Accompanied by the creation of goals and reorganization, the beginning of the year is also a period in which new ideas and projects come to fruition. For many people, this is the time to follow trends, look for new references and prepare to start investing in their own business.
This common desire is reflected in recent data from Sebrae. According to the entity, the opening of new businesses is at a record level in Brazil, with more than 4 million new ventures between the months of January and November 2025.
The number represents 97% of all companies created in the country. The vast majority are individual microentrepreneurs (77%), microenterprises (19%) and small businesses (4%).
The good performance also consolidates Sebrae initiatives aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2025, the Business Ideas Portal, an educational project that focuses on creating informative content for those who want to open a business, had almost 1 million hits, an increase of 8% compared to 2024.
In total, there are more than 460 business ideas listed, with complete information about market data, legal and specific requirements, investments and disclosure, among other recommendations and tips.
Trends on the rise
Autonomy and the possibility of flexible working hours, for example, are common characteristics of the most popular business ideas in the country, according to Luciana Macedo, Solutions analyst at Sebrae Nacional.
“It’s a movement we’ve seen since the pandemic,” he says.
According to the expert, this growing trend also reflects permanent social and economic change.
“Opening businesses such as consultancy, brokerage, design and other jobs that do not require a physical location and that show a common tendency for Brazilians to want to own their own work and time”, he says.
The survey also points to similarities between activities, such as low initial investment, ease of formalization and good profitability.
Among the activities most targeted by new entrepreneurs, real estate brokerage, graphic design, consultancy and beverage distribution stand out. As a novelty, the list includes for the first time activities such as travel and tourism agency, sustainable ecological cosmetics factory and commercial representation.
According to Luciana, the presence of activities that refer to sustainability is directly linked to Brazilians’ continuous attention to activities that respect environmental guidelines, which encourages entrepreneurs to adopt “clean” ideas, respecting consumers’ desires.
“Thinking about ecological cosmetics factories and sustainability only reinforces how much the topic is already valued by both businesspeople and customers”, he says.
The portal also points to a young and female entrepreneurial profile, indicating a growing and genuine interest among women in finding out and gathering technical information before opening a business. According to the survey, more than 55% of searches on the portal were made by women, the majority of whom were young people aged 18 to 34.
Check out the 10 most sought after business ideas in 2025 below
- Realtor
- Graphic designer
- Consulting office
- Beverage distributor
- Chocolate products factory
- Cosmetics and perfumery store
- Travel and tourism agency
- Real estate
- Sustainable ecological cosmetics factory
- Commercial representation
Tips for starting a business in 2026
According to the analyst, the list reflects the influence of important economic movements also expected for 2026. As an example, she cites the popularization of real estate brokerage and travel agency activities.
“We see that the market is suitable for buying and selling properties, which favors this business idea, as well as tourism”, he says.
Other trends, such as companies focused on beauty and cosmetics and jobs that make use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will also be on the rise.
For new entrepreneurs who want to start their business in 2026, the expert recommends searching for information about the chosen sector.
“The main tip is to prepare yourself, and get to know in depth the sector you want to undertake. Study your entire market, your customers and make a business plan before taking the first step”, he advises. She also recommends the search for technical and behavioral training.
“It is also important that the entrepreneur invests in himself, so that he knows how to always act in the best way in his company”, he says.
By Maria Clara Dias
