Often, the dream of entrepreneurship in Brazil clashes with a harsh reality: the complexity of the legislation. According to a survey by the Brazilian Institute of Tax Planning (IBPT), from the enactment of the Federal Constitution of 1988 until 2024, more than 7.8 million regulations have been issued, of which 517,000 are related to tax matters — equivalent to a new tax regulation every 25 minutes. For small business owners who typically do not have a structured legal or compliance department, this challenge can mean financial loss or even the closure of their operations.
Gleison Loureiro, CEO and founder of AmbLegis, which has been operating for 22 years in requirements management and legal compliance, warns that companies of all sizes and sectors are at risk of non-compliance and legal issues if they do not properly manage their requirements and adhere to legal regulations, supported by the software developed by his team of specialists. "There is a false impression that, because they are smaller, these companies are exempt from a series of requirements. But the truth is that many laws apply to everyone, regardless of size," he states.
Among the legal requirements often ignored by small and medium-sized enterprises, the specialist cites five:
- DEFIS (Declaration of Socioeconomic and Tax Information): mandatory for Simples Nacional companies, must be submitted annually to the Federal Revenue Service;
- Regulatory Standards (NRs): establish safety and health standards at work, even in small operations, requiring specific documents, training, and controls;
- LGPD (General Data Protection Law): imposes strict rules for the collection, storage, and use of personal data, including for microenterprises;
- Environmental and sanitary licenses: even low-impact businesses must be registered with the relevant authorities.
- ECD and ECF (Digital Accounting/Fiscal Bookkeeping): mandatory for companies outside the Simples Nacional, with detailed rules and strict deadlines.
Ignoring these obligations can be costly. Penalties range from hefty fines, such as those provided for in the LGPD (up to 2% of revenue, limited to R$ 50 million per violation), to interdictions, labor or civil lawsuits, as well as difficulties in obtaining credit, participating in bids, or forming partnerships. "For a small business, any unforeseen impact on cash flow can be fatal," emphasizes the CEO.
Besides legal consequences, non-compliance can also affect the company's image. "Reputation is a valuable asset. Problems with consumers, data leaks, or reports of poor working conditions can undermine market trust," completes Loureiro.
Technology as an ally
With so many demands at stake, manual control becomes practically unfeasible. That's where technology comes in as an ally for small entrepreneurs. “The AmbLegis conducts a fully customized survey of applicable legislation, automates the mapping, monitoring, and updating of legal obligations, issuing periodic notifications according to each client's status and service regarding deadlines, legislative updates, and pending issues,” explains the CEO. "Our goal is to democratize access to legal management and compliance. With technology, even a small company can operate with the same level of control and security as a large corporation," explains Loureiro.
In addition to avoiding risks, the use of automated tools allows for more agile monitoring of the constant changes in legislation – which is essential, especially in light of new developments that will start to take effect in the coming months. Among the most recent regulations requiring increased vigilance are the LGPD itself, whose enforcement has been intensifying, the update of NR 1, and changes scheduled for 2025 in the Simples Nacional, such as the mandatory use of the Tax Regime Code (CRT 4) on electronic invoices issued by MEIs.
"Entrepreneurship is already a challenge. But ignoring the legislation can turn a good business into a headache. Staying up to date with obligations is, above all, a way to protect the company's future," concludes the CEO of AmbLegis.
