Brazil's SEBRAE expands free support for micro‑entrepreneurs

SEBRAE deployed a mobile unit in São Lourenço da Serra on 21‑22 July, offering free counseling on business formalisation, finance, marketing and sales to entrepreneurs and MEIs. In August, the municipality of Igrejinha hosted the two‑week "Conecta MEI" program, delivering free lectures and workshops on financial health, digital sales, artificial‑intelligence applications, public‑contract opportunities and pricing strategies.

Sebrae in Cruzeiro do Sul opened registrations for a traditional fair during the Novenário of Nossa Senhora da Glória, providing 40 exhibition spots for micro‑ and small‑businesses. The agency also published guidance on MEI retirement and social‑security benefits, investment options, and tax‑debt relief through the federal "Desenrola MEI" program, which discounts up to 70 % of overdue DAS liabilities for around 3.5 million indebted MEIs.

Local governments across Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul ran free entrepreneurship services: São José dos Pinhais’ "Negócios no Bairro" hub, Gravataí’s marketing and sales workshop, and a scholarship programme by Sebrae/DF for 70 innovation agents and mentors. Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen micro‑enterprise creation, formalisation and growth throughout Brazil.