The objective of this study was to identify the causes of the turnover process in the city of Viçosa-AL. For this, it was held a descriptive and qualitative study aiming to identify, by means of the perception of managers and contributors, the reasons for process of turnover of micro and small businesses in the commercial sector. It was identified that elements of professional qualification, existence of new job opportunities, quality of life at work, perception of success in the career and the process of recruitment and selection influence on the process of turnover. The age element has demonstrated not to be an influencer on this process. Findings of the study also identified that the satisfaction at work, dissatisfaction with the manager, bad resourcefulness as a professional and discontinuity in the rhythm of work also contribute to the turnover process. A managers' contribution to this study was helping to elencare the main flaws of controlling the process of turnover in trade in a vision from collaborators and managers, showing both sides of the working relationship. From an academic point of view, this study collaborates with the understanding of the turnover process, offering two visions - supposedly antagonistic -, besides conducting a research in trade without restriction of business branches. As a contribution to future studies, there is a suggestion of deeping the question embracing other sectors to verify if there is a difference in the managers and employees’ perception from different sectors.