Het Familiebedrijf

What Het Familiebedrijf does

Het Familiebedrijf (legal name: Instituut voor het Familiebedrijf vzw, trade name IFB) is a Belgian non-profit association headquartered at Karmelietenlaan 4 in Kortrijk, West-Vlaanderen (KBO 0463.462.139). The organization operates as a network, knowledge, and inspiration platform exclusively for family businesses and business families in Flanders, Belgium. It was co-founded by Jozef Lievens (gedelegeerd bestuurder, also partner at Roots Advocaten) and Patrick De Schutter (co-gedelegeerd bestuurder, former KPMG partner), and today operates with a six-person team including advisors Sofie Lerut, Laura Lannoo, and event director Matthias Lievens. Its mission centers on strengthening continuity and harmony in family-owned enterprises through peer exchange, impartial expertise, and training.

The portfolio spans four quadrants of family business governance: ownership, business, family, and wealth. Core products include the Opvolgersscan (a proprietary successor-readiness assessment designed by Patrick De Schutter), one-on-one governance and succession advisory, an annual flagship event (Dag van het Familiebedrijf, scheduled for 6 October 2026 at Handelsbeurs Gent), and a structured curriculum of training programs — Opleiding Adviseur Familiebedrijven (delivered with EHSAL Management School), Opleiding Bestuurder in het Familiebedrijf, Opvolgersacademie, and the Masterclass Familiaal Vermogen en Family Office. Content distribution is layered through a Dutch-language website (familiebedrijf.be), a blog and publications library, LinkedIn, and recurring co-produced research — most recently a Fall 2026 governance study with Stella P. on the evolving role of the board chairperson.

Commercial mechanics combine event ticketing (e.g., EUR 125 excl. VAT per attendee for Dag van het Familiebedrijf 2026, with restricted access reserved for fellow family businesses), paid training and masterclass programs for advisors and family business directors, fees from advisory engagements, and content-led demand generation through blog posts and partner contributions from Moore Belgium and Bank Van Breda. GTM is community-led and direct: a curated Flanders-only audience is served through exclusive events, accredited training, and a referral network anchored in partner firms (Roots Advocaten, EHSAL, Stella P., FBNet Belgium, and the Family Firm Institute). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Het Familiebedrijf

Legal name

Instituut voor het Familiebedrijf vzw

Website

https://familiebedrijf.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Het Familiebedrijf (Instituut voor het Familiebedrijf vzw) is a Belgian non-profit association based in Kortrijk that operates an exclusive network, knowledge, and training platform for family businesses and business families in Flanders, covering governance, succession, ownership, and wealth advisory through events, training programs, and consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAAADAL

Family Business & Succession Advisory

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Family Offices (Single- & Multi-Family)

SECONDARYFSAEAAAI

Family Office Advisory (Single/Multi-Family)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

SECONDARYFSAAACAH

Family Wealth & Multi-Generational Planning RIAs (HNW/UHNW-lite)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) & Independent Wealth Managers

Keywords

• Family business advisory
• Succession planning services
• Corporate governance consulting
• Family business training
• Business owner networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Kortrijk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Revenue: The organization generates revenue through paid events including the annual Dag van het Familiebedrijf and other educational programs. Events like the Dag van het Familiebedrijf 2026 are priced at €125 excluding VAT.
2. Training and Education Programs: The organization offers professional training programs including 'Adviseur Familiebedrijven' (Family Business Advisor) program, 'Bestuurder in het Familiebedrijf' (Director in Family Business) program, and Opvolgersacademie for successor preparation.
3. Membership/Network Platform: As a network platform for family businesses, the organization likely generates revenue through membership or participation fees for access to expertise, resources, and networking opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Het Familiebedrijf (Instituut voor het Familiebedrijf / IFB) is a Belgian non-profit association that operates as a network, knowledge, and inspiration platform for family businesses and business families in Flanders. It delivers impartial advisory services on governance, succession, and ownership structuring, complemented by training programs, an annual flagship event (Dag van het Familiebedrijf), a proprietary successor assessment tool (Opvolgersscan), and peer networking exclusively for family business owners, directors, and successors.

Product overview

Het Familiebedrijf (Instituut voor het Familiebedrijf / IFB) operates as a network, knowledge, and inspiration platform for family businesses and business families in Flanders, Belgium. The organization offers a portfolio of advisory services, training programs, and events focused on family business continuity and governance. Key offerings include the Opvolgersscan (successor assessment tool), the annual Dag van het Familiebedrijf event, educational programs (Opleiding Adviseur Familiebedrijven and Opleiding Bestuurder in het Familiebedrijf), masterclasses, governance consulting, and succession advisory services. The platform also provides extensive publications and blog content on topics spanning ownership governance, business governance, family governance, and wealth governance. The organization functions as a professional services and knowledge platform rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Opvolgersscan An assessment tool designed by Patrick De Schutter to help family business owners objectively evaluate whether their children are suited to take over the family business.
• Dag van het Familiebedrijf 2026 Annual flagship event bringing together family business owners, leaders, board members, and successors for inspiration and knowledge sharing on ownership, governance, succession, and continuity. Scheduled for 6 October 2026 at Handelsbeurs, Gent, priced at €125 per person (excluding VAT), accessible only to fellow family businesses.
• Opleiding Adviseur Familiebedrijven Educational program delivered in partnership with EHSAL Management School that trains advisors in family business consulting, covering succession, governance, ownership structuring, and conflict resolution. Jozef Lievens serves as program director.
• Opleiding Bestuurder in het Familiebedrijf Comprehensive training program for family business directors and candidate directors, preparing them for their responsibilities in governance and oversight.
• Masterclass Familiaal Vermogen en Family Office Advanced masterclass focused on family wealth management and family office structuring for business families.
• Governance Advies Advisory services covering the four types of family business governance: ownership governance, business governance, family governance, and wealth governance.
• Opvolgingsadvies Advisory services for succession planning in family businesses, including assessments of candidate successors and preparation of next-generation owners.
• Publicaties en Blog Publications, research, and blog articles on family business topics including governance, succession, ownership, family dynamics, and professionalization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Event attendance: Annual Dag van het Familiebedrijf fills Handelsbeurs venue in Gent

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stella P.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHet Familiebedrijf and Stella P. have formed a partnership to conduct exclusive research on the changing role of board chairpersons in family businesses. The collaboration includes joint surveys and events translating research insights into practical tools for family business governance.
• Roots AdvocatencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoots Advocaten is a law firm where co-founder Jozef Lievens is a partner. The firm specializes in family business law, corporate law, and M&A. Laura Lannoo works as an advisor at both Het Familiebedrijf and Roots Advocaten, creating a seamless advisory offering.
• EHSAL Management SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEHSAL Management School partners with Het Familiebedrijf to deliver the 'Adviseur Familiebedrijven' (Family Business Advisor) training program. Jozef Lievens serves as program director. Sofie Lerut is a guest lecturer in this program.
• Moore BelgiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoore Belgium provides guest blog content for Het Familiebedrijf's website. As a major accounting and consulting firm with 131 partners, Moore Belgium shares expertise on family business topics like private foundations and succession planning.
• Bank Van BredaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank Van Breda provides guest blog content on topics relevant to family businesses such as business sales, valuation, and M&A trends. The bank positions itself as a partner for entrepreneurs and liberal professionals.
• Family Firm Institute (FFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe international Family Firm Institute is led by co-founder Jozef Lievens, who served on its Board from 2004-2007 and currently chairs its Awards Committee. Both Jozef Lievens and Sofie Lerut hold FFI certifications. This relationship provides international credibility and access to global family business research.
• FBNet BelgiumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFBNet Belgium is a network of Belgian family businesses co-founded by Jozef Lievens and Patrick De Schutter. It serves as a distribution channel for family business insights and connects Belgian family businesses.
• The Meeting LabminorOthersThe Meeting Lab in Zwijnaarde serves as the venue for Het Familiebedrijf events, including the Fall 2026 governance event.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Family Firm Institute (FFI): FFI is the global professional body for family business advisors, where Het Familiebedrijf's co-founders hold leadership and credentialing roles. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that certifies advisors and curates global family business knowledge, with overlap through shared talent (Jozef Lievens chairs FFI Awards Committee).

Broad incumbents

• PwC Belgium Family Business: PwC Belgium operates a family business and private company services practice covering governance, succession, and tax planning. Comparable because both serve Flemish family businesses on continuity and governance, though PwC delivers through a global Big-Four platform.
• Deloitte Belgium Family Enterprise: Deloitte Belgium has a dedicated family enterprise practice advising on governance, succession, and wealth for Flemish family-owned businesses. Comparable because both serve the same Flemish family business segment on continuity and governance, but Deloitte brings global reach and a multidisciplinary delivery model.
• BDO Belgium - Family Business Services: BDO Belgium runs a dedicated family business advisory practice covering succession, governance, and tax, serving Flemish mid-market family businesses alongside their audit and consulting services. Comparable because both target the same Flemish family business segment on governance and succession, but BDO operates at greater scale with cross-disciplinary teams.
• KPMG Belgium Family Business: KPMG Belgium operates a family business advisory practice with international methodology and benchmarks. Comparable because both advise on succession and governance for Flemish family businesses; co-founder Patrick De Schutter is a former KPMG partner, creating direct lineage to KPMG's family business franchise.
• Moore Belgium Family Business Consulting: Moore Belgium is an established accounting and consulting firm with 131 partners that already publishes guest content on Het Familiebedrijf and runs its own family business and private foundation practice. Comparable because both advise Flemish family businesses on succession, governance, and ownership structuring, though Moore offers a full-service stack.

Direct peers

• FBNet Belgium: FBNet Belgium is a network of Belgian family businesses co-founded by Het Familiebedrijf's co-founders Jozef Lievens and Patrick De Schutter. Directly comparable as a peer network serving the same Belgian family business segment on insights and connections, with overlapping leadership.
• Stella P. Stella P. is a Belgian governance advisory firm partnering with Het Familiebedrijf on exclusive board chair research and events. Directly comparable as a specialized governance advisor targeting the same Flemish family business audience with overlapping content and event offerings.
• Roots Advocaten: Roots Advocaten is a Kortrijk-based law firm specializing in family business law, M&A, and corporate law, with co-founder Jozef Lievens as partner. Directly comparable as it advises the same Flemish family businesses on succession, ownership structuring, and governance, with shared personnel across both organizations.

Regional players

• Vlerick Business School Family Business Centre: Vlerick's Family Business Centre provides executive education, research, and networking for Belgian family businesses. Comparable because both deliver training programs, events, and thought leadership to Flemish family business owners; Vlerick operates as an academic institution with broader executive education portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/familiebedrijf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Het Familiebedrijf