Set up your company in Brazil without letting tax complexity stop you.

Two ways to sell in Brazil: through an importer or with your own company

A European company can sell in Brazil without setting up a company there. The most direct route is to work with a Brazilian importer or distributor: they import in their own name, handle customs clearance and import taxes, and resell on the local market. It needs the least upfront investment and is the fastest way to test the market, but the final price, the customers and the commercial information stay with your partner.

The alternative is to set up your own company (a subsidiary) in Brazil. It lets you import, invoice in reais, hire staff, sign contracts with Brazilian customers and control your price and brand. In exchange, you take on ongoing accounting, tax and labour obligations, and a larger investment of time and money.

There are intermediate routes too, such as starting with a distributor and opening a company once volume justifies it. In the diagnosis we look at your product, expected volume and margins to recommend the route that makes sense today, not the biggest one.

Setting up a company in Brazil: the basics, at a high level

Every case is different, but some pieces appear in almost every entry project. This summary is for guidance only; it does not replace advice from a licensed professional in Brazil.

• Company type: subsidiaries of foreign companies usually take the form of a limited liability company (LTDA); other forms exist, such as the corporation (S.A.), depending on shareholders, capital and plans.
• CNPJ registration: the company’s tax ID with the Receita Federal. As a rule, foreign shareholders also need to register (CNPJ for companies, CPF for individuals).
• Resident representative: the company generally needs an administrator resident in Brazil, and foreign shareholders usually appoint an attorney-in-fact there.
• Registrations: the state commercial registry, state and municipal registrations depending on the activity, and registration of the foreign investment with the Central Bank.
• Choice of tax regime: usually between Lucro Presumido and Lucro Real; Simples Nacional is generally not available to companies with a corporate shareholder.
• Local accounting: a company in Brazil needs bookkeeping and periodic filings handled by a licensed accountant.

The 2026–2033 tax reform and your entry plan

Brazil is replacing PIS, Cofins, ICMS and ISS with two new consumption taxes: CBS (federal) and IBS (states and municipalities). Between 2026 and 2033 both systems coexist, with changes every year. For a company entering now, this affects pricing, margins, e-invoicing and the choice of regime. That is why the tax diagnosis comes before any incorporation: you plan with the rules you will actually face, not the ones from two years ago.

What we coordinate with the specialists we work with

Behind CB Ventures is its founder, Luiz Filipe Augusto, who directly coordinates tax, accounting and legal specialists in Brazil. You deal with one person; they sign and carry out whatever requires a licensed professional.

• Tax and viability diagnosis, with cost scenarios.
• Choice of structure (distributor, subsidiary or another route) and tax regime.
• Incorporation, CNPJ, registrations and local representation.
• Calendar of obligations, accounting and adapting to the reform.
• The commercial side: finding partners, distributors or customers and going live.

Your case, properly reviewed

The specific requirements depend on your case: we review them with the specialists we work with. Tell us what you want to sell or produce in Brazil, at what volume and on what timeline, and we will reply by email within 24-48 h with the possible routes.