How to open a legal delivery business in Brazil: MEI, permits and health inspection

You can start selling food from home, but growing without legalizing is like building on sand: you are exposed to fines, you cannot issue invoices, and you block partnerships. The good news is that opening a legal delivery business is simpler than it looks. Here is the step-by-step.

Disclaimer: rules and amounts vary by municipality and change over time. Use this guide as a map and always confirm with your city hall and your local vigilância sanitária (the municipal health surveillance authority).

Step 1 — Open your CNPJ (MEI or ME)

The CNPJ (the Brazilian business tax ID) is what gives you invoicing, a business bank account, and access to card machines and payments with better fees.

• MEI (the Brazilian micro-entrepreneur registration): the cheapest and fastest way to start. In 2026, the MEI revenue limit is R$81,000 per year (about R$6,750/month) — a figure that has not been adjusted since 2018, with a correction still pending in Congress. Several food activities are allowed under MEI (snack bar, food retail, etc.).
• ME (Microempresa, the Brazilian micro-enterprise): if you bill (or are going to bill) above the MEI ceiling, the path is to register as an ME under the Simples Nacional (Brazil's simplified tax regime).

When opening, choose the right CNAE (the Brazilian official business activity code) for your activity (preparing and selling food / delivery). An accountant handles this quickly and cheaply.

Step 2 — Operating permit (alvará de funcionamento)

This is the authorization from the city hall (prefeitura) for your address to operate that activity. What usually matters most:

• Zoning (whether the address can host that type of business).
• In some cases, a fire department permit (alvará do corpo de bombeiros).

Even a home kitchen or dark kitchen needs to check this with the local city hall.

Step 3 — Health surveillance license (vigilância sanitária)

This is the part that ensures you handle food safely. It generally involves:

• Good handling practices (hygiene, storage, temperature control).
• Adequate kitchen structure.
• In many municipalities, a food-handling course/training.

The vigilância sanitária (health surveillance authority) may request documentation and make a visit. Meeting these requirements protects your customer — and your reputation.

Step 4 — Invoicing (nota fiscal)

With a CNPJ, you can issue invoices. MEI has its own, simpler issuing rules. Confirm with your accountant how to issue invoices in your state/municipality, especially for delivery.

Quick checklist

| Stage | What it is | Where to handle it | |-------|------------|--------------------| | CNPJ | MEI or ME | Gov portal / accountant | | Alvará (permit) | Authorization for the address | City hall (prefeitura) | | Health license | Handling license | Municipal vigilância sanitária | | Nota fiscal (invoice) | Issuing invoices | According to your CNPJ rules |

Legalized? Now set up your sales channel

With your business in order, the next step is to sell without depending only on marketplaces. With Quickap you build your digital menu, take orders via link and QR Code, and enable Pix and card via Mercado Pago — and you start for free, no card required.

Create your app for free →