Small Businesses Drive Over 97% of New Company Openings in Ceará and Show National Growth in 2026

From January 1 to June 20, 2026, small enterprises dominated the business landscape in Ceará, accounting for 97.6% of all formal company registrations. According to data analyzed by Sebrae from the Receita Federal's CNPJ Card, 80,462 new businesses were opened in Ceará during this period, with the majority concentrated in the Services sector, which saw 51,284 new establishments. The Commerce sector followed with 19,467 new firms, while the Industry, Construction, and Agropecuário sectors contributed 5,817, 3,512, and 382 new businesses respectively.

This growth marks a 6.6% increase in small business registrations compared to the same period in 2025. Notably, May 2026 recorded 13,324 new small business openings in Ceará alone, a 16% rise from May 2025. Expanding the view nationally, Brazil registered 456,000 new CNPJs in May 2026, of which approximately 97% were small enterprises. Over 2.5 million small businesses have been started across Brazil so far this year, reflecting a 10% growth from the previous year’s first five months.

The composition of these new businesses nationally includes 78% Microempreendedores Individuais (MEIs), 18% Microempresas (MEs), and 4% Empresas de Pequeno Porte (EPPs). These figures underscore the vital role small businesses play in Brazil’s economic development and job creation, with Ceará exemplifying this trend through a strong increase in entrepreneurial activity across various sectors.

This surge in new small enterprises highlights a resilient and expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem in Brazil, especially in Ceará, where small businesses are the foundation of economic dynamism in 2026.