How Much Does It Cost to Open a Company in Brazil?

The cost to open a company in Brazil ranges from R$ 0 to about R$ 3,000, depending on the company type and who conducts the registration. The MEI is free and can be opened by the entrepreneur directly. For an ME, EPP or LTDA, the law requires an accountant, and that is where the cost splits: a traditional firm typically charges R$ 500 to R$ 3,000 in opening fees, while many online accounting services open the company for free once a monthly plan is contracted. Government fees — Junta Comercial registration, digital certificate, the operating permit — apply on top of that and vary by state and municipality, regardless of who is hired.

What is the total cost to open a company in Brazil?

From R$ 0, for a MEI or a company opened for free by an online accounting service with a monthly plan, to about R$ 3,000 in a traditional accounting office, once government fees are included. The step-by-step registration timeline runs alongside these costs, at 30 to 48 days on average.

Does opening a MEI cost anything?

No. The MEI is registered for free on the Portal do Empreendedor, with no opening fee and no government registration cost, since it does not go through the Junta Comercial.

How much does an accountant charge to open an ME or LTDA?

A traditional accounting firm typically charges R$ 500 to R$ 3,000 in opening fees. Many online accounting services, by contrast, include the opening at no extra charge when a monthly plan is contracted, with plans commonly starting around R$ 139 a month afterward.

What government fees apply regardless of who opens the company?

The Junta Comercial registration fee, a digital certificate where required for the MAT step and the electronic signature, and the municipal alvará de funcionamento. These vary by state and municipality and apply whether the process is conducted by a traditional firm or an online accounting service.

Can the government fees also be covered for free?

In some cities, yes: certain online accounting services absorb the Junta Comercial fee and the digital certificate cost as part of a promotional plan, an offer available in selected cities rather than nationwide.

Is the cheapest opening always the best deal?

Not necessarily. The opening fee is a one-time cost, while the tax regime and activity code (CNAE) chosen at registration affect how much tax the company pays every month for the rest of the year — a wrong choice there usually costs far more than the difference between a free and a paid opening.