The first three months of the year saw a surge in the number of small businesses opened in Brazil, according to a survey conducted by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae). The number of new CNPJs reached 1.407.010 by March 2025, with emphasis on individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs), which account for 78% of the total.
In the first quarter of the year, the number of MEIs registered in the country grew 35% compared to the same period in 2024. Micro and small companies saw an increase of 28%.
REGIONS — In the breakdown by regions, the Southeast, South and Northeast lead the accumulated opening of small businesses, with São Paulo (28,6%), Minas Gerais (10,9%) and Rio de Janeiro (7,8%) in the first positions among the states. However, in comparison with the first quarter of 2024, Ceará, Piauí and Amazonas had the greatest advance in the registration of small businesses, with 56,8%, 55,3% and 51,3% respectively.
SECTORS — In March 2025, the Services sector had the best performance, with 257.156 small businesses opened (63,7% of the total), followed by Commerce, with 83.921 (20,8%), and Manufacturing Industry, with 30.859 (7,6%).
TOP 5 — The economic activities that accounted for the largest number of small businesses created in March were:
MEI
-Road freight transport (20.526)
-Mailing and delivery activities (20.093)
-Hairdressers and beauty (18.278)
-Advertising activities (18.139)
-Teaching activities (15.937)
MPE
-Health activities, except medical and dental (5.620)
-Outpatient care provided by doctors and dentists (5.373)
-Office services and administrative support (4.888)
-Restaurants and food and beverage establishments (3.563)
-Advertising activities (2.661)
“The National Policy for the Development of Micro and Small Businesses is an important milestone to strengthen those who generate the most jobs and income in Brazil: small businesses. We are taking this policy to every corner of the country, with a focus on productivity, innovation and economic inclusion.”
marcio france
Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprises and Small Businesses
NATIONAL SME POLICY — Growth is driven by a more favorable economic scenario and initiatives to stimulate entrepreneurship. The figures for the first quarter of 2025 reflect the National Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises, launched a year ago. The initiative aims to support the competitiveness and productivity of micro and small enterprises; promote innovation and integration in production chains; strengthen cooperation between entities representing the sector; encourage the formalization of businesses and promote environmental sustainability.
The national secretary of Micro and Small Businesses, Maurício Juvenal, highlighted that the entrepreneurship rate in the country reached the highest level in the last four years, jumping from 31,6% to 33,4% in 2024, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM 2024), prepared in Brazil by Sebrae in partnership with the National Association of Studies and Research in Entrepreneurship (Anegepe).
According to the study, the country has 47 million people running some kind of business, whether formal or informal. Among the factors that justify this indicator is the increase in the Established Entrepreneur Rate (with more than 3,5 years of operation). This indicator jumped from 8,7% in 2020 to 13,2% last year.
With the 2024 result, Brazil moved up two positions – from eighth to sixth – in the ranking of countries with the highest Rate of Established Entrepreneurs, ahead of countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States. The survey also shows that, last year, the rate of “Total Entrepreneurship” increased, which also includes initial entrepreneurs (with up to 3,5 years of activity), rising from 30,1% to 33,4%.
“The National Policy for the Development of Micro and Small Businesses is an important milestone in strengthening those who generate the most jobs and income in Brazil: small businesses. We are taking this policy to every corner of the country, focusing on productivity, innovation and economic inclusion,” highlighted the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprises and Small Businesses, Márcio França.
GUIDELINES — Based on nine guidelines, the policy seeks, among other points, to recognize the strategic role of SMEs in socioeconomic development, stimulate freedom to undertake, and foster the adoption of technologies and innovation in production and management processes. The indicators are divided into eight axes: 1: Debureaucratization, simplification, tax relief, standardization and differentiated treatment; 2: Local, regional, national and international market; 3: Technology, Digitalization and Innovation; 4: Investment, financing and credit; 5: Entrepreneurial training and business capacity building; 6: Individual Entrepreneurship; 7: Competitiveness and Productivity; 8: Environmental, social and corporate governance.
Source: Gov Agency