This paper aims to not only identify, but also propose circular economy (CE) principles and practices that can be useful to Brazilian MSMEs. The methodology included a systematic literature review and interviews with Brazilian startups. A total of 65 startups were identified, from which 7 were interviewed. One finding is clear: the current gap between theory and practice that translates into a lack of understanding on how to implement CE principles in corporations. The interviews also showed that the business circular strategy is usually related to partners previous professional experiences and, at first, has no focus on the principles of circularity. To assist businesses through these first steps, an implementation framework was developed. The research main conclusions are: the process of implementation progresses as companies invest in knowledge, improving their perceptions and level of maturity; the experiences with startups can inspire MSMEs in the advancement of circularity.