Company formation
Services
Validate and reserve company name and brand
When forming a company in Brazil the first step is to search for and check the availability of the company name and brand. This prevents any conflict in name or brand with a previously registered company.
We take these first steps and provide alternatives if necessary. It is also recommended to protect your brand as intellectual property.
Prepare the bylaws
Next up is to define the legal structure of your (subsidiary) entity. In practice that is often a Limitada (Ltda.) entity wholly owned by a foreign company. Other legal structures are possible depending on your goals.
To establish a company as a foreign entity it is mandatory to have a legal representative in Brazil acting as Power of Attorney (procuração).
Setup and registration of the articles of incorporation
After having prepared the approach on legal entity and a Power of Attorney is established, the official Articles of Cooperation (Contrato Social) can be drafted and signed by relevant parties.
We register your company with the relevant state commercial registry (Junta Comercial).
Upon registration, the company acquires a full legal personality.
VAT/Tax registration
At registration, your company will receive a Brazilian corporate tax ID (CNPJ) number issued by the Receita Federal do Brasil.
This number functions as the corporate registration number and VAT-related registration on the federal level.
Whether you are providing a service or selling goods, the specific industry your company is in and its location all make a difference in the current Brazilian tax system.
Depending on your activities we will register your company with relevant state and municipality tax authorities, allowing you to be fully compliant with Brazil’s tax law.
Open a bank account and deposit initial capital
Statutory minimum capital is not required for a ‘Limitada’, but in practice it is recommended to have a certain amount of deposited capital at formation.
In addition, all foreign direct investment must be registered with Banco Central do Brasil.
Ipanema International assists in opening the bank account in your name and comply with the banks’, often strict, KYC procedures. The account is opened in the local currency Brazilian Real.
Sector-specific licenses
Depending on the business activity, additional licenses may be required. Examples may be:
- Health authority approvals
- Environmental permits
- Municipal operating licenses
- import/export registration
Brazil is highly regulated and requirements vary significantly by industry.
We help to identify the licenses required and assist in obtaining them.
Time investment
The estimated time for the Company Formation process ranges between 6-12 weeks, depending on complexity.