Profile: the number of reviews and how they spread over time
• Platforms where a review follows a real job, such as Batizzy, where a client can only rate a pro after working with them
• The manager's name on LinkedIn, to check the profile hangs together
• The company's name or number in a search engine, to spot any public complaints

Our view: a score slightly below 5, with calm replies to criticism, often inspires more trust than an avalanche of perfect reviews without a single complaint.

5. Ask for three recent references

An established pro can name a few recent jobs, with the clients' agreement to be contacted. Ask for:

• the municipality of the job;
• the type of work;
• the client's contact details, with their agreement.

Call one or two references and ask four questions:

1. Was the quoted amount respected?
2. Was the deadline met?
3. Was there a problem after the work, and how was it handled?
4. Would you hire this pro again?

One negative answer does not necessarily rule the company out, but it deserves an explanation.

The golden rule

A pro who refuses basic checks is almost always one to avoid. Good tradespeople know their paperwork and share it without fuss. If someone pushes you to "decide quickly" or to pay a deposit before any checks, don't sign.

What Batizzy does, and what it doesn't

Batizzy does not rank pros, and none of them pays to appear. On the platform:

• the "CBE verified" badge marks pros who have had their number checked;
• a review is only possible after a real job;
• you compare quotes side by side, with the total including VAT, the deposit and the validity period;
• certifications shown on a profile are declared by the pro: ask for proof.

The checks in this list remain yours to do. Find a pro near you or read our 7 items to check on a quote.