CNAE codes for architecture and interior design firms in Brazil
The main CNAE code for architecture firms in Brazil is 7111-1/00 – Serviços de arquitetura (Architecture services). Interior design uses 7410-2/02, technical drawing 7119-7/03, and firms that also do engineering add 7112-0/00. To prospect this segment, search codes 7111-1/00, 7410-2/02, 7119-7/03, 7112-0/00 as both primary and secondary CNAE, keep only active CNPJs, then filter by company size and city.
CNAE codes for architecture firms
CNAE (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas) is Brazil's official activity classification. Every company registered with a CNPJ declares one primary CNAE and any number of secondary ones. These are the CNAE 2.3 subclasses most used by architecture firms:
| CNAE | Official description (pt) | English | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|---|
7111-1/00 | Serviços de arquitetura | Architecture services | Architecture firms |
7410-2/02 | Design de interiores | Interior design | Interior design studios |
7119-7/03 | Serviços de desenho técnico relacionados à arquitetura e engenharia | Technical drawing for architecture and engineering | Drafting services |
7112-0/00 | Serviços de engenharia | Engineering services | Integrated architecture and engineering firms |
Search primary and secondary CNAE
Many architecture firms register their real activity as a secondary CNAE, because the CNPJ was opened under another primary activity or because they do more than one thing. Architecture firms often declare interior design as secondary, and vice versa. Filtering on the primary code alone misses part of the market.
Who sells to architecture firms
Architects and designers specify products: what goes into the design is what the project buys.
- Tile, fixture, lighting and window brands
- Custom furniture and joinery
- Design, rendering and estimating software
- Builders that execute projects
- Architectural photography and marketing
How to build a list of architecture firms in Brazil
- Pick the codes: start with
7111-1/00and add7410-2/02,7119-7/03,7112-0/00depending on what you sell. - Search them as primary and secondary CNAE.
- Keep only active registrations (situação cadastral ativa) to drop unfit, suspended or closed CNPJs.
- Narrow by location (state, city, neighborhood) and company size (MEI, ME, EPP, other). Most firms are small (ME); EPP firms have teams and run several projects at once.
- Keep companies with contact data (email or phone) and save the filter as a reusable segment.
- Write a segment-specific opener and track replies in a pipeline.
1Lead runs all of these filters in one search over Brazil's public company registry, and its AI suggests adjacent CNAE codes from a plain-language description such as "I am a tile brand looking for architecture and interior design firms in Curitiba". The product interface is in Portuguese.
Qualification signals
- Recently opened firm: building the supplier list it will specify.
- Architecture + engineering (7112-0/00): larger projects.
- Located in high-end neighborhoods: higher-ticket residential projects.
How to approach this segment
Architects value samples, technical files for their design software and a rep who follows the project. Offer a showroom visit or sample kit.
Example first message (in Portuguese, with translation)
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNAE code for an architecture firm in Brazil?
7111-1/00, architecture services.
Can Brazilian architects register as MEI?
No. Architecture is regulated by the CAU council and is not allowed under MEI.
Where is the official CNAE table?
IBGE publishes it in the CONCLA online search, with the full hierarchy (section, division, group, class, subclass) and notes on what each code includes and excludes.