Brazil opened 4.6 million new small businesses between January and November 2025, a number that already exceeds the result of 2024, when 4.1 million companies were created. The data shows an increase of 19% compared to the same period last year, consolidating the best performance in the historical series.
Small businesses represented 97% of companies opened in the country in 2025. Among them, 77% are individual microentrepreneurs (MEI), 19% are microenterprises and 4% are small companies.
The president of Sebrae, Décio Lima, states that the growth reflects the confidence of entrepreneurs in the economic scenario. According to him, the country is experiencing “a situation of full employment and inflation under control”, factors that encourage the opening of new businesses.
“Sixty percent of Brazilians dream of starting a business. Entrepreneurship is the gateway to inclusion, job creation and income,” he said.
In November, the country registered the opening of 350 thousand new small businesses, 28 thousand more than in the same month of 2024.
Services lead new registrations
The services sector accounted for 64% of new companies opened until November. In this segment, MEI openings grew 24.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Next come commerce, with 21% of the total, and industry, with 7%.
São Paulo (29%), Minas Gerais (11%) and Rio de Janeiro (8%) were the states that registered the most small business openings in 2025.
Activities with the highest number of new ventures
Individual microentrepreneurs (MEI):
- Pouch and delivery activities: 22,986 new MEI (9%)
- Road freight transport: 19,753 new MEI (7%)
- Advertising activities: 16,091 new MEI (6%)
Micro and small enterprises (MSE):
- Outpatient care by doctors and dentists: 4,981 new MPEs (6%)
- Combined office and administrative support services: 3,949 new MSEs (5%)
- Health activities, except doctors and dentists: 3,326 new MSEs (4%)
