BigDataCorp released the second edition of its study “CNPJs do Brasil”, which analyzes the scenario of companies in the country. In March 2025, Brazil surpassed the mark of 64 million registered CNPJs, number 7.72% higher than the same period of the previous year. Looking only at active companies, the growth was even higher: 16.1%, rising from 21.8 million establishments to 25.3 million. This rapid advance in the amount of business in operation demonstrates the dynamism of the Brazilian market, which continues to expand.
This expansion is especially visible in the segment of micro and small companies, which lead the movement. Individual microenterprises (MEIs) grew 20,90% in the last 12 months, and are already 78,74% of CNPJs active in the country. Small family businesses, which have two or more partners all of the same family, are the second largest category, representing 9,75% of the total. Altogether, 88,49% of Brazilian organizations are micro or small family businesses, and the evolution of this type of business is a reflection of important transformations in the Brazilian society and economy.
Transformation and Formalization of Work
Thoran Rodrigues, CEO of BigDataCorp, points out that the observed growth is the result of two major trends in the market. “First, we have the strong phenomenon of the (PEjotization of LABOR relations’. In this context, many people who were previously employed with a formal contract in the traditional model began to act as service providers, structuring their activities as companies.”, explains.
This transformation in the way people are hired can be observed in the growth of companies that declare the “sales promotion” or the “administrative support” as their main economic activities.These two activities are commonly used by workers who are migrating to a PJ model, and were the two most present types of activity in new companies.6,76% of CNPJs opened throughout 2024 had one of them as their main area of activity.
“A formalization of small businesses, especially those linked to the call 50 economy’, is the second major trend pointed out by the study.As an example, we observed that several activities in the transport sector, both passengers and cargo, had a higher than expected participation in the openings of companies”, adds Rodrigues.
In addition to the transportation sector, the formalization is also reflected in small trade and essential services such as hairdressers and manicures, segments that continue to have strong growth in the number of open companies.
Corporate mortality
Despite the total growth in the number of active companies, the study also revealed an increase in business mortality. Proportionally, more companies closed their activities throughout 2024 than in any previous year, except in 2021, when the country was still dealing with the effects of the pandemic. A large part of this mortality is related to a return to normalcy in the economy.
For example, a disproportionate number of companies in the food preparation for delivery sector was observed, reflecting a contraction in a segment that had great growth from 2020 to 2022. Throughout 2024, 1,66% of the closed businesses operated in this area.
“This acceleration in closures, when combined with the increase in openings, points to greater volatility in the Brazilian market, with less long-lived and more churn.” concludes the executive.