The Costs of Doing Business in Brazil
When starting a business in Brazil, you will need to familiarize yourself with the costs associated with doing business there. These costs are above and beyond paying rent for your office space and bringing your equipment in from the US. As you learn about the different expenses that you will incur, you may want to seek out professional help to guide you through the costs and fees to make sure you are paying for everything you will need to comply with local regulations.
Some services have no fees associated with them, at all, which is important to know in case someone tries to charge you for them. There are plenty of people who would try to take advantage of you as a foreign investor, so make sure that you know what is free. Tax inspections, registering for state and federal taxes, and applying for permits from your local municipality do not cost you anything.
Other services, such as registering with the Employee Union, registering with the commerce board, and applying for a digital certification token so you can use e-invoices, will cost you, though the fees do tend to vary for each of these services. Construction permits, registering property, and obtaining electricity also require the payment of various fees.
While paying fees to start a business is nothing new to Americans, the fee structures and regulations tend to be a bit different in Brazil. When you consider starting a business in Brazil, you should take all of these costs into account when creating your business plan and proposals for potential investors.