Minas Gerais Sees Business Boom with Over 100,000 New Companies and Thriving Entrepreneurship Networks in 2026

Minas Gerais is experiencing an impressive surge in entrepreneurship and business growth in 2026, marking a significant milestone in company registrations and dynamic networking efforts fostering regional development. Between January and October 2026, the state registered 105,813 new companies, an 8.64% increase compared to 97,402 in the same period of 2025, according to data from the Junta Comercial do Estado de Minas Gerais (Jucemg). This achievement marks the second consecutive year Minas Gerais has surpassed 100,000 new businesses within ten months, cementing its status as a thriving hub for entrepreneurship.

The South of Minas led in proportional growth with a 10.75% increase, followed by the Central region at 10.52% and Zona da Mata at 9.82%. The services sector dominated new registrations, contributing 80,287 companies—reflecting a 10.91% rise—while commerce and industry sectors also grew. Belo Horizonte emerged as the top municipality for new registrations with 29,173 businesses, an 8.94% increase from 2025, despite a slight dip in October.

This surge in entrepreneurship coincides with 79,703 business closures in 2026, which also increased by 8.64%, indicating a dynamic but competitive economic environment.

Parallel to these statistics, Juiz de Fora in Zona da Mata is witnessing vibrant business networking activities. The Business Network International (BNI), the world's largest professional networking organization, marked its fifth year in Juiz de Fora by launching its fifth team, BNI Minas Partners, on October 27. Since 2021, BNI has generated nearly R$ 90 million in business through member referrals, exchanging over 25,000 business opportunities among 360 entrepreneurs across 11 teams in the region.

BNI employs a structured approach where each team member represents a unique specialty, fostering trust and collaboration without internal competition. Rafael Fabri, BNI Zona da Mata and Vertentes executive director, highlighted that "networking is about building trust-based relationships rather than merely exchanging business cards." The launch event underscored this philosophy with presentations and a keynote speech by Rafael Rodrigues on entrepreneurship trends.

Secretary of State for Economic Development, Mila Corrêa da Costa, emphasized that surpassing 100,000 new companies before October demonstrates Minas Gerais' entrepreneurial strength and the effectiveness of initiatives like the Minas Livre Para Crescer program, which simplifies business formalization and promotes economic freedom.

Together, these trends reflect Minas Gerais' accelerating business development in 2026, driven by both increased new company formations and the strengthening of collaborative business networks promoting sustained growth.