Default affects one in every four small businesses in the country and outstanding debts represent at least 30% of these companies’ expenses. This is what the most recent edition of the “Small Business Pulse” survey, carried out by Sebrae in March, points out. The result is slightly worse than that identified in the survey carried out in November 2023, when default reached 23% of respondents. For the federal government, legacies from past administrations contributed to default, such as the National Support Program for Micro and Small Businesses (Pronampe), which prevented the renegotiation of debts, increasing the indebtedness of businesspeople, creating a snowball without precedents for the sector.
For the president of Sebrae, Décio Lima, the research confirms the importance of expanding the Desenrola Brasil Program for companies.
Desenrola was an action by the Lula government and vice Geraldo Alckmin that gave back breathing space to Brazilian families who had a significant part of their budgets committed to debt. Thanks to this measure, we saw a resumption of consumption and the consequent warming of the economy. Now, with the inclusion of micro and small companies in this program, a measure that has already been announced and should be implemented soon, we will have the chance to offer crucial support to entrepreneurs.
Décio Lima, president of Sebrae Nacional.
The Sebrae survey also reveals that the situation is worse for individual microentrepreneurs (MEI). In this universe, the percentage of indebtedness reaches 26%, compared to 23% for micro and small companies. The weight of debts is also greater among MEI, a group in which they represent around 63% of expenses, a result significantly higher than that recorded among micro and small companies, a segment in which around 45% of expenses correspond to loans and debts in delay.
The reduction in default in the sector was also included in the federal government’s Believe Program, which will enable the renegotiation of Pronampe debts, a fact that until then was not allowed and ended up blocking the initiative. “Pronampe’s biggest problem is that it prevents renegotiation. This caused immense problems for companies”, highlighted the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, at the launch of Crédito.
Conscious Credit
Through Sebrae’s Crédito Consciente page, entrepreneurs have all the assistance they need to access credit safely. In addition to granting the necessary endorsement for credit operations with financial institutions with the contribution of R$2 billion in the Micro and Small Business Guarantee Fund (FAMPE), Sebrae will offer guidance for the owner of a small business to start your journey by increasing your awareness and security in obtaining a loan.
