Portugal already has more than 550 thousand Brazilians living legally in the country, and this number continues to grow. For many immigrants, crossing the Atlantic represents not only a search for quality of life, but also a new beginning as entrepreneurs. In a stable business environment, with a common language and strong cultural ties, franchising has consolidated as one of the most structured and safe ways to undertake.
It is in this expanding scenario that companies such as the NBrand Group, the largest franchise conglomerate in the country, offers opportunities for ventures in the segments of professional cleaning, home support for the elderly, architecture, interior design and real estate. With more than 200 units in operation, half of its franchisees are Brazilian & numbers that translate the confidence in the strength of the business model and the support offered by the group.
“Portugal is an excellent gateway for Brazilians who want to undertake safely. Franchising offers structure, market validation and comprehensive support, which makes all the difference in this transition. Brazilians arrive more and more prepared, with focus and willingness to thrive”, says Candido Mesquita, CEO and founder of the NBrand Group and vice president of APF.
Real stories of transformation
According to the latest data released by the Portuguese Franchising Association (APF), in 2023 the franchising sector in Portugal handled 22 billion euros, achieving a record growth of almost 30% compared to 2022. Still according to the body, this good performance represents 8.3% of the national GDP and generates more than 185 thousand jobs in the different segments of activity of these businesses.
Fernanda and Daniel Correia are real examples of Brazilian entrepreneurs who are leading this transformation of the sector. The couple left Brazil and invested in a unit of House Shine & network specialized in professional domestic cleaning in the city of Leiria. In three years, the business has reached the mark of 340 thousand euros in revenue and consolidated its performance as a reference in the region.
“We know the brand through a franchise portal and saw in it the chance to start with structure and support. We certainly had some initial challenges, such as labor and tax laws, which are different in Portugal. But today we have stability, control and a clear growth plan”, says Fernanda.
Another case is that of Marcelo Barreto, who exchanged a 35-year career in the Brazilian financial market for entrepreneurship in Coimbra.In 2023, he opened his Vangor unit, an interior design franchise, and earned 300 thousand euros in 2024. In July last year, Marcelo expanded the business with the acquisition of a unit of Urban Obras, a franchise specialized in architecture and renovations, creating a synergistic operation between the two brands.
“Franchises complement each other and deliver more value to the customer. With the support of the NBrand Group, I was able to structure the business quickly and build a new phase of my” life, explains Marcelo.
Affordable models and consistent return
The portfolio of the NBrand Group serves different profiles of entrepreneurs. Initial investments start from €30 thousand, with return periods ranging between 18 and 24 months.
· House Shine (professional domestic cleaning): investment from €35 thousand, average turnover of €14 thousand/month.
· House Comfort (home support for the elderly): investment between €30 thousand and €40 thousand, average profitability of 25%.
· Vangor (interior design): initial investment of €40.5 thousand, expected return in up to two years.
· Urban Works (architecture and renovations): contribution of €41.5 thousand and average turnover of €50 thousand/month.
All franchisees have full support that includes strategic consulting, business plan, own CRM, lead generation, marketing actions and continuous operational monitoring.
“O our role goes beyond selling franchises.We work to ensure a safe transition for those who decide to undertake outside Brazil. Therefore, we offer structure from the choice of the brand to the day to day operation of”, says Candido Mesquita. “O Brasilian does not start from scratch; it arrives with luggage, purpose and will to make a difference. And that is what is redesigning the future of entrepreneurship in Portugal”, he concludes.
