Brazilian Female Entrepreneurs Face Critical Growth Challenges in 2026 Amid Calls for Strategic Planning

As of early 2026, Brazil is home to over 10.3 million female entrepreneurs, reflecting significant growth in women's participation in business. However, many female business owners face substantial obstacles in scaling their ventures, particularly related to cash flow management and the lack of strategic planning. According to data from Sebrae and IBGE, improvisation remains a common practice among these entrepreneurs, which experts argue impedes sustainable and predictable business growth.

Sabrina Nunes, founder of Francisca Joias, highlighted these challenges, noting that many women entrepreneurs juggle multiple roles without clear, structured plans. "While improvisation may suffice initially, sustainable growth requires a systematic approach," she explained. Nunes herself transitioned from rudimentary efforts to implementing structured business models that secured recurring revenue, illustrating the benefits of deliberate planning.

Reinforcing this perspective, Sebrae research points to the vulnerability of female-led small businesses to cash flow fluctuations and the absence of medium-term forecasts. The evolving e-commerce sector adds complexity, as growth in transaction volume coincides with tighter profit margins, underscoring the urgent need for clear marketing and sales strategies.

In response, Nunes created the ELAB program to assist female entrepreneurs in developing actionable marketing and sales plans for the upcoming year, emphasizing that effective planning is critical for long-term success. Looking ahead, she predicts a growing divide between businesses that embrace structured methodologies and those relying on improvisation.

While national efforts spotlight female entrepreneurship, regional initiatives also support small business growth. In Nioaque, Mato Grosso do Sul, the launch of the Municipal Development Plan (PDM) aims to boost local entrepreneurship and economic development, specifically through strengthening small businesses and supporting indigenous and quilombola communities. Mayor André Guimarães stressed the importance of empowering small entrepreneurs to increase income and generate jobs.

Together, these developments illustrate the dual challenge Brazilian female entrepreneurs face: overcoming improvisational tendencies to adopt strategic models, while benefiting from localized institutional support aimed at fostering sustainable business growth across the country.