Cost of Accounting in Brazil: Online vs Traditional 2026
Accounting in Brazil costs from R$150/month online vs R$500 to R$1,500 at a traditional firm; opening runs R$800 to R$3,000 traditionally, often free online.
The cost of accounting in Brazil starts at R$150 per month with an online accounting service, against R$500 to R$1,500 at a traditional firm, and the gap is widest at opening: traditional firms charge R$800 to R$3,000 in fees, while many online plans include the opening for free. The absolute floor is doing it yourself for a MEI on gov.br and REDESIM, but any ME, EPP or LTDA needs an accountant with an active CRC. This comparison sets the online model against a traditional firm across opening cost, monthly fee and what each includes in 2026.
What you are paying for
Accounting fees in Brazil cover two moments: the opening, which includes defining the CNAE and the tax regime, drafting the incorporation act, registering with the Junta Comercial through REDESIM and getting the CNPJ, and the ongoing work, which is calculating the monthly taxes, keeping the bookkeeping, running payroll and filing the accessory obligations. The price differences below come mostly from how that work is delivered, remotely and partly automated, or in person.
Cost comparison
| Item | DIY (gov.br/REDESIM) | Online accounting | Traditional firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening fee | Free (MEI only) | R$0 to R$500, often free | R$800 to R$3,000 |
| Monthly fee | MEI: fixed DAS | From R$150/month | R$500 to R$1,500/month |
| CNAE and regime | Your own risk | Defined, with prior simulation | Defined |
| Where it runs | gov.br and REDESIM, self-service | 100% online | In person, local firm |
For a non-MEI the DIY column is not really an option, since the incorporation act needs an accountant’s signature, so the real choice is between an online accounting service and a traditional firm, and it is on that line that the online model is usually cheaper at both opening and the monthly fee.
Opening cost
At a traditional firm the opening fee sits between R$800 and R$3,000. Online, the opening runs from R$0 to R$500 and is included for free in many monthly plans; in some cities the plan even absorbs the Junta Comercial fees, an economy that can reach R$1,800 at the start. These free-opening and fee-coverage conditions apply in certain cities and some plans, not across the whole market.
Monthly cost
The recurring fee is where the model pays off over time. Online accounting starts at R$150 per month for service providers and small businesses, against R$500 to R$1,500 at a traditional firm for a comparable profile. The Simples Nacional DAS is a separate tax paid to the government, not part of the accounting fee, and an accounting service is responsible for calculating and filing it.
What the fee includes
A single online plan usually bundles the opening of the CNPJ, the incorporation act, the municipal and state registrations, the licensing and the monthly bookkeeping, so the alvará and the filings are not billed as separate line items. That “everything in one service” packaging is part of why the online monthly fee compares well with a traditional firm that prices tasks individually.
Which is cheaper for whom
For service providers, self-employed professionals, PJ and small businesses, an online accounting service is the lower-cost way to meet the legal requirement, since it opens the company and files the obligations remotely. A traditional firm tends to fit complex operations, heavy payroll or businesses that want in-person advisory, where the higher fee buys tailored work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does accounting cost in Brazil? From R$150 per month with an online accounting service, against R$500 to R$1,500 at a traditional firm; opening is R$800 to R$3,000 traditionally and often free online.
Is opening a company free anywhere? The MEI is free on gov.br. For other types, many online plans include the opening at no extra cost, and in some cities they also cover the Junta Comercial fees.
Does the fee include taxes? No. The accounting fee is separate from the Simples Nacional DAS or the taxes of other regimes, which are paid to the government.
For the full picture of what a company costs, see the real cost of a Brazilian company, and for who signs the opening, DIY versus using an accountant.