Starting a business in Brazil

Legal Forms of Companies

Sociedade de Responsabilidade Limitada (SARL): Limited Liability Company

Number of partners: 2 partners minimum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirement.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed. Partners are also jointly liable for the company's commitments within the limit of the capital remaining to be paid up.

Sociedade Anônima (SA): Public Limited Company.

Number of partners: 2 partners minimum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirement.

10% minimum of the issue price of the subscribed shares must be paid up in cash.
Shareholders and liability: The partners' liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.

General Partnership

Number of partners: 2 partners minimum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirement.
Shareholders and liability: The partners' liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.

Sociedade em Comandita Simples (SCS): Limited Joint-Stock Partnership

Number of partners: 2 partners minimum.There are two types of partners - active partners and the silent partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirement.
Shareholders and liability: The liability of the active partners is unlimited. The liability of the silent partners is limited to the amount of capital contributed as long as they do not participate in the management of the company.

The Competent Organisation

All necessary information is on the SEBRAE website. It is also possible to make an application for registration by Internet. It is advisable to call on a lawyer for assistance.

Company Directories

DNRC, Registro Mercantil

Source: Doing Business, 2016