Brazil Market Entry: Standard Technology Company Formation

The path is straightforward. The sequencing is where value gets lost.

A standard Brazilian LTDA for a non-licensed technology business requires no regulatory approval and no minimum share capital. Physical presence in Brazil is not required at any stage. Figures below reflect our current quote, dated 24 July 2026, pending formal engagement letter.

Treat as indicative until confirmed in a signed engagement letter with formal fee schedule. The 10-day figure covers company setup only; see Section 04 for the bank account timing.

What a foreign shareholder needs in place

A foreign individual may open a company in Brazil, provided certain legal requirements are met. The entire incorporation process can usually be completed remotely through a duly appointed attorney-in-fact, without the foreign shareholder having to travel to Brazil.

Where the shareholder is a company rather than an individual, the document set changes. We require:

All documents in this set must be legalized at the nearest Brazilian Embassy.

Australia: apostille route confirmed, fees obtained

Australia is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, as is Brazil. Documents signed in Australia for use in Brazil require notarization by an Australian Notary Public, followed by a DFAT Apostille. No Brazilian Embassy legalization step is needed for Australia specifically.

We provide this as a managed service through a retained notary and apostille agent in Australia, who handles the process on the client's behalf: notarization, DFAT lodgement, and courier delivery of the finalized set to Brazil. Fees below are in AUD, with USD equivalents shown at the current exchange rate (1 AUD = 0.698 USD, 24 July 2026).

Final figure depends on the client's physical location in Australia, since this determines whether the notary can act directly or whether a local notary is required first. The Power of Attorney must be signed before an Australian Notary Public; it cannot be witnessed remotely in the ACT. USD figures are indicative and will move with the exchange rate at the time of payment.

10 business days for company setup, not the bank account

As per our experience, the process takes 10 days, not more, from receipt of complete documentation, since physical presence is not required at any stage. This assumes the power of attorney, KYC documents, and signed engagement letter are already in hand. The 10 days covers company setup only, through to the company being legally operational with its CNPJ issued.

The 10-day figure covers company setup only. Bank account opening is a separate process, starts once the CNPJ is issued, and is not included in this timeline.

Formation cost, as quoted

Expand each line for scope. Government/registry fees are shown separately for reference; these are absorbed within the USD 3,000 all-inclusive formation fee, not billed on top.

An independent statutory audit is not required at this size. Brazilian law only mandates an independent audit for companies exceeding BRL 240 million in assets or BRL 300 million in gross revenue, or for publicly listed entities and regulated sectors. A small technology LTDA under Simples Nacional falls well below these thresholds. Annual financial statements are still prepared and filed with the Junta Comercial as part of the standard accountant retainer above. If a voluntary audit is wanted, for example for a bank, investor, or foreign parent, this is a separate engagement, indicatively BRL 8,000–25,000 per year (approx. USD 1,500–4,500), scaling with transaction volume and scope.

Annual filing (financial statement approval, Junta Comercial registration, SPED digital bookkeeping) is included in the monthly accountant retainer above and is not a separate fee at this size.

We cover the local representative and director requirement in one role

Brazilian law requires either a Brazil-resident director, or a non-resident administrator paired with a Brazil-resident local representative (attorney-in-fact). We provide this as one combined role.

Nominee shareholder and nominee director

Where the client prefers not to appear directly on the public company record, a nominee can be provided in either capacity. Both carry a monthly premium on top of the standard fee schedule, reflecting the liability the nominee assumes.

Semi-annual payment plans

Both nominee services can be billed semi-annually, in advance, starting from company formation. A discount applies against the standard monthly rate for committing to the 6-month cycle.

Payable every 6 months from the start of the company. The combined plan carries the larger discount to reflect the bundled engagement.

The nominee agreement

Any nominee arrangement is documented in a nominee agreement executed between the client and the nominee before appointment. This is what protects both sides, and it typically covers:

Fee schedule

Quote dated 24 July 2026.

The apostille line depends on the client's location within Australia; see Section 03 for the full breakdown. USD figure converted at 1 AUD = 0.698 USD, 24 July 2026, and will move with the exchange rate at the time of payment.

Immediate sequence