CNAE codes for cleaning, pest control and facilities companies in Brazil
The main CNAE code for cleaning companies in Brazil is 8121-4/00 – Limpeza em prédios e em domicílios (Cleaning of buildings and homes). Specialized cleaning uses 8129-0/00, pest control 8122-2/00, facilities 8111-7/00 and cleaning product distributors 4649-4/08. To prospect this segment, search codes 8121-4/00, 8129-0/00, 8122-2/00, 8111-7/00, 4649-4/08 as both primary and secondary CNAE, keep only active CNPJs, then filter by company size and city.
CNAE codes for cleaning companies
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 cleaning companies:
| CNAE | Official description (pt) | English | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|---|
8121-4/00 | Limpeza em prédios e em domicílios | Cleaning of buildings and homes | Cleaning and janitorial companies |
8129-0/00 | Atividades de limpeza não especificadas anteriormente | Other cleaning activities | Specialized cleaning (facades, post-construction, tanks) |
8122-2/00 | Imunização e controle de pragas urbanas | Pest control | Pest control companies |
8111-7/00 | Serviços combinados para apoio a edifícios, exceto condomínios prediais | Combined facilities support services | Integrated facilities services |
4649-4/08 | Comércio atacadista de produtos de higiene, limpeza e conservação domiciliar | Wholesale of hygiene and cleaning products | Cleaning products distributors |
Search primary and secondary CNAE
Many cleaning companies 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. Outsourcing companies often combine cleaning, concierge and maintenance. Filtering on the primary code alone misses part of the market.
Who sells to cleaning companies
Cleaning companies have large teams and constant use of products and equipment.
- Cleaning product distributors and manufacturers
- Floor machines, industrial vacuums and PPE
- Uniforms and benefits for large teams
- Workforce, time-tracking and scheduling software
- Payroll and accounting for outsourcing
How to build a list of cleaning companies in Brazil
- Pick the codes: start with
8121-4/00and add8129-0/00,8122-2/00,8111-7/00,4649-4/08depending 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). EPP-size outsourcers and larger hold corporate and condominium contracts; MEIs usually serve homes.
- 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 "professional cleaning products maker looking for cleaning and facilities companies in Rio de Janeiro". The product interface is in Portuguese.
Qualification signals
- EPP or larger: large teams and recurring consumption.
- Branches: contracts in several cities.
- Facilities (8111-7/00): multi-service contracts with more purchasing volume.
How to approach this segment
Cleaning companies work on margin per post. Show lower cost per square meter or per worker and offer a trial on one contract.
Example first message (in Portuguese, with translation)
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNAE code for a cleaning company in Brazil?
8121-4/00, cleaning of buildings and homes.
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.