Leaving informality and becoming a Microentrepreneur Individual (MEI) is an important step for those who decide to work on their own. Thus, MEI for freelancers is an option for regularize your career in a simple and low-cost way.
Understand how MEI can contribute to your I work as a freelancer and what are the advantages for those who want to formalize the activity in this way!
What is MEI?
Individual Microentrepreneur (MEI) is the classification given to professionals who work independently and are registered in the program. Thus, the MEI has a National Registry of Legal Entities (CNPJ) and operates as a company, issuing invoices.
The nomenclature arose with the Complementary Law No. 128, of December 19, 2008 — which amended the General Law on Micro and Small Businesses.
Can any freelancer become an Individual Microentrepreneur?
To be an MEI, the freelancer must be over 18 years old and the annual turnover cannot exceed the limit. In 2025, the maximum amount to qualify as an Individual Microentrepreneur is R$81.000.
Within the MEI framework there are more than 400 activities that can be regulated. See which ones are: permitted occupations. Then, finding the description that fits their activity, the professional can sign up for the program.
Remember: The Individual Microentrepreneur cannot participate in any other company as a partner or owner.
What are the advantages of MEI for freelancers?
- Freelancers with MEI can issue invoices with their CNPJ;
- Social Security benefits are also available to professionals registered with the MEI. With the monthly contribution, the Individual Microentrepreneur is entitled to retirement, sickness benefit, maternity pay, among other benefits like workers who pay INSS;
- MEI makes it possible to hire an employee — as long as the registration is for the minimum wage or category floor;
- With low monthly costs and little maintenance, MEI is an excellent option for freelancers.
How to become an Individual Microentrepreneur?
Opening a MEI is a simple task. You can hire accounting professionals, but you can also do it yourself. To do this, follow these guidelines:
- Registration must be done by Contact Us |, with data about the professional and the activity that will be regularized;
- CNPJ registration requires an address and, in the case of MEI, the professional can use the address of his/her residence;
- The will be generated Certificate of Individual Microentrepreneur Status with all the information previously provided and the new CNPJ
To issue invoices, one more step is required. OMEI can issue:
- NFS-e (Electronic Service Invoice): through the system of the city hall of the municipality where the service is provided;
- NF-e (Electronic Product Invoice): via the National NF-e Portal or state system, depending on the state.
Since 2023, there has been a national system for issuing NFS-e for services, but the requirement varies depending on the city hall. This process can also be carried out entirely by a professional and does not generate costs.
What should the MEI pay?
There is only one fixed monthly contribution for the MEI. The amount is updated annually according to the current minimum wage. Payment is made through the Simplified Collection Document (DAS) and can be printed monthly, even after the due date with the value already corrected.
See the amounts that the MEI needs to pay:
|
What is paid |
Price |
Which occupations pay? |
|
INSS (Social Security) |
5% of the current minimum wage |
Occupations in Table A (general MEI) |
|
12% of the current minimum wage |
Occupations on Table B (MEI Self-Employed Transporter) |
|
|
ICMS |
R$1,00 |
Trade, industry and transport between states and municipalities |
|
ISS |
R$5,00 |
General service provision |
The microentrepreneur must annually complete your Annual Declaration of the MEI Simples Nacional (DASN-SIMEI), also carried out in Contact Us |. The statement consists of gathering information on the activities carried out in the previous year and their revenue.
What else can you achieve with MEI?
Registration as an Individual Microentrepreneur complies with the law and brings benefits to participants. The program is already considered the largest for reducing business informality in the world.
With MEI it is easier to open a bank account, apply for loans and get health insurance with differentiated prices. It is your own company, but with reduced costs and independently.
This way, self-employed professionals can join millions of other workers who have left informality behind and become individual microentrepreneurs.
We at CROWD encourage your step towards entrepreneurship and independence in your professional career.. Formalize yourself as a MEI, join our freelancer network and gain more space in the market!
