How to open a company through Simplifica: complete step-by-step guide

Simplifica is the federal government’s digital platform that unifies the company-formation processes in Brazil. In a single environment, you register the company, choose the CNAE code, set the tax regime and request the business license — without having to chase down each agency separately. If you are still deciding on the type of company before the step-by-step, check out the complete guide on how to open a company. Vivian Sampaio, an accountant and lawyer with more than 26 years of experience, explains each stage of the process.

What Simplifica is and who can use it

Simplifica (simplifica.gov.br) is a platform created by the federal government to streamline company formation in Brazil. It operates within the REDESIM flow (National Network for the Simplification of Business Registration and Legalization), connecting the Federal Revenue Service, the Boards of Trade (Juntas Comerciais), city halls and state agencies into a single digital process.

The platform is suitable for:

Individual Micro-Entrepreneurs (MEI — individual micro-entrepreneur)
Sole proprietorships (EI)
Single-member Limited Liability Companies (LTDA)
Limited Liability Companies with up to two partners (in many states)
Low- and medium-risk activities

For companies with a more complex structure (S.A. corporations, companies with public capital, high environmental-risk activities), the process may require additional steps outside Simplifica.

Step 1 — Register on gov.br

Before opening the company, you need a gov.br account. If you don’t have one yet, registration is free and can be done in minutes.

Go to gov.br and click “Create account.” You will have three account-level options:

Bronze account: basic level, created with simple data (CPF + name + email). It allows some services, but it is not enough to open a company through Simplifica.
Silver account: created with biometric validation (the gov.br app’s Face Match) or a digital certificate. Required for business processes.
Gold account: created with an ICP-Brasil digital certificate. Also valid for all services.

To use Simplifica, you need a silver or gold account. Biometric validation through the gov.br app is free and takes about 5 minutes.

If you already have a gov.br account, log in and check whether the level is silver or gold before proceeding.

Step 2 — Company details

Once logged in, Simplifica asks for the company’s basic information:

a) Business name (corporate name)

This is the company’s official name, which will appear on the articles of association and the CNPJ (company tax ID). The field is filled in automatically based on the owner’s or the partners’ names. You can suggest a corporate name different from the default, but it will be validated by the Board of Trade.

b) Trade name

This is the commercial name by which the company will be known in the market. It can be the same as or different from the corporate name. The trade name is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended for activities serving end customers.

c) Business address

Provide the company’s full address: street, number, complement, neighborhood, city and postal code. A residential address is allowed for many activities (home office), but it must be compatible with the property’s use under municipal law. If the address is in a condominium, check whether the bylaws allow commercial activity.

d) Phone and email

The company’s contact details. The email will be used for notifications.

Step 3 — Choosing the CNAE

The CNAE (National Classification of Economic Activities) is the code that defines which activity your company performs. The choice of CNAE directly affects taxation, the licenses required and ancillary obligations.

In Simplifica, you search for the activity by keywords. For example, if you type “management consulting,” the system shows the matching CNAEs with their descriptions and codes. Select the main activity (the one expected to generate the most revenue) and, if needed, add secondary activities.

Important: do not choose the CNAE based on the lowest tax. Choose the one that reflects the reality of your activity. An incompatible CNAE can cause problems during inspections and when issuing invoices.

For detailed guidance on how to choose the right CNAE, check out our complete guide.

Step 4 — Tax regime

Simplifica lets you choose the tax regime at the time of formation. The available options are:

Simples Nacional (simplified tax regime) — the most common for small businesses. Everything is paid in a single monthly slip (DAS), with rates that vary according to the activity and the revenue.
Lucro Presumido (presumed-profit regime) — suitable for companies with higher profit margins. Taxation is based on a presumed margin over revenue.
Lucro Real (actual-profit regime) — mandatory for some activities or voluntarily chosen by highly profitable companies. Taxation applies to actual profit.

Simplifica does not choose the regime for you. If you are not sure which regime is best for your projected revenue, check out our tax regimes guide or consult an accountant before proceeding.

Step 5 — Business license and permits

Depending on the activity and the address, Simplifica already forwards the operating-license request to the city hall. The outcome depends on the risk classification:

Low risk (offices, clinics, service providers without a storefront): license granted automatically within 48 to 72 hours. You receive a confirmation email.
Medium risk (retail, restaurants): documentary review by the city hall, taking 5 to 15 days.
High risk (industrial plants, activities with environmental impact): the system indicates which additional permits are needed and redirects you to the competent agencies (Cetesb, ANVISA, etc.).

Step 6 — Issuing the CNPJ

The CNPJ (company tax ID) is generated automatically by the Federal Revenue Service after the data is validated. The deadline is up to 48 business hours, but in most cases the number comes out within a few hours. You receive the CNPJ number by email and can look it up at any time on the Federal Revenue website.

The CNPJ card (with the number and the company’s details) can be printed at any time through the Revenue portal.

Common problems and how to solve them

Business name already exists

If the system rejects your business name because it is already in use, you will have to propose a different name. The availability search can be done in advance on your state’s Board of Trade portal.

CNAE not found

If the system does not find the CNAE for your activity, your activity may be incompatible with formation through Simplifica. In that case, seek out an accountant or consult the Board of Trade to understand the alternative path.

Incompatible address

Addresses in environmental-protection areas, risk zones or with incompatible use may be rejected by the city hall. If your address is residential and the activity requires an operating license, first check whether municipal law allows commerce on your street.

gov.br account does not reach the silver level

If you cannot raise your account to the silver level, go to a service point of Banco do Brasil, the Post Office (Correios) or Caixa Econômica Federal — these institutions perform identity validation free of charge.

Missing documents

Check in advance which personal documents you will need on hand: ID card (RG), CPF and proof of address. If you are a partner in an LTDA, you will also need the articles of association and the other partners’ documents. See the complete list of documents required to open a company.

Would you rather have a specialist handle the entire process? The VMAHUB team can open your company through Simplifica with full guidance — from choosing the CNAE to the business license. Talk to an accountant on WhatsApp or fill out our contact form.

To explore all the hub’s guides on Simplifica, company formation and management, start with the Naprática hub introduction.

Vivian Sampaio is an accountant, lawyer, author, mentor and speaker with more than 26 years of experience in accounting and law. Founder of VMAHUB.

Tags: Simplifica, Company Formation, REDESIM, CNPJ, Business License