How to Open a Company and Get a CNPJ: Step by Step (2026)

To open a company, you check the viability of the name and the activity, register the founding document (with the Junta Comercial, state business registry, as a rule), and obtain the CNPJ through the Redesim (national business registration network), after securing the operating licenses. The government portal estimates about 24 hours for registration, but higher-risk activities may take longer.

MEI or company: which path

The MEI (Microempreendedor Individual, Individual Microentrepreneur) has its own simpler path, through the Portal do Empreendedor (Entrepreneur Portal), with a free formalization service. A CNPJ request for other types of company, such as an empresário individual (individual entrepreneur), SLU (sociedade limitada unipessoal, single-member limited company), and Ltda (sociedade limitada, limited company), follows the Redesim route described below. If you have not decided on the type yet, first look at the differences between EI, SLU, and Ltda.

Step by step

1. Viability check: through the state portals, confirm that the company name is available, that the CNAE (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas, National Classification of Economic Activities) codes are appropriate, and that the activity can operate at the chosen address. The average time reported is about 10 hours.
2. Founding document data: fill in the information from the contrato social (articles of organization) or the incorporation document in the Redesim. The system generates the Documento Básico de Entrada (DBE, Basic Entry Document). It takes about 15 minutes.
3. Registration: the document is registered with the competent body. For companies, that is the Junta Comercial; sociedades simples (simple partnerships) and associations use notary offices, and law firms use the OAB (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, Brazilian Bar Association). On average, about 1 day.
4. Submission to the Receita Federal: only necessary when the registration body is not integrated with the Redesim.
5. Signature and CNPJ: the person responsible for the company and the designated accounting professional sign the request digitally, and the CNPJ is generated.
6. Licenses: obtain the licenses the activity requires, such as health, environmental, and fire department licenses, through the state and municipal portals. The reported timeframe is up to 30 days.

What you need to have on hand

• A silver or gold gov.br account.
• Personal and address details for all partners.
• A defined company name and CNAE codes.
• The company's address, with property use permitted by the city hall.
• An accountant (accounting professional) to sign the CNPJ request.

How much it costs

There is no single amount. Registration fees depend on the Junta Comercial, notary office, or OAB in your state, and amounts vary. Check the website of your state's registration body before you start. There are also city hall license costs and the accountant's fees.

After the CNPJ

With the CNPJ in hand, confirm your tax regime (election of the Simples Nacional, when applicable), issue your tax documents according to the activity, and keep a livro-caixa (cash book). Also keep track of city and state obligations, such as municipal registration and the alvará (business permit), which vary by location.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a company without leaving home?

The request is made online, but the address must be permitted for the activity by the city hall, which is confirmed in the viability check.

Do I need a digital certificate?

The portal refers to the digital signature of the person responsible and of the accountant through gov.br and does not specify a type of certificate. Confirm with your accountant and with your state's registration body.

How long does it take to get the CNPJ?

The portal's estimate is about 24 hours across all the steps, with possible delays for higher-risk activities and in obtaining licenses.

Read also

• EI, SLU, and Ltda: which type of company to open
• Accountant: when to hire one and how much it costs for MEI and ME
• Simples Nacional in 2026: how it works, limits, and annexes