Brazilian government program connects small business owners with accountants

The Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Business registered more than 16,500 service calls through the MEI Conta com a Gente program across 1,923 municipalities in Brazil.

This initiative provides individual micro-entrepreneurs with accounting guidance to help them manage their businesses more effectively. The program operates through a cooperation agreement between the ministry, the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), and the National Federation of Accounting Services Companies (Fenacon).

It combines an automated virtual assistant available 24 hours a day for simple questions with professional human guidance for complex issues. Users can receive free initial advice on topics such as business formalization, debt regularization, credit access, and legal matters. The platform connects entrepreneurs with partner accountants located in their own regions. While the MEI tax regime simplifies payments, the ministry notes that owners still face challenges like separating personal and business finances, monitoring revenue limits, and hiring employees.

The program aims to shift the role of accounting from merely fulfilling tax obligations to supporting strategic decisions like pricing and growth. The ministry plans to expand the number of partner accountants and introduce advanced free consultancy modules. Entrepreneurs can access the platform without any obligation to hire the suggested professional for paid services.