Corvo ApexKnowledge base for tradespeople
Short, practical articles on being reachable, admin, WhatsApp and getting found. Every article starts with the answer.
This knowledge base is written for small businesses and SMEs in the Netherlands, and for international entrepreneurs who run a business here: installers, workshops, contractors, salons, restaurants and other businesses where the owner is usually busy with the actual work. The articles answer practical questions that come up in the day-to-day running of such a business: what happens to a call you can't take, what belongs on a work order or an invoice, which rules apply to a chatbot, and how customers find you in Google and in AI assistants such as ChatGPT.
You don't need to be a Corvo Apex customer to use these articles. They explain how things work in general, with codes, sums and checklists you can apply straight away, whatever system you use.
What does a missed call cost? Work it out yourself
A missed call costs a trades business lost revenue; how much depends on how often it happens and what a job is worth.
Forwarding unanswered calls: how it works with KPN, Vodafone and Odido
On most Dutch mobile plans, including KPN, Vodafone and Odido, you set up call forwarding for unanswered calls with a short code on your phone: **61*number#.
WhatsApp Business for tradespeople: app or API?
For a sole trader who answers every message personally, the free WhatsApp Business app is enough; once you want messages answered automatically or several people working on one number, you need the WhatsApp Business API.
Digital work orders: what should be on them?
A good digital work order should at least include the customer and address, the work done, time and materials used, the engineer and the date, so you can turn it straight into an invoice.
E-invoicing from 2030: what it means for your business
From 1 July 2030, e-invoicing becomes mandatory for business-to-business supplies between EU countries, and the Netherlands is also working towards a requirement for domestic B2B invoices.
Getting found in ChatGPT as a local business
As a local business you get mentioned in ChatGPT when your business details are consistent everywhere, your website answers customers' questions factually, and other trustworthy websites and reviews talk about you.
Using a chatbot? What the EU AI Act says you must disclose
If you use a chatbot or digital assistant that talks to customers, the EU AI Act requires you, from 2 August 2026, to make clear that the customer is interacting with an AI system, unless that's already obvious.
Less admin as a sole trader: a checklist
As a sole trader you keep admin to a minimum by having all requests come in in one place, creating the work order and invoice from a single entry, and automating payments and reminders.
VAT reverse charge: when and how on your invoice
VAT reverse charge means your business customer, not you, accounts for the VAT; in the Netherlands this applies, among other things, when you work as a subcontractor for a construction contractor, and your invoice then states "VAT reverse charge" and your customer's VAT number, with no VAT amount.
The 5% scheme for new-build homes explained
Under the Dutch 5% scheme, the buyer of a new-build home may keep 5% of the construction price in escrow with the notary until three months after handover, giving the builder a reason to fix snagging items on time.
How the articles are built
Every article starts with the answer itself, in one or two sentences at the top. Below that we explain how it works, give the steps or a worked example, and end with a short set of questions and answers. Examples with figures are there to show the method, not to promise a result: fill in your own numbers. Where an article touches on tax or legal rules, such as VAT on your invoice, how long you keep your records or what the EU AI Act asks of a chatbot, we describe what the official sources say and point out when it's wise to check with your accountant or the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration for your own situation.
The main topics
- Being reachable. What a missed call costs, how to forward unanswered calls on your mobile, and whether the free WhatsApp Business app is enough or you need the API.
- Admin and invoicing. What belongs on a digital work order, e-invoicing from 2030, VAT reverse charge and a checklist to cut admin as a sole trader.
- Getting found. How local businesses get mentioned in ChatGPT and other AI assistants.
- Rules for your sector. Disclosing a chatbot under the EU AI Act and the 5% scheme for new-build homes.
More articles in Dutch
The Dutch-language knowledge base already covers more subjects, such as local SEO, getting found in Bing and what an AI agent is. The articles on this page are the ones that are also available in English. Can't find what you're looking for, or does your situation differ from the examples? Call us on +31 6 18 96 38 86 or send us your question; we're happy to help, in English or in Dutch.