Small Businesses Drive Brazil's Economic Growth with Nearly 97% of New Companies and International Expansion Support

In May 2026, Brazil witnessed a significant surge in small business registrations, with nearly 97% of the 456,000 new companies being small businesses, according to data analyzed by Sebrae from Receita Federal figures. This year alone, the country has already seen over 2.5 million small businesses registered, consisting predominantly of microentrepreneurs (78%), followed by microenterprises (18%) and small enterprises (4%). This dynamic growth reflects a 10% increase compared to the same five-month period last year, underscoring the vital role of small businesses in Brazil's economy.

Leading states in new small business openings include São Paulo (29%), Minas Gerais (10%), and Rio de Janeiro (8%), with the Services sector dominating new registrations at 64%, followed by Commerce (21%), Industry (8%), and Construction (6.5%). Notably, activities such as delivery services (8.5%), road freight transport (7%), and advertising (6%) were the most registered among microentrepreneurs.

Complementing this growth is a robust push to promote the internationalization of micro and small businesses. The Prefeitura de Uberlândia, through its Secretary of Economic Development and Innovation, will provide a free assistance booth at the upcoming 'Rodada de Negócios Internacional Brasil Central 2026' event, scheduled for June 23-24 at the Center Convention. Organized in partnership with Sebrae, the event aims to boost the presence of local micro and small businesses in global markets by facilitating connections between approximately 500 supplier companies and 50 anchor or buyer companies from Minas Gerais, Goiás, and São Paulo. Business negotiations at the event are expected to generate an estimated R$ 400 million in prospects.

Ahead of the event, a free workshop was held on June 18 to prepare suppliers for the business rounds, providing valuable training and guidance through collaboration with partners such as Apex Brasil and the Receita Federal.

These developments highlight the strong upward trajectory of small business creation in Brazil and targeted initiatives to support their growth and international expansion, reflecting an optimistic outlook for the sector through 2026 and beyond.