Small Businesses Propel Brazil's GDP Growth and Receive New Government Support in 2026

Brazil's Central Bank has raised the country's GDP growth forecast for 2026 from 1.6% to 2%, a revision largely driven by fiscal and credit stimuli and the robust performance of small businesses. According to the Central Bank's second-quarter Monetary Policy Report, small enterprises are key contributors to economic expansion and job creation.

Rodrigo Soares, president of Sebrae, highlighted the vital role small businesses play as a "barometer of the Brazilian economy." In 2025, Brazil saw a net increase of 5.1 million new companies, 4.9 million of which were small businesses. By April 2026, over 2 million new small businesses had already been established. Moreover, small businesses generated 84% of formal job vacancies as of April 2026, underpinning their significance for economic inclusion and income generation.

In response to ongoing challenges faced by small entrepreneurs, particularly those in the class C demographic residing in urban peripheries, Sebrae is launching the Projeto Potência Empreendedora on June 30, 2026, at Theatro Municipal de Niterói. This initiative aims to strengthen the small business sector by addressing issues like bureaucracy, difficult access to credit, and insufficient government recognition. A study by Sebrae and Instituto Locomotiva revealed that 78% of class C entrepreneurs feel unrecognized by the government, and 70% of informal workers are hesitant to formalize their businesses due to these obstacles.

A key feature of the project is the introduction of the Cartão do Empreendedor, designed to provide microentrepreneurs with greater visibility and access to essential services, training opportunities, credit, and public policies. The project will pilot in select regions emphasizing local mobilization, enhanced training, expanded support networks, and stronger connections among entrepreneurs. The launch event will be attended by government officials at various levels along with representatives from the productive sector and partner institutions.

This multifaceted approach underscores the Brazilian government’s commitment to fostering the growth and resilience of small businesses, a pivotal sector fueling the nation’s economic progress in 2026.