Brazil Sees Surge in Small Business Growth Bolstered by New Training Initiatives

Brazil has experienced a remarkable surge in small business formalizations in early 2026, with over 1.033 million new small businesses registered in January and February alone, representing 97.3% of all companies formed during this period, according to data from Receita Federal compiled by Sebrae. Microentrepreneurs (MEIs) accounted for nearly 80% (79.5%) of these registrations, signifying a strong drive toward formalization for self-employed workers.

The MEI category, designed to facilitate formalization with benefits such as social security access and invoice issuance, allows for annual revenue up to R$81,000 and one employee. Microenterprises and small businesses represented 17% and 3.5% of new businesses, respectively, with revenues up to R$360,000 and R$4.8 million. These small businesses were responsible for over 80% of net job creation in Brazil throughout 2025, a crucial factor for the country's economic recovery.

The service sector dominated new registrations, making up 65%, followed by commerce (19.6%), industry (7.6%), and construction (6.8%). Popular activities among MEIs included courier and delivery services, road freight transport, and advertising, while micro and small businesses saw growth in health-related services like medical and dental ambulatory care.

Complementing this growth, the city of Ubatuba recently launched Programa Fature Mais, an initiative by Sebrae aimed at strengthening small businesses through enhanced training, planning, and innovation. The program's launch event brought together micro-entrepreneurs, industry representatives, and experts to focus on preparing businesses to meet market challenges with competitive strategies.

Deputy Secretary of Government José Carlos Firme emphasized that supporting small businesses is a direct investment in the city’s development. Expert Geraldo Assunção highlighted the impacts of the current tax reform and the strategic use of Artificial Intelligence in business management, underscoring how technology can boost competitiveness.

The Programa Fature Mais also fostered networking among participants, encouraging knowledge exchange and collaboration to invigorate Ubatuba’s local economy through innovation and resilience.

Together, these statistics and initiatives reflect Brazil's strong momentum in small business growth and entrepreneurship support, positioning micro and small enterprises as pivotal contributors to the nation’s economic vitality in 2026.