Starting a Company

Starting a business in Brazil can be a lengthy process, taking anything from 30 to 150 days. To begin with, you must appoint a legal representative to represent your company. They will also help you navigate layers of possible bureaucracy and language barriers. Without a legal entity or representative in the country, it's virtually impossible to open a business in Brazil. You'll also need at least one Brazilian resident to act as the "local administrator" of your business. 

Entrepreneurs will need Brazilian Tax IDs (for individuals or companies), a passport or Brazilian ID, and an operating agreement (or articles of incorporation). All foreign documents must be translated into Brazilian Portuguese and must be done by a sworn translator certified by a Brazilian institution. Depending on the business, you might also need state or municipal registration and other trade-specific licenses. 

Overregulation is a common complaint for both foreign and Brazilian entrepreneurs. All accounting books and invoices are issued by government software, for example, and companies must register with social security even if they don't have any employees. 

Despite the initial bureaucracy, entrepreneurs opening a business in Brazil require relatively low investments and gain a gateway to Latin America's common market through Mercosur. As Brazil continues to attract technology investment and grows to become an attractive startup hub, with a lot of tech talent available, bureaucratic barriers will likely be diminished, attracting even more international entrepreneurs.