How to Write a Business Plan for Your DAFT Visa App
When we applied for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), the business plan was the part that stressed us out most. We kept imagining some IND officer tearing apart our financial projections or questioning our market research.
In reality, the DAFT business plan is nothing like the 50-page monsters you'd prepare for US venture capital. It's a clear, honest description of what you plan to do, how you'll earn money, and why it's viable.
Here's what you actually need to write.
How Detailed Does It Need to Be?
Short answer: more detailed than a napkin sketch, less detailed than an MBA thesis. Most successful DAFT business plans run 3-8 pages.
The IND wants to confirm that your business idea is genuine and that you've thought it through. They're not evaluating whether you'll become the next tech unicorn. They want to see that you have a real plan to earn income in the Netherlands.
Our business plan was five pages. It covered what we do, who we do it for, how we charge, and what our first-year expenses would look like. That was enough.
What to Include
1. Business Overview
Start with the basics. One or two paragraphs covering:
- What your business does (in plain language)
- What services or products you offer
- Your business structure (eenmanszaak or BV)
- Where you'll work from (home office is fine)
Example: "Smith Digital is a web design and development consultancy serving small to mid-size businesses in the Netherlands and internationally. Operating as an eenmanszaak from a home office in Amsterdam, the business provides website design, development, and ongoing maintenance services."
2. Your Background and Qualifications
Why are you the right person to run this business? This section doesn't need to be long. Cover:
- Relevant work experience
- Education or certifications
- Previous clients or projects
- Any existing client relationships
You don't need formal qualifications. Practical experience counts. If you've been freelancing in the US for five years, say so. If you have existing clients who'll continue working with you, mention that.
3. Target Market
Who will you serve? Be specific enough to be credible but don't overthink it.
Good: "English-speaking businesses in the Netherlands, particularly startups and scale-ups in the Amsterdam area, as well as US-based companies needing European presence."
Too vague: "Anyone who needs marketing."
Too specific: "Series B SaaS companies in the health tech vertical with 50-200 employees headquartered in Amsterdam-Zuidoost."
4. Services and Pricing
List what you offer and what you charge. Use actual numbers.
- Website design: €2,500-5,000 per project
- Ongoing maintenance: €200/month
- Hourly consulting: €95/hour
If you're unsure about Dutch pricing, read our guide on pricing your services for the Dutch market. Rates in the Netherlands are generally comparable to major US cities.
5. Financial Projections
This is where people panic. Don't. The IND expects simple, realistic numbers.
First-year revenue estimate. Be conservative. If you think you'll earn €50,000, write €35,000. Underselling and overdelivering is much better than the reverse.
Monthly expenses breakdown. Include:
- Health insurance: ~€120-150/month
- Accounting/bookkeeping: ~€100-200/month
- Business insurance: ~€50-100/month
- Software and tools: ~€50-100/month
- Marketing: ~€50-200/month
- Coworking space (if applicable): ~€200-400/month
The €4,500 investment. Mention that you'll maintain the required DAFT deposit in your Dutch business bank account.
A simple table showing projected monthly revenue and expenses for the first year is sufficient. You don't need quarterly breakdowns or multi-year forecasts.
6. Marketing Plan
How will you find clients? Keep it practical:
- Existing client relationships from the US
- LinkedIn outreach and content
- Networking events (the Netherlands has plenty)
- Online freelance platforms
- Referrals and word of mouth
For more on finding clients, see our guide on getting Dutch clients as a DAFT entrepreneur.
7. Legal and Administrative
Briefly mention:
- You'll register at KVK
- You'll file quarterly VAT returns
- You'll maintain proper bookkeeping records
- You'll carry appropriate business insurance
This shows the IND you understand Dutch business requirements.
What NOT to Include
Don't overcomplicate it. You don't need SWOT analyses, Porter's Five Forces, or competitive matrices. Save those for business school.
Don't promise things you can't deliver. "I will generate €500,000 in revenue in year one" will raise more questions than it answers.
Don't write it in Dutch. The IND accepts English-language business plans. Writing in Dutch when it's not your native language introduces errors and sounds worse.
Don't use AI-generated fluff. Generic business plan language is obvious and doesn't help your case. Write in your own voice about your actual business.
Formatting Tips
- Use clear headings and short paragraphs
- Include a table of contents if longer than 5 pages
- Add your name and business name to the header
- Date the document
- Use bullet points for lists of services or expenses
- Include your contact information
Pro Tip: Print your business plan and read it out loud. If any sentence sounds like corporate jargon rather than how you'd explain your business to a friend, rewrite it.
Common Mistakes
Being too vague. "I'll do consulting" isn't enough. What kind of consulting? For whom? At what rate?
Forgetting existing clients. If you have US clients who'll continue working with you, this is your strongest selling point. Mention them (you don't need to name names—"three existing clients in the US tech sector" is fine).
Ignoring the Dutch market. Even if most of your clients are in the US, include a section about how you plan to eventually serve Dutch or European clients. It shows intent to integrate into the local economy.
Not mentioning the €4,500. The DAFT deposit is a requirement. Reference it in your financial plan. For details on the deposit, see our DAFT deposit guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the IND actually read the business plan carefully? A: From what we've heard from other DAFT applicants, they review it but don't scrutinize every number. They're looking for a genuine, thought-through plan—not a perfect one. Consistency between your business plan and your KVK registration matters more than exact financial projections.
Q: Can I update my business plan after submission? A: You don't need to formally update your business plan with the IND. If your business evolves (which it will), that's normal. At renewal, they'll look at what you actually did—revenue, tax filings, business activity—not whether you followed the original plan precisely.
Q: Should I hire someone to write my business plan? A: We'd recommend writing it yourself. Nobody knows your business better than you. If you want feedback, ask another DAFT entrepreneur to review it. Paying a consultant €500+ for a 5-page plan doesn't add much value for the IND.
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We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.