List of legal entity types by country
A business entity is an entity that is formed and administered as per corporate law in order to engage in business activities, charitable work, or other activities allowable. Most often, business entities are formed to sell a product or a service. There are many types of business entities defined in the legal systems of various countries. These include corporations, cooperatives, partnerships, sole traders, limited liability companies and other specifically permitted and labelled types of entities. The specific rules vary by country and by state or province. Some of these types are listed below, by country. For guidance, approximate equivalents in the company law of English-speaking countries are given in most cases, for example:
- private company limited by shares or Ltd.
- public limited company
- limited partnership
- unlimited partnership
- chartered company
- statutory company
- holding company
- subsidiary company
- one man company
- charitable incorporated organisation
- non-governmental organization
- Reciprocal inter-insurance exchange
Albania
Foreign and domestic investors have a range of opportunities to organize their business in Albania. They can either establish and register a business organization or establish and register a branch or representative office. The registration of foreign entities, since 1 September 2007, had been carried out at the National Registration Center, which aimed to implement the "one stop shop" system. Law No. 131/2015 dated 26 November 2015 made possible the creation of the National Business Center, whose purpose was to simplify the procedures of doing business in the country by enabling registration and licensing procedures in a single institution. As a result, the National Registration Center and the National Licensing Center were abolished.- Sh.p.k. : ≈ Ltd. ; a business entity established by one or several natural or legal persons;
- Sh.A. : ≈ PLC ; a company whose capital is divided into shares signed by its founders;
- Shoqëri komandite: ≈ limited partnership; the liability of at least one partner is limited to the value of their contribution;
- Shoqëri kolektive: ≈ general partnership; the liability of the company's partners before its creditors is unlimited;
- Degë: ≈ subsidiary; entities created by a parent company that carry the same legal presence as the company;
- Zyrë e përfaqësimit: ≈ representative office; business offices where a company's activities can operate from that are not intended to generate revenue.
Argentina
- S.A.S | S.A.S :
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- S.R.L. : ≈ Ltd. : ≈ limited liability company
- S.C.S. : ≈ limited partnership
- S.C.p.A. : limited partnership with shares
- Soc.Col. : ≈ general partnership
- S.C.e I.
- S.E. : ≈ state-owned enterprise
- S.G.R.
Australia
- LLP : partnerships are governed on a state-by-state basis in Australia. In Queensland, a limited liability partnership is composed of at least one general partner and one limited partner. It is thus similar to what is called a limited partnership in many countries.
- ILP : used for venture capital investments comes in four types: Venture Capital Limited Partnership, Early-stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership, Australian Venture Capital Fund of Funds, Venture Capital Management Partnership.
- *
- Inc. : restricted to non-profit associations
- Ltd. : ≈ plc. The suffix Ltd. may also be used by a private company limited by guarantee, such as a charity or university.
- NL : A type of mining, speculative, or research company with no right to call up the unpaid issue price of shares.
- Pty. Ltd. : ≈ Ltd. ATF Trust. In Australia companies can act as a trustee for a trust.
- Pty. company with a share capital: A company, similar to its limited company counterpart, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited.
Austria
- Gen : ≈ cooperative
- Privatstiftung: ≈ private foundation
- Verein: ≈ nonprofit association
- European business entities
- e.U. : ≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship
- Kapitalgesellschaften: ≈ companies
- *AG : ≈ plc. Minimum capital €70,000.
- *GmbH : ≈ Ltd.. Minimum capital €35,000.
- Personengesellschaften: ≈ partnerships
- *unincorporated :
- **stG : ≈ partnership by estoppel
- **GesbR : ≈ partnership by contract ; statutes and regulations concerning Austrian companies, especially with regards to the companies register, do not apply.
- *incorporated :
- **OG : ≈ general partnership
- **KG : ≈ limited partnership
- ***GmbH & Co. KG: KG in which a GmbH is the general partner.
- Obsolete:
- *Erwerbsgesellschaft: small-sized partnerships
- **OEG : small general partnership
- **KEG : small limited partnership
Belarus
[Belgium]
, French or German names may be used.Dutch | French | Approximate explanation |
private stichting | fondation privée | Private foundation |
stichting van openbaar nut | fondation d'utilité publique | Public foundation |
economisch samenwerkingsverband | groupement d'intérêt économique | Economic interest grouping |
stille handelsvennootschap | société interne | contractual joint venture |
tijdelijke handelsvennootschap | société momentanée | equity joint venture |
vereniging zonder winstoogmerk | association sans but lucratif | German: Vereinigung ohne Gewinnerzielungsabsicht Nonprofit association |
vereniging in deelneming | société en participation | Equity partnership |
feitelijke vereniging | société de fait | De facto partnership, partnership by estoppel |
eenmanszaak | entreprise individuelle | Sole trader, sole proprietorship |
vennootschap onder firma | société en nom collectif | General partnership |
gewone commanditaire vennootschap | société en commandite simple | Limited partnership |
commanditaire vennootschap op aandelen | société en commandite par actions | Publicly traded partnership |
besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid | société privée à responsabilité limitée | Private limited company |
eenpersoons besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid | société privée à responsabilité limitée unipersonnelle | single member limited company |
Naamloze vennootschap | societé anonyme | Public limited company |
coöperatieve vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid | société coopérative à responsabilité limitée | Limited liability cooperative |
coöperatieve vennootschap met onbeperkte aansprakelijkheid | société coopérative à responsabilité illimitée | Unlimited liability cooperative |
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- d.d. : ≈ plc ≈ AG
- a.d. : ≈ plc ≈ AG
- d.n.o. : ≈ general partnership
- d.o.o. : ≈ Ltd. ≈ GmbH
- k.d. : ≈ limited partnership
- s.p. : ≈ Sole proprietorship
Brazil
- Sociedade limitada : ≈ Ltd.
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- Sociedade simples: PLLC
- Sociedade em comandita simples: ≈ ordinary limited partnership
- Sociedade em nome coletivo: ≈ general partnership
- Sociedade em conta de participação: ≈ general partnership
- Sociedade em comum: ≈ general partnership
- Cooperativa ≈ cooperative
- Empresa individual : ≈ individual proprietorship / sole proprietorship
- Empresa Individual de Responsabilidade Limitada : Same as Ltd., but without partners.
- Micro empreendedor individual: ≈ individual enterprise
- Empresa pública: ≈ Government-owned corporation
- Sociedade de economia mista: ≈ Government-owned corporation
- Associação em sentido estrito : ≈ nonprofit association
- Organização não governamental: ≈ nonprofit association
- Organização da sociedade civil de interesse público: ≈ nonprofit association
- Organização social: ≈ nonprofit association
- Serviços sociais autônomos: ≈ nonprofit association
- Fundação privada: ≈ private foundation
- Fundação pública: ≈ public foundation
Brunei
A private company contains the term "Sendirian Berhad" or "Sdn. Bhd." as part of its name; for a public company "Berhad" or "Bhd." is used.
Bulgaria
- AD / АД : joint stock company ≈ plc
- ADSITz / АДСИЦ : real estate investment trust
- EAD / ЕАД : type plc
- EOOD / ЕООД : type of OOD with a single member
- ET / ЕТ : sole proprietorship
- OOD / ООД : ≈ Ltd.
- KD / КД : ≈ limited partnership
- KDA / КДА : limited partnership with shares
- SD / СД : ≈ general partnership, but having legal personality
Cambodian
- SP
- GP
- LP
- SM Pte Ltd. :
- Pte Ltd. : ≈
- Plc Ltd. : ≈ plc
- PEEC
- State Company: ≈ plc
- State Joint Venture Company: ≈ plc
- Import Export Co., Ltd
Canada
The word or expression "Limited", Limitée, "Incorporated", Incorporée, "Corporation" or Société par actions de régime fédéral or the corresponding abbreviation "Ltd.", Ltée, "Inc.", "Corp." or S.A.R.F. forms part of the name of every entity incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act. ≈ Ltd. or Plc
As an exception, entities registered prior to 1985 may continue to be designated Société commerciale canadienne or by the abbreviation S.C.C.
Under the Canada Cooperatives Act, a co-operative must have the word "cooperative", "co-operative", "coop", "co-op", coopérative, "united" or "pool", or another grammatical form of any of those words, as part of its name.
Unlike in many other Western countries, Canadian businesses generally only have one form of incorporation available. Unlimited liability corporations can be formed in Alberta "AULC", British Columbia "BCULC" and Nova Scotia "NSULC". The aforementioned unlimited liability corporations are generally not used as operating business structures, but are instead used to create favorable tax positions for either Americans investing in Canada or vice versa. For U.S. tax purposes the ULC is classified as a disregarded entity.
Rather, Canadian businesses are generally formed under one of the following structures:
- SP : No formal business structure is established
- GP : Either a formal structure with a partnership agreement, or an informal structure, in which case the Partnerships Act for the province will apply
- LP : An investment structure, limiting both the liability and the participation of the investor. An investor who takes an active role will be deemed a general partner, and become exposed to unlimited liability.
- Corporation
- Joint Venture: A business activity shared by two or more business entities. The joint venture's activities must be finite in terms of either time or scope.
Chile
- SpA : Disregarded entity with shares
- SRL – LLC US purposes
- EIRL : individual enterprise with limited liability
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- S.G.R.
- LTDA. : ≈ Ltd.
China
- 有限公司 : ≈ Ltd.. See also Partnership.
- 股份有限公司 : ≈ plc, joint-stock company, corporation.
- 无限责任公司 : ≈ unlimited liability company.
- 有限责任股份公司 : ≈ share-holding limited liability company.
Colombia
- S.A. : ≈ plc, Corporation
- S.A.S. : Similar to the French S.A.S
- Ltda. : ≈ Ltd., LLC
- S.C. : General partnership
- S. en C. : Limited partnership
- S.C.A. : Publicly traded partnership
- E.U. : Sole proprietorship
Costa Rica
- S.A. : ≈ plc, Corporation
- S.R.L. or Ltda. : ≈ Ltd., LLC
Croatia
- d.d. : ≈ plc ≈ AG
- d.o.o. is company with limited liability: ≈ Ltd. or LLC ; minimum capital: HRK 20,000
- j.d.o.o. : simple Ltd.; minimum capital: HRK 10
- j.t.d. : ≈ general partnership
- k.d. : ≈ limited partnership
- GIU : economic interest grouping
- zadruga: cooperative
- obrt: ≈ sole proprietorship; several types: slobodni obrt, vezani obrt, and povlašteni obrt : paušalni obrt, obrt-dohodaš, obrt-dobitaš, sezonski obrt that runs for a limited number of months during a year.
- ortakluk: partnership of two or more sole proprietors
- slobodna djelatnost: free profession; self-employment but only for certain types of professions: e.g. artists, journalists, lawyers, etc.; freelancing
- domaća radinost and sporedno zanimanje: home business and side profession; limited forms of self-employment aimed at registering supplementary income from, say, small repairs or hobbies with yearly income limited to 10 average gross salaries
- OPG : family run agricultural business
- udruga ≈ voluntary association; any form of free and voluntary association of natural or legal persons to accomplish a purpose without intent to acquire profit.
Czech Republic
- a.s., akc. spol. : ≈ plc. Minimum share capital CZK 2 000 000. Must have a supervisory board in addition to the management board.
- s.r.o., spol. s r.o. : ≈ Ltd. Minimum share capital CZK 1
- v.o.s. : ≈ general partnership
- k.s. : ≈ limited partnership
- o.p.s. : ≈ One of the legal forms for non-governmental non-profit organizations
- živnost: ≈ Sole proprietorship
- s.p. : ≈ state enterprise
- příspěvková organizace: ≈ subsidized organization
- z.s. ≈ Voluntary association. Formerly o.s.
Denmark
- Enkeltmandsvirksomhed: sole proprietorship
- Forening: ≈ association
- I/S : ≈ general partnership.
- IVS : private limited company startup with limited equity capital. Must use 25% of profit to collect enough equity capital to become an ApS.
- ApS : private limited company.
- A/S : public limited company.
- K/S : limited partnership
- P/S : partnership limited by shares
- A.M.B.A. : limited liability co-operative.
- F.M.B.A. : limited liability voluntary association.
- S.M.B.A. : limited liability company.
- Partsrederi: A form of combined and continued ownership of a merchant vessel.
- Erhvervsdrivende fond: commercial foundation
- G/S : mutual organization
Dominican Republic
- C. por A., also abbreviated CXA
- S.A. : ≈ public limited company
- S.A.S : ≈
- SRL. : ≈ Limited Liability Company
- EIRL. : ≈
- Sociedad En Comandita Simple.
Ecuador
- S.A. : ≈ public limited company
- C.A.
- Cía. Ltda. : ≈ Limited Liability Company
- EP
Egypt
- SAE ≈ plc. Minimum capital EGP 250,000.
- LLC ≈ Ltd.. No Minimum capital.
- Sharikat Tadamun ≈ شركة تضامن general partnership
- Sharikat Tawssiyah Bassita ≈ شركات توصية بسيطة limited partnership
- Sharikat Tawssiyah Belashom ≈ LLP
Estonia
- FIE : ≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship
- Partnerships:
- *UÜ : ≈ limited partnership
- *TÜ : ≈ general partnership
- Companies:
- *OÜ : ≈ private limited company, limited liability company
- *AS : ≈ public limited company, corporation
- Tulundusühistu: ≈ commercial association
- MTÜ ≈ nonprofit organization
Ethiopia
- PLC
- SC
- CS
- PE or PC
European Economic Area (including the European Union)
- Partnerships:
- * European economic interest grouping : an EU legal entity designed to enable cross-border cooperation between companies. It has unlimited liability and is not liable for corporate tax.
- Companies:
- *Societas cooperativa Europaea : a European cooperative.
- *Societas Europaea : a European Limited Company.
- *Societas privata Europaea : a European private limited company, corresponding to Ltd., GmbH, etc.. This form of company is currently being proposed by the European Commission.
Finland
;General economic entities- Ay : ≈ general partnership
- Ky : ≈ limited partnership
- Oy : ≈ Ltd.. Minimum share capital €2500.
- Oyj : ≈ plc
- osk : ≈ cooperative
- T:mi, Yksityinen elinkeinonharjoittaja : sole proprietorship
;Non-profit entities
- rekisteröity yhdistys, abbr. ry : registered association, capable of acting as a legal person
- rekisteröity puolue, abbr. rp registrerat parti): registered political party
- säätiö, abbr. rs : foundation
- uskonnollinen yhdyskunta, religious community
- voluntary associations chartered by statute law
- valtion liikelaitos : commercial government agency, expected to fund themselves, but debts directly backed by state funds—distinguished from regular companies where the government owns stock.
- kunnallinen liikelaitos : municipal enterprise, similar as previous but run by a municipality
- paliskunta: a reindeer herding corporation, governed like a stock company except that the "stocks" are reindeer
- asunto-osakeyhtiö, a limited liability company for the ownership, construction and maintenance of an apartment building
- julkinen keskinäinen vakuutusyhtiö, abbreviated jy, public mutual insurance company
- keskinäinen kiinteistöosakeyhtiö, mutual insurance company
- laivaisännistöyhtiö, a type of general partnership for the owning of a merchantman
- säästöpankki, a type of loans and savings association
In the corporations of real estate law, the ownership or membership may be vested either in the real property or in a legal or natural person, depending on the corporation type. In many cases, the membership or ownership of such corporation is obligatory for a person or property that fulfils the legal requirements for membership or wishes to engage in certain activities.
- keskivedenkorkeuden muuttamista varten perustettu yhteisö, a corporation of water law for the permanent change of the median water level
- ojitusyhteisö,, Chapter 7. Retrieved 31-05-2012 a corporation of water law for the construction and maintenance of ditches
- säännöstely-yhteisö, a corporation of water law for the regulation of water level in a body of water
- tiekunta, a type of limited-liability corporation for the maintenance of private road
- uittoyhteisö, a corporation of water law for timber-floating
- vesioikeudellinen yhteisö, a corporation of water law for a project that involves economic use of bodies of water
- yhteisalue, a corporation for the maintenance of a real property jointly used by several other properties or persons
- yhteismetsä, a jointly owned forest
- osakaskunta, a partition unit, i.e. a corporation for maintenance of the commons.
- SE, European Company
- SCE, European Cooperative Society
- EEIG, European Economic Interest Grouping
France
- Micro-entreprise: special framework for minute businesses, a recent addition to French business law -with both revenue and pre-tax net income caps, of which Auto-entrepreneur is a special case
- Freelancers, individual independent contractors:
- *Auto-entrepreneur: ≈ self-employed, independent contractor, a recent addition to French business law -with both a revenue cap and a specific set of derogatory income tax rates
- *Profession libérale: ≈ sole proprietorship such as a medical practice, an enduring entity stemming from the protected status designed for "liberal professions" with unlimited personal liability
- *: the incorporated equivalent of the latter, sole shareholder limited liability being key
- *EI :
- Investment funds/companies:
- *FCP : unincorporated investment fund
- *Société d'investissement à capital fixe: ≈ investment trust ; closed-end fund, closed-end company ; listed investment company
- *SICAV : ≈ investment company with variable capital, open-ended investment company ; mutual fund, open-end company
- GIE : economic interest grouping
- Association: ≈ nonprofit association
- *Association non-déclarée: ≈ unincorporated association
- *Association déclarée: ≈ incorporated association
- Partnerships :
- *SEP : ≈ equity partnership
- *SNC : ≈ general partnership
- *SCS : ≈ limited partnership
- *SCA : ≈ publicly traded partnership
- *SCI : ≈ French property company
- Companies :
- *share companies
- **SARL, SàRL : ≈ private limited company , limited liability company
- ***EURL : ≈ single shareholder limited company
- *stock companies
- **SA : ≈ public limited company , corporation
- ***SCOP : ≈ cooperative corporation
- ***SEM : ≈ government-owned corporation
- **SAS : ≈ limited liability company, unlisted public company, close corporation , private corporation ; often used for subsidiaries; minimum of one director and two members/shareholders; no limit on share capital; liability can be restricted to director; no "one share – one vote" principle
- *** : limited liability, sole shareholder Ltd. company or single member close corporation
Germany
- individuals
- *Einzelunternehmen: individual entrepreneur ≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship; only professional services, agriculture and forestry as well as small commercial businesses
- *Eingetragener Kaufmann /eingetragene Kauffrau : registered merchant ≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship ; individual entrepreneur with commercial business
- partnerships
- *Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts, BGB-Gesellschaft: simple partnership; no minimum capital, two or more partners, unlimited liability of partners, no commercial business that is not small.
- **nicht-eingetragener Verein: un-incorporated association; non-commercial/idealistic purposes only; similar to e.V.
- *commercial partnerships
- **Offene Handelsgesellschaft : literally "open business company" ≈ general partnership: no minimum capital, unlimited liability of partners; GbR with commercial business
- **Kommanditgesellschaft ≈ limited partnership
- ***In case the general partner is a limited company, the legal form of the general partner, followed by "& Compagnie", must be included in the name of the company, resulting in combined legal forms such as:
- ****GmbH & Co. KG: the general partner is a GmbH
- ****AG & Co. KG: the general partner is an AG
- ****GmbH & Co. OHG: each of the general partners are a GmbH
- *Partnerschaftsgesellschaft : partnership company; only for professional services
- **Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mit beschränkter Berufshaftung : partnership company with limited professional liability ≈ limited liability partnership ; only for professional services
- *Partenreederei: combined and continued ownership of a single merchant vessel; no longer available for new businesses since 24 April 2013.
- companies
- *eingetragener Verein : incorporated association; non-commercial/idealistic purposes only, commercial business cannot be the main purpose of the e.V.
- **altrechtlicher Verein/rechtsfähiger Verein : association established before 1 January 1900; extremely rare
- **wirtschaftlicher Verein: commercial purpose, established by public grant; rare
- *Companies limited by shares
- **Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien : ≈ publicly traded partnership ; although it is a company limited by shares, the KGaA has at least one general partner whose liability is not limited
- ***As with the KG, the legal form of the general partner, followed by "& Compagnie", must be included if it is another limited company, resulting in combined legal forms such as:
- ****GmbH & Co. KGaA: the general partner is a GmbH
- ****AG & Co. KGaA: the general partner is an AG
- ****SE & Co. KGaA: the general partner is a societas Europaea
- **Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung : company with limited liability ≈ private limited company , limited liability company ; at least one shareholder; minimum equity €25,000.
- ***The "mit beschränkter Haftung " suffix is sometimes added to the name of a firm that already ends in "-gesellschaft", e.g., "Mustermann Dental-Handelsgesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung", which would be abbreviated as "Mustermann Dental-Handelsgesellschaft mbH".
- ***Unternehmergesellschaft : literally "entrepreneurship company ": identical to GmbH but with a minimum capital of €1 ; part of earnings needs to remain in the company to reach a minimum equity of €25,000; the word haftungsbeschränkt may not be abbreviated.
- **Aktiengesellschaft : literally "stock company" ≈ public limited company , corporation ; minimum capital €50,000.
- *eingetragene Genossenschaft : registered cooperative
- *Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts: corporation under public law; main purpose is non-commercial, part of public administration
- others
- *Stiftung ≈ foundation, trust
- *Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts: foundation under public law; main purpose is non-commercial, part of public administration
- *Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts: institution under public law; main purpose is non-commercial, part of public administration
Greece
- A.E. : ≈ plc, minimum capital €24,000
- * A.V.E.E.
- E.E. : limited partnership
- E.P.E. : ≈ Ltd., no minimum capital
- * M.E.P.E. : type of E.P.E. with a single member
- O.E. : general partnership
- * O.V.E.E.
- I.K.E. = Private Company, minimum capital=€0. The shares do not take the form just of capital but also warranties, labor offer etc. This form is a composite form between A.E. E.P.E and O.E. which is greatly affected by the Articles of Incorporation.
Guatemala
- y Cía. S. C.
- y Cía. S. en C.
- Cía. Ltda.
- S. A.
- Cía. S. C. A
Haiti
- Standardized Company; Legal Form, Sociedad Anónima – Stock Corporation; Minimum Capital Requirement, 25,000
Hong Kong
- Ltd : may denote either a private or public company limited by shares, or a company limited by guarantee. Under the Companies Ordinance, the name of a Hong Kong incorporated company may be registered in English, Chinese, or both.
- Unltd or Ultd : similar to a limited liability company but whose members or shareholders do not benefit from limited liability should the company ever go into formal liquidation. It is not a requirement under company law to add or state the word or designation Unlimited or its abbreviations at the ending of its legal company name, and most unlimited companies do not.
Hungary
Name | Type | Notes |
e.v. | sole trader | must be a natural person |
e.c. | sole venture | a company registered by and consisting of one sole trader |
bt. | limited partnership | requires one general partner with unlimited liability and one or more members with limited liability |
kkt. | general partnership | all members have unlimited liability |
kft. | limited liability company | company without stocks, the most common company type in Hungary |
kht. | community interest company | abolished in 2009, must operate as nonprofit company instead |
kv. | joint venture | abolished in 2006 |
rt. | joint-stock company | replaced by Zrt. and Nyrt. in 2006 |
Nyrt. | public limited company | must be listed on a stock exchange |
Zrt. | privately held company | not listed on stock exchange, otherwise the same as Nyrt. |
szöv. | cooperative | |
egyesülés | national version of European Economic Interest Grouping |
Iceland
India
- Sole Proprietorship – A sole proprietorship, also known as a trader firm or proprietorship, is a business firm that is owned and run by one individual. A sole proprietor may use a trade name or business name other than his or her name. Registration not required – In summary, biggest advantage is quick formation and low compliance. However, the biggest disadvantage is unlimited liability.
- Partnership – liability is joint and unlimited. Registration not compulsory and can be done through Registrar of Firms
- *Active partners take part in day-to-day operations of the business, in addition to investing in it. Active partners are entitled to a share of the enterprise's profits.
- *Sleeping partners invest in the business and are entitled to a share of its profits, but do not participate in day-to-day operations.
- Limited Liability Partnership – Liability is limited and similar to Partnership.
- HUF – businesses owned by a joint family belonging to Hindu religion. Even though Jain and Sikh families are not governed by the Hindu law, they can still form a HUF.
- Cooperative
- Dormant company – A company which has been created for a future project or for holding assets including intellectual property of the company
- Family Owned Business
- Pvt Ltd : ≈ Ltd – May have 2–200 shareholders; shares are held privately and cannot be offered to public.
- Small company – A company other than a public company whose paid up share capital is not more than 50 lakh and turnover does not exceed crore.
- Ltd : ≈ plc
- Public Sector Undertaking – Alternatively known as Public Sector Enterprise. It may be public limited company listed on stock exchanges with major ownership by a state government or a central government of India or it may be unlisted entity with major ownership by a state government or a central government of India. Some of these entities are formed as business entities through special legislation, where these entities are governed by the statutes of these legislation and may or may not be governed by company laws like a typical business entity.
- One-person company – It is a type of private company which can have only one director and member.
- Unlimited Company – A company, similar to its limited company counterpart, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited.
- Incorporation Company – Incorporation is the formation of a new corporation. The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organization, sports club, or a government of a new city or town.
Indonesia
- Yayasan: foundation
- UD : sole proprietorship.
- * Sometimes this kind of legal entity is called a perusahaan dagang or abbreviated as PD, which sometimes makes confusion with the former name for municipally-owned statutory corporations, Perusahaan Daerah, also abbreviated as PD
- vof/Fa, known locally as just firma: general partnership
- Koperasi: Cooperative
- mts : ≈ group practice ; share facilities not profits, members are treated as natural persons for tax and liability purposes.
- cv ≈ LP, Kommanditgesellschaft ; a more common type for smaller businesses
- PT : ≈ private company limited by shares
- *State-owned PT ends with "".
- PT Tbk : ≈ plc listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange
Iran
- شرکت سهامی عام : ≈ plc, public
- شرکت سهامی خاص : ≈ plc, private
- شرکت با مسئولیت محدود : ≈ Ltd.
- شرکت مختلط غیر سهامی : ≈ limited partnership
- شرکت مختلط سهامی : mixed joint-stock partnership
- شرکت تضامنی : ≈ general partnership
- شرکت نسبی : proportional liability partnership
- شرکت تعاونی تولید و مصرف : production and consumption cooperative
Ireland
- Limited Company – Four types:
- *Private company limited by shares – If company is wound up, members' liability is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares they hold. Maximum number of members in the Republic of Ireland is 99.
- *Company limited by guarantee not having a share capital – Public company. Must have at least seven members. Members' liability limited to amount they have undertaken to contribute to company assets. If wound up, liability does not exceed amount specified in memorandum. If a guarantee company does not have a share capital, members are not required to buy shares.
- *Company limited by guarantee having a share capital – As with a private company if the maximum number of members is 99. Members have liability either for the amount, if any, that is unpaid on the shares they hold, or for the amount they have undertaken to contribute to company assets, in the event that it is wound up.
- *A public limited company. Must have at least seven members. Liability is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on shares they hold. Unlawful to issue any form of prospectus except in compliance with the Companies Acts 1963–2006. Nominal value of Company's allotted share capital must satisfy specified minimums which must be fully paid before company commences business or exercises any borrowing powers.
- Single Member Company – Private company limited by shares or a guarantee company having a share capital, which is incorporated with one member, or whose membership is reduced to one person. Must have at least two directors and one secretary. Sole member can dispense with holding General Meetings including Annual General Meetings.
- Unlimited Company – No limit on liability of members. Creditors may have recourse to shareholders for unpaid liabilities of the company. Must have at least two shareholders.
- Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities – Public limited companies formed under EU Regulation and the Companies Acts 1963–2006. Sole object of a UCIT is collective investment in transferable securities of capital raised from the public that operates on the principle of risk-spreading. Central Bank of Ireland must approve all registrations of UCITS.
Israel
- Company – for-profit entity which may engage in any lawful activity. Most companies limit the liability of their shareholders. In that case, the phrase "Limited" or the abbreviation "Ltd." must appear as part of the full name of the company. The term "B.M."/"BM", literally: by limited liability/warranty, is usually translated as "Ltd." in English and pronounced "ba'AM" in Hebrew. Companies are governed by the Companies Act, 5759-1999. Few sections are still in force from the Companies Ordinance , 5743-1983.
- *Private company – any company which is not a public company.
- *Public company – any company whose shares are listed on an exchange or have been offered to the public, and are held by the public.
- *Charity company – company generally governed by the Companies Act, except it is a nonprofit. A charity company must have pre-defined goals, rather than engage in any lawful activity. Some provisions in the Companies Act apply specifically to charity companies. The letters "CC" must be appended to such company's name.
- Partnership – created by default, even without registration, when two or more persons run a business together for profit. Personal liability of partners is not limited, unless they are limited partners of a limited partnership. Partnerships are governed by the Partnerships Ordinance , 5735-1975.
- Cooperative – entity which may pursue profit, but with certain legal properties meant to facilitate greater participation by each shareholder, or member, in the entity's affairs. Shareholders usually have an additional relationship with the cooperative, such as employees or consumers. This type of entity is found mainly in agriculture, transportation, or certain types of marketing operations associated with agricultural products. Cooperatives are governed by the Cooperatives Ordinance.
- Voluntary association – nonprofit entity, which must have its goals defined in its founding agreement. Includes, among others, academic institutions, hospitals and various charitable organizations. Voluntary associations are governed by the Voluntary Associations Act, 5740-1980.
Italy
- Forme individuali :
- *Artigiano
- *Lavoratore autonomo
- *Libero professionista
- *Imprenditore ≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship
- Società di persone :
- *S.s. : ≈ general partnership
- *S.n.c. : ≈ general partnership
- *S.a.s. : ≈ limited partnership
- Società di capitali :
- *S.p.a. : ≈ plc, corporation
- *S.a.p.a. : ≈ publicly traded partnership
- *S.c.p.a.
- *S.c.a.r.l.
- *S.r.l. : ≈ Ltd., LLC
- Cooperative :
- *S.c.r.l. cooperative limited company
Japan
- 株式会社 – lit. "stock company", the most typical form of business corporation.
- 合同会社 – lit. "amalgamated company", a close corporation form similar to the American LLC, introduced in 2006
- *有限会社 – lit. "limited company", a close corporation form for smaller businesses, abolished in 2006 and replaced by G.K. above
- 合名会社 – corporation similar to a general partnership
- 合資会社 – corporation similar to a limited partnership
- 任意組合 – general partnership
- 匿名組合 – anonymous partnership, an investment bilateral contract
- 投資事業有限責任組合 – limited partnership for investment
- 有限責任事業組合 – similar to a Limited Liability Partnership
Jordan
- Partnership.
- Limited Liability.
- Limited Liability in Shares.
- Public Shareholding.
- Private Shareholding Companies.
- Foreign Company.
Kazakhstan
- АО : Joint stock company
- ТОО : limited liability partnership
- TDO/ТДО Additional liability partnership
- GP/ГП : State company
- КТ
- ОО Social association
- PT/ПТ Full partnership
- PtK/ПтК
- PrK/ПрК
- РО
- Uchr/Учр
Korea, South
- or 株式會社 : ≈ kabushiki gaisha ; plc
- or 有限會社 : ≈ yūgen gaisha/gōdō gaisha ; Ltd. ; GmbH
- or 有限責任會社 : limited liability company; ≈ gōdō gaisha
- or 合資會社 : gōshi gaisha ; corporation similar to a limited partnership
- or 合名會社 : gōmei gaisha ; corporation similar to a general partnership
Latvia
- SIA : ≈ Ltd.
- AS : ≈ plc
- IK : ≈ sole proprietorship
- PS ≈ general partnership, joint venture
- KS : ≈ limited partnership
- ĀKF : branch of a foreign enterprise
- BO : ≈ nonprofit organization
- VSIA : ≈ state-owned Ltd.
Lebanon
- s.a.l. : a form of a joint stock company
- S.A.R.L. : a form of a Limited Liability Company
- Partnership
- S.N.C.: General partnership
- S.C.S.: Partnership in commendam
- Holding Company
- Offshore companyRR
- Branch of Foreign Company
- Representative Office
Lithuania
- UAB : ≈ Ltd.
- AB : ≈ plc
- VšĮ : ≈ non-profit organization
- IĮ : ≈ personal enterprise
- Individuali veikla = sole proprietorship
- TŪB : ≈ general partnership
- KŪB : ≈ limited partnership
- MB : ≈ Limited liabilityCGT partnership
Luxembourg
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- S.A.R.L. : ≈ Ltd.
- Société à responsabilité limitée simplifiée = simplified limited liability company
- Société en commandite simple : ≈ limited partnership
- Société en Commandite Spéciale : unlike an SCS, an SCSp does not have a legal personality separate from those of its partners; it is formed by an agreement among its partners and allows for more flexible structuring, not having to comply with corporate law requirements
- Société en commandite par actions : ≈ corporate limited partnership
Malaysia
- PLT : ≈ LLP
- Bhd. : ≈ plc
- Sdn. Bhd. : ≈ Ltd.
Mexico
- Persona Física
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- S. de R.L.: ≈ Ltd.
- Associates name and "y compañía" or Associates name and "y sucesores": ≈ general partnership
- S. en C. : ≈ limited partnership
- S. en C. por A. : ≈ master limited partnership
;Business entities according to the "Ley del Mercado de Valores"
- S.A.B.
- S.A.P.I.
Monaco
- SAM : ≈ joint stock company
- SARL : ≈ Ltd., LLC
- SNC : ≈ General Partnership
- SCS : ≈ Limited Partnership
- SCA : ≈ Limited Partnership with Shares
- Sole Trader
Mongolia
- ХК : ≈ plc stock company
- ХХК : ≈ ltd limited liability company
- ТББ :≈ non governmental organisation
- ГХО ХХК : ≈ limited liability company with foreign investment
Montenegro
- Preduzetnik : ≈ Sole proprietorship ≈ Einzelunternehmen/Eingetragener Kaufmann
- O.D. : ≈ General partnership ≈ Offene Handelsgesellschaft ≈ OHG
- K.D. : ≈ Limited partnership ≈ KG
- A.D. : ≈ joint-stock company, plc ≈ AG
- D.O.O. : ≈ Private Limited Companies ≈ GmbH
- Dio stranog društva :
- *Literally part of a foreign company this sort of business entity contains the original name, legal organizational form from origin country which is converted in
Morocco
- S.A : ≈ Public Limited Company , Corporation
- S.A.S : ≈ Unlisted Public Company, Close Corporation , Private Corporation ; often used for subsidiaries; minimum of one director and two members/shareholders; no limit on share capital; liability can be restricted to director; no "one share – one vote" principle
- S.A.R.L : ≈ Private Limited company , Limited Liability Company
- G.I.E : economic interest grouping
- S.N.C : ≈ General Partnership
- S.C.S : ≈ Limited Partnership
- S.C.A : ≈ Publicly Traded Partnership
Namibia
- Close Corporation*
- Companies *
- Sole Trader*
- Partnership*
- Trusts*
- Co-operatives*
Nepal
- Private Limited Company: Liability, limited by shares; Name, cannot be deceptively similar to another registered company; Management, at least 1 director; Shareholders, limited to 1–50 excluding persons who are employed by company, prohibition against any invitation to the public to subscribe for shares; Founders, 1–50; Nationality, Nepalese company; Company purpose, any lawful purpose except industry on Negative List; Formation, file Memorandum and Articles of Association with Registrar of Companies.
- Public Limited Company: Liability, limited by shares; Name, cannot be deceptively similar to another registered company; Management, at least 3 directors; Shareholders, minimum 7, no maximum, share subscription by public pursuant to a prospectus that complies with Companies Act of 2007 and Securities Act; a Private Limited Company can convert to Public Limited Company by complying with Companies Act of 2007; Founders, minimum 7; Nationality, Nepalese company; Company purpose, any lawful purpose except industry on Negative List; Formation, file Memorandum and Articles of Association with Registrar of Companies.
- Branch: Liability, main company remains liable; Name, same as main company; Nationality, foreign company; Company purpose, any lawful purpose except industry on Negative List; Formation, file Memorandum and Articles of Association with Registrar of Companies, plus permission to work in Nepal by concerned authority; Founders, main branch.
Netherlands
- Stichting: ≈ foundation. Can run a business. No profit distribution to founders or board members.
- mutual societies, limited or exempt ):
- *Coöperatie: ≈ co-operative society
- *Onderlinge waarborgmaatschappij: ≈ mutual insurance company
- Mij : ≈ association
- Mts : ≈ group practice ; share facilities not profits, members are treated as natural persons for tax and liability purposes.
- Eenmanszaak: ≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship
- incorporated entities:
- *vof : ≈ GP
- *cv : ≈ LP
- *bv : ≈ Ltd., LLC. Shares are privately registered and not freely transferable. The name means "closed company", stemming from the fact that the shareholder is cannot be changed without consent from the majority of shareholder.
- *nv : ≈ plc, Corp.. Minimum issued share capital upon incorporation: €45,000. Literally translated, the title has the "nameless company", owing to the fact that shareholders are not formally known as such in company statutes and other legal documents.
New Zealand
- Ltd : ≈ plc or Ltd.. Names of limited liability companies that were registered under the Companies Act 1993 must end with the word "Limited", the words "Tāpui ", or the suffix "Ltd".
- Look-through company
Nicaragua
- S.A.: Sociedad Anónima
- Cia.: Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo
- Cia. Ltda.: Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo de Responsabilidad Limitada
- S.C.S.: Sociedad en Comandita Simple
- S.C.A.: Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones
Nigeria
- Private Limited Company : a private company limited by shares
- Public Limited Company : a public company limited by shares
- Limited by Guarantee : a company limited by guarantee
- Unlimited : A company with a share capital, similar to its limited company counterparts, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited
- Limited Liability Partnership : Only allowed in the state of Lagos, Nigeria.
North Macedonia
- A.D./А.Д. : ≈ plc or Joint-stock company
- D.O.O./Д.О.О. : ≈ Ltd.
- D.O.O.E.L./Д.О.О.Е.Л. : type of DOO with a single member
- K.D./К.Д. : ≈ limited partnership
- K.D.A./К.Д.А. : ≈ limited partnership with shares
- J.T.D./Ј.Т.Д. : ≈ General partnership
Norway
- ASA : ≈ plc. Minimum capital NOK 1,000,000
- AS : ≈ Ltd.. Minimum capital NOK 30,000.
- ANS : general partnership with mutual liability
- BA : cooperatives and companies created by legislation
- BL : housing share company
- DA : general partnership with apportioned liability
- Enkeltpersonforetak: sole proprietorship
- Etat: state, county or municipal agency
- FKF : county enterprise
- HF : subsidiary health enterprise
- IKS : inter-municipal enterprise
- KF : municipal enterprise
- KS : ≈ limited partnership
- NUF : foreign enterprise registered in Norway
- RHF : regional health enterprise
- SF : state enterprise
- Sparebank: savings bank
- Stiftelse: a foundation, with capital but without members or shareholders. It is allowed to make a profit, but is more suited for non-commercial purposes.
- UB : youth enterprise, only used in education
Oman
- SAOG Public Joint Stock Company
- SAOC Closed Joint Stock Company
Pakistan
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership
Company
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership
Partnerships are generally limited in size to twenty partners. The interest of a partner is transferable only with the prior consent of the other partner. However, a partner's right to a share of the partnership income may be received in trust for another person.
For taxation purposes, partnerships are classified into:
Registered Firms
Unregistered Firms
The income of the registered firm is subject to Super Tax before distribution to the partners. Also the individual income of the partners is subject to income tax at the usual rates.
For unregistered firms, income tax is levied on the firm's income and the partners are not liable to pay tax on the shares of profit received from the unregistered firm.
- Company
A company having share capital may be formed as:
A company limited by shares.
A company limited by guarantee.
An unlimited company.
- Company Limited by Shares
- Public Limited Companies can be formed by at least seven persons by subscribing their names to the 'Memorandum and Articles of Association' of the company. The word 'Limited' is used as the last word of its name.
- Private Limited Companies may be formed by at least two persons by subscribing their names to the 'Memorandum and Articles of Association' of the company. A private limited company, by its Articles of Association:
Limits the number of its members to fifty; and;
Prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for shares or debentures of the company.
A private limited company is required to use the words " Limited" as the last words of its name.
- Company Limited By Guarantee
Unlimited Company
Means a company having unlimited liability of its members
Peru
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- Sociedad Anónima Abierta : To qualify to register as an S.A.A., a company must meet one or more conditions laid down in Article 249 of Peru's General Corporation Law. Those conditions state there must be a primary public offering of shares or convertible bonds in stocks, which are held by more than 750 shareholders, more than 35% of its capital belonging to 175 shareholders, or that all shareholders entitled to vote approve the adjustment to the scheme. The S.A.A. is then audited by the Comisión Nacional Supervisora de Empresas y Valores.
- Sociedad Anónima Cerrada : These companies must have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 20 shareholders. These shares can't be registered in the Public Registry.
Philippines
- Co. : can be used for general partnerships
- Coop.
- Corp.
- Ent. : May be used by sole proprietorships, although they are not required to have a suffix.
- Inc.
- Ltd., Ltd. Co. : ≈ Limited partnerships, companies with legal status use the Inc. and Corp. suffix unlike in other SEA countries.
- Cía : for partnerships and other forms of business during the Spanish rule
- SA : formed under Spanish rule
Poland
- jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza: sole proprietorship
- Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowe: state enterprise
- S.A. : ≈ plc. Minimum share capital PLN 100,000 .
- s.c. : "civil partnership", not a partnership or a company, but rather an agreement on the sharing of profits, losses and ownership of a business. Can be likened to a voluntary association.
- S.K.A. : limited partnership with shares. Minimum share capital PLN 50,000.
- sp.j. : ≈ general partnership
- sp.k. : ≈ limited partnership
- sp.p. : ≈ limited liability partnership May also be denoted by the addition of i partner to the firm's name. Can only be used for the purpose of practicing as a licensed professional listed in the appropriate provision of the Commercial Companies Code. The partners are fully liable for the partnership's debts, with the exception of debts incurred by other partners practicing their licensed profession and employees under their direction.
- Sp. z o.o. : ≈ Ltd.. Minimum share capital PLN 5,000 .
- Spółdzielnia: ≈ cooperative. Has legal personality. May also be denoted by the word Spółdzielczy in the firm's name.
Portugal
- CRL : limited liability cooperative
- S.A. : ≈ plc, and these are further classified as:
- *S.A., Sociedade Aberta: ≈ publicly traded corporation.
- *S.F., Sociedade Fechada: ≈ privately held corporation
- Lda. : ≈ Ltd., and these might be:
- *Unipessoal Lda.: single member company
- SGPS : holding corporation
Romania
- Societăți de persoane '
- * Societatea în nume colectiv, abbreviated SNC
- * Societatea în comandită simplă, abbreviated SCS
- Societăți de capitaluri
- * Societatea în comandită pe acțiuni, abbreviated SCA
- * Societatea pe acțiuni, abbreviated SA
- Societăți hibride '
- * Societate cu răspundere limitată, abbreviated SRL
- * Societatea cu răspundere limitată cu proprietar unic, abbreviated SRL cu proprietar unic
- S.A. : ≈ plc
- S.C.A. : limited partnership with shares
- S.C.S. : ≈ limited partnership
- S.N.C. : ≈ general partnership
- S.R.L. : ≈ Ltd.
- PFA : ≈ self-employed Sole Proprietorship
- O.N.G. : ≈ Non-state pension fund
joint stock company "societate pe actiuni" ;
Russia
- NKO/НКО, : non-profit organization. There are many types of non-profits in Russia; the type depends on the ownership of the assets
- GP/ГП, GUP/ГУП predpriyatiye / Государственное : state enterprise
- IP/ИП : sole proprietorship
- OOO/ООО : limited liability company
- PAO/ПАО : plc, publicly traded shares
- Kooperativ/кооператив: cooperative
- АО/AO : private limited company , privately held shares
- :ru:Простое товарищество|Prostoye tovarishestvo / Простое товарищество and :ru:Товарищество на вере|Kommanditnoe tovarishestvo / Коммандитное товарищество. These types of business entities are not popular.
- :ru:Хозяйственное партнёрство|Hozyaystvennoye partnyorstvo / Хозяйственное партнёрство.
Saudi Arabia
- Private Limited Company
- Joint-Stock company
- General Partnership Company
- Limited Partnership
- Foreign Company
- Individual Establishment
Serbia
- d.o.o. / д.о.о. : ≈ Limited liability partnership ≈ Ltd. ≈ GmbH.
- d.d. д.д. or a.d. / a.д. društvo / деоничарско ≈ joint-stock company, plc ≈ AG
- preduzetnik : ≈ Sole proprietorship
- o.d. / о.д. : ≈ General partnership
- k.d. / к.д. : ≈ Limited partnership
- j.p. / ј.п. : ≈ state-owned enterprise
Singapore
- LLP : owners have the flexibility of operating as a partnership while enjoying limited liability. An LLP can sue and be sued, acquire and hold property, and have a common seal.
- Pte Ltd/Sdn Bhd : ≈ Ltd.. Maximum 50 shareholders. There also exist "exempt private companies", being either owned by no more than 20 non-corporate shareholders, or wholly state-owned and designated by the finance minister as exempt.
- Ltd/Bhd : ≈ plc. There also exist public companies limited by guarantee, which conduct non-profit activities; the finance minister may approve the registration of such companies without the addition of the word "Limited" or "Berhad" to the name.
- Singapore subsidiary company is a popular term used for a form of Singapore business entity. A subsidiary company can have different structures but is essentially a Private Limited Company and so is a separate legal entity. Characteristics of a Singapore subsidiary company include: i) 100% foreign ownership is allowed, ii) the company enjoys low tax incentives as per a resident company, iii) repatriation of profits is allowed and iv) the minimum paid up capital required is S$1. v) As a legal person, a subsidiary company can sue and be sued by others.
- Other forms including Pte exist
Slovakia
- a.s. : ≈ plc. Minimum share capital EUR €25,000. Must have a supervisory board in addition to the management board.
- s.r.o., spol. s r.o. : ≈ Ltd.
- k.s. : ≈ LLP. or Limited liability partnership. Must have at least one "general partner" with unlimited liability.
- v.o.s. : ≈ general partnership or unlimited partnership
- družstvo: ≈ Cooperative
- živnosť: ≈ Sole proprietorship
Slovenia
- d.d. : ≈ plc
- d.o.o. : ≈ Ltd.
- d.n.o. : ≈ Unlimited company
- k.d. : ≈ LP
- s.p. : ≈ Sole proprietorship
South Africa
- Sole proprietorship/Alleeneienaar
- Business trust/Trust
- Partnership/Vennootskap
- Companies/Maatskappye
- *Company limited by guarantee
- **Incorporated association not for gain/vereniging sonder winsoogmerk : ≈ nonprofit association.
- *Companies having a share capital
- **Private company/privaat maatskappy: ≈ private limited company, limited liability company ; has 1 or more shareholders, one or more directors. The name must end " Ltd"; registration number ends /07. Registration number and directors' names must appear on all correspondence.
- ***Section 53 company : ≈ professional limited liability company
- **Public company/publieke maatskappy : ≈ public limited company, corporation ; has at least 7 shareholders and at least two directors. The company's name must end in "LTD"; its registration number ends in /06.
- CC/BK : Has 1–10 non-corporate members. The name must end "CC" or "BK"; registration number ends /23. Registration number and members' names must appear on all correspondence. On 1 May 2011 the new Companies Act came into force and disallows any new incorporations under this form.
Spain
- S.A. : ≈ plc, minimum capital €60,101.21
- S.L. : ≈ Ltd., minimum capital €3,012
- S.L.N.E. : similar to S.L., it was introduced in 2003 to speed up new company registration, minimum capital €3,012
- S.A.D. : a limited liability sports corporation
- S.L.L. : a labour limited corporation
- S.C. : roughly a general partnership
- S.C.P. : ¿?
- S.Cra. : roughly a limited partnership
- S.Coop. : a cooperative that typically is owned and democratically controlled by its workers
- *Other initialisations are used for cooperatives; Sociedad Anónima Laboral ; some are region specific e.g. Sociedad Cooperativa Catalana Limitada
Sweden
- AB : ≈ Ltd.. Minimum capital SEK 25,000.
- AB : ≈ plc. Minimum capital SEK 500,000.
- Ek. för. : economic association
- *Bostadsrättsförening: home-owners' association
- *Hyresrättsförening: home-renters' association
- *Kooperativ: cooperative
- Enskild firma: sole proprietorship
- HB : ≈ general partnership
- KB : ≈ limited partnership
- Enkelt bolag: Regulated partnership between two parts
- Ideell förening: non-profit organization
- Stiftelse: Foundation has capital or property but no members or owners
- Filial
Switzerland
- Stiftung / / fondazione:≈ foundation
- investment fund
- * Investmentgesellschaft mit festem Kapital / SICAF / SICAF :≈ investment trust, closed-end company
- * Investmentgesellschaft mit variablem Kapital / SICAV / SICAV :≈ OEIC , open-end company
- Verein / association / associazione:≈ non-profit association
- wIG / GIE / gruppo di interesse economico:≈ EIG
- Einzelunternehmen / RI / ditta individuale:≈ sole trader, sole proprietorship
- Gesellschaft "business entities"
- *partnerships
- **eG / société simple / società semplice:≈ partnership by contract
- **KolG / SNC / società in nome collettivo:≈ GP
- **KG / SC / società in accomandita:≈ LP
- *trading companies
- **KomAG / SCA / società in accomandita per azioni:≈ publicly traded partnership
- **GmbH / Sàrl / Sagl :≈ Ltd., LLC
- **AG / SA / SA :≈ plc, Corp.
- Genossenschaft / Scoop / società cooperativa:≈ co-operative
- Zweigniederlassung / succursale / succursale:≈ branch
Taiwan
- 無限公司
- 有限公司
- 兩合公司
- 股份有限公司
Thailand
- บริษัทมหาชนจำกัด, name format บริษัท corporation name จำกัด : plc. Minimum 15 shareholders.
- บริษัทเอกชนจำกัด : Ltd.. At least three shareholders.
- ห้างหุ้นส่วนจำกัด : limited partnership There are two kinds of partnership: Limited partnership which has limited liability of the partnership, and unlimited partner which has unlimited liability to the third party for the partner. The unlimited partnership has the right to control the partnership. On the other hand, the limited partnership has no right to make decision in the partnership.
- ห้างหุ้นส่วนสามัญนิติบุคคล : general partnership
Turkey
- Adi Şirket : ≈ Simple Partnership
Şahıs şirketleri ≈ Partnerships
- Koll. Şti. : ≈ Collective partnership
- Kom. Şti ≈ Commandite partnership Can be established as simple commandite partnership or as commandite company divided into shares.
- A.Ş. / A.O. : ≈ Joint stock company Minimum capital is TRY 50,000. Bearer or registered shares, of a minimum par value of TRY 0.01 each. Only type of company that can be publicly traded in Turkish Law.
- Ltd. Şti. / L.Ş. / L.O. ≈ Limited company Minimum capital is TRY 10,000. Registered shares only, of a minimum par value of TRY 25 each.
- HAAO ≈ Publicly held corporation This essentially is a special type of A.O. These type of companies can only be established as A.O.'s. When there are no specific rules under Capital Markets legislation, A.O. rules under Turkish Commercial Code will be applied to HAAO's.
- Koop. ≈ Cooperative
- : ≈ Liaison Office
- Şahıs Firması: ≈ Sole Proprietorship
- Şb. : ≈ Branch
Tunisia
- شركة فردية
- شّركة ذات مسؤوليّات محدودة ش.م.م.
- شّركة فردية ذات مسؤوليّات محدودة
- شركة خفية الإسم
- الشركات ذات رأس المال المتغيّر
Ukraine
- DAT/ДАТ : ≈ plc, national
- FOP/ФОП : sole proprietorship
- KT/КТ : ≈ limited partnership
- PT/ПT : ≈ general partnership
- TDV/ТДВ : "additional liability company"
- TOV/TOB : ≈ Ltd.. Minimum capital = 1 minimum wage.
- PP/ПП : ≈ Ltd.. No minimum capital.
- VAT/ВАТ or PAT/ПАТ since 29.04.2009: ≈ plc, public. Minimum capital UAH 630,000.
- ZAT/ЗАТ or PrAT/ПрАТ since 29.04.2009: ≈ plc, private.
- AT/АТ : ≈ JSC.
United Kingdom
- CIC or community interest company
- CIO or Charitable Incorporated Organisation
- Industrial and provident society, e.g. a co-operative or charity
- Partnerships
- *General partnership
- *LLP or Limited liability partnership
- *Scottish limited partnerships
- *LP or Limited partnership
- Companies
- *Private Limited Companies – Ltd or Limited or Welsh Cyfyngedig
- **Private company limited by shares, The liability is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares held by them. Its shares cannot be traded publicly.
- **Private company limited by guarantee. The liability is limited to such amount as the members undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up.
- *Public Limited Company – PLC or Welsh Cwmni Cyfyngedig Cyhoeddus : Is a limited company whose shares may be traded publicly. Requires an authorized minimum share capital of £50,000; of which it must have allotted shares to the value of at least £50,000 and a minimum of 25% must be fully paid up prior to starting business.
- *Unlimited company. There is no limit on the liability of its members. It is not a requirement under company law to add or state the word or designation Unlimited or its abbreviations at the ending of its legal company name, and most such companies do not do so. Unlimited companies are exempted from filing accounts with the Registrar of Companies for public disclosure, subject to a few exceptions.
- Sole proprietorship
United States
Tax classifications
For federal tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service has separate entity classification rules. Under the tax rules, an entity may be classified as a corporation, a partnership, a cooperative or a disregarded entity. A corporation may be taxed as either a C corporation or elect to be treated as a Subchapter S corporation. A disregarded entity has one owner that is not recognized for tax purposes as an entity separate from its owner. Types of disregarded entities include single-member LLCs; qualified sub-chapter S subsidiaries and qualified real estate investment trust subsidiaries. A disregarded entity's transparent tax status does not affect its status under state law. For example, for federal tax purposes, a sole-member LLC is disregarded, so that all its assets and liabilities are treated as owned by its single member. But under state law, an SMLLC can contract in its own name and its owner is generally not personally liable for the debts and obligations of the entity. To be recognized as a Cooperative for tax purposes Cooperatives must follow certain rules under Sub Chapter T of the Internal Revenue Code.Federally incorporated
Of the few types of companies that may exist under a federally issued charter, the bulk are banks, credit unions, and similar depository institutions. Such institutions are distinguished from state-chartered banks by including a key word in their formal names. For a bank, the key word is "national". A bank chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency must have the word "national" in its name. A bank chartered by a state cannot have "national" in its name.For a savings bank or credit union, the key word is "federal", and the same rules apply; a federally chartered savings bank or credit union must have the word "federal" in its name, while a state chartered savings bank or credit union cannot have "federal" in its name.
- FSB, formerly called federal savings and loan association
- NA, a designation used by banks chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
- NT&SA, a less common designation used by national banks
- Federal Credit Union, chartered by the National Credit Union Association
State, territory or commonwealth incorporated
The following are the main business designations and types:- Sole proprietorship: a business consisting of a single owner, not in a separately recognized business form.
- Trust
Partnerships
- General partnership: a partnership in which all the partners are jointly and separately liable for the debts of the partnership. In most U.S. states, it can be created by agreement without requiring a public filing. The partners may themselves be legal entities or individuals.
- LP, Limited partnership: a partnership where at least one partner has unlimited liability for the LP's debts and one or more partners have limited liability. Limited partners generally do not participate in the management of the entity or its business.
- LLP, Limited Liability Partnership: a partnership where a partner's liability for the debts of the partnership is limited except in the case of liability for acts of professional negligence or malpractice. In some states, LLPs may only be formed for purposes of practicing a licensed profession, typically attorneys, accountants and architects. This is often the only form of limited partnership allowed for law firms.
- LLLP, Limited Liability Limited Partnership: a combination of LP and LLP, available in some states.
Limited Liability Companies
- LLC, LC, Ltd. Co., Limited Liability Company: a form of business whose owners enjoy limited liability, but which is not a corporation. Allowable abbreviations vary by state. Note that in some states Ltd. by itself is not a valid abbreviation for an LLC, because in some states, it may denote a corporation instead. See also Series LLC. For U.S. federal tax purposes, in general, an LLC with two or more members is treated as a partnership, and an LLC with one member is treated as a sole proprietorship.
- PLLC, Professional Limited Liability Company: some states do not allow certain professionals to form an LLC that would limit the liability that results from the services professionals provide such as doctors, medical care; lawyers, legal advice; and accountants, accounting services; architects, architectural services; when the company formed offers the services of the professionals. Instead those states allow a PLLC or in the LLC statutes, the liability limitation only applies to the business side, such as creditors of the company, as opposed to the client/customer service side, the level of medical care, legal services, or accounting provided to clients. This is meant to maintain the higher ethical standards that these professionals have committed themselves to by becoming licensed in their profession and to prevent them from being immune to malpractice suits.
Corporations
- Corp., Inc., Corporation, Incorporated: used to denote corporations. These are the only terms universally accepted by all 51 corporation chartering jurisdictions in the United States. However, in some states other suffixes may be used to identify a corporation, such as Ltd., Co./Company, or the Italian term S.p.A.. Some states that allow the use of "Company" prohibit the use of "and Company", "and Co.", "& Company" or "& Co.". In most states sole proprietorships and partnerships may register a fictitious "doing business as" name with the word "Company" in it. For a full list of allowed designations by state, see the table below.
- Professional corporation, PC or P.C.: those corporate entities for which many corporation statutes make special provision, regulating the use of the corporate form by licensed professionals such as attorneys, architects, accountants, and doctors.
- Doing Business As: denotes a business name used by a person or entity that is different from the person's or entity's true name. DBAs are not separate entities and do not shield the person or entity who uses the DBA as a business name from liability for debts or lawsuits. Filing requirements vary and are not permitted for some types of businesses or professional practices. See also Delaware corporation, Delaware statutory trust, Nevada corporation, and Massachusetts business trust.
State, territory or commonwealth | Required in corporation name | Authority |
Alabama | "corporation", or "incorporated", or an abbreviation of one of such words, or if a banking corporation the words "bank", "banking", or "bankers" | § 10-2B-4.01 Code of Alabama 1975 |
Alaska | "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of these words; may not contain the word "city", "borough", or "village" or otherwise imply that the corporation is a municipality. | § 10.06.105 and, Alaska Corporations Code |
Arizona | "association", "bank", "company", "corporation", "limited" or "incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words or the equivalent in a foreign language. Corporation may not use "bank", "deposit", "credit union", "trust" or "trust company" unless it also has a license to operate one. May not use "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviations "L.L.C.", "L.C.", "LLC", or "LC" | § 10-401 Arizona Revised Statutes |
Arkansas | "Corporation", "Company", or "Incorporated", "Limited" or shall contain an abbreviation of one of those words; but the name may not end with the word "Company" nor the abbreviation "Co." if the final word or abbreviation is immediately preceded by "and" or any symbol for "and" | § 4-26-401, Arkansas Code |
California | "corporation", "incorporated" or "limited" or an abbreviation of one of such words is required and for a statutory close corporations for corporate provisions to apply. May not contain "bank", "trust", "trustee" or "credit union" unless approved by the Commissioner of Financial Institutions. | § 202, California Corporations Code |
Colorado | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", "limited", "corp.", inc.", "co." or "ltd"; If the corporation is a professional corporation, it must contain the term or abbreviation "professional corporation", "p.c.", or "pc". | § 7-90-601, Colorado Revised Statutes |
Connecticut | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", "Societa per Azioni" or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", "S.p.A." or "ltd." | § 33-655 General Statutes of Connecticut |
Delaware | "association", "company", "corporation", "club", "foundation", "fund", "incorporated", "institute", "society", "union", "syndicate", or "limited",, or words of like import of foreign countries or jurisdictions | Title 8, § 102, Delaware Code |
District of Columbia | "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited", or shall contain an abbreviation of 1 of such words | § 29-101.08 District of Columbia Official Code |
Florida | "corporation", "company", or "incorporated" or the abbreviation "Corp.", "Inc.", or "Co.", or the designation "Corp", "Inc", or "Co" | § 607.0401 Florida Statutes |
Georgia | 'corporation,' 'incorporated,' 'company,' or 'limited,' or the abbreviation 'corp.,' 'inc.,' 'co.,' or 'ltd.,' or words or abbreviations of like import in another language; must not be longer than 80 characters | O.C.G.A. § 14-2-401 |
Guam | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language; if the word "company" or its abbreviation is used, it shall not be immediately preceded by the word "and" or an abbreviation or symbol representing the word "and." | Title 18, § 2110, Guam Code Annotated |
Hawaii | "corporation", "incorporated", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", or "ltd." | § 414-51 Hawaii Revised Statutes |
Idaho | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language; provided however, that if the word "company" or its abbreviation is used it shall not be immediately preceded by the word "and" or by an abbreviation of or symbol representing the word "and" | § 30-1-401 Idaho Statutes |
Illinois | "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of such words | 805 ILCS 5/4.05 Illinois Compiled Statutes |
Indiana | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language | § 23-1-23-1 Indiana Code |
Iowa | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language | § 490.401 Iowa Acts |
Kansas | "association", "church", "college", "company", "corporation", "club", "foundation", "fund", "incorporated", "institute", "society", "union", "university", "syndicate" or "limited", or one of the abbreviations "co.", "corp.", "inc.", "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in other languages if they are written in Roman characters or letters | § 17-6002 Kansas Statutes |
Kentucky | "corporation", "incorporated" or the abbreviation "Inc.", or the word "company" or the abbreviation "Co."; but if the word "company" or the abbreviation "Co." is used, it may not be immediately preceded by the word "and" or the abbreviation "&." | § 273.177 Kentucky Revised Statutes |
Louisiana | "Corporation", "Incorporated" or "Limited", or the abbreviation of any of those words, or may contain instead the word "Company" or the abbreviation "Co." if the latter word or abbreviation is not immediately preceded by the word "and" or the symbol "&". No corporate name shall contain the phrase "doing business as" or the abbreviation "d/b/a". Only a bank or bank holding company is allowed to use any of "bank", "banker", "banking", "savings", "safe deposit", "trust", "trustee", "building and loan", "homestead", "credit union", "insurance", "casualty", "redevelopment corporation", or "electric cooperative". | § 12:23 Louisiana Revised Statutes |
Maine | words or abbreviations of words that describe the nature of the entity, including "professional association", "corporation", "company", "incorporated", "chartered", "limited", "limited partnership", "limited liability company", "professional limited liability company", "limited liability partnership", "registered limited liability partnership", "service corporation" or "professional corporation"; beginning July 1, 2007, may also include "limited liability limited partnership" | for business corporations: Title 13-C § 401 Maine Revised Statutes; for non-profit corporations: Title 13-B § 301-A Maine Revised Statutes |
Maryland | For Corporations: "Company", if it is not preceded by the word "and" or a symbol for the word "and"; "Corporation", "Incorporated" or "Limited" or abbreviations; for Limited liability companies: "limited liability company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C.", or "LC"; for Limited liability partnerships: "limited liability partnership", "L.L.P." or "LLP"; for Limited partnerships: "limited partnership", "L.P.", or "LP"; for Limited liability limited partnerships: "limited liability limited partnership", "L.L.L.P.", or "LLLP"; for Professional corporations: "chartered", "chtd.", "professional association", "P.A.", "professional corporation", or "P.C." | Maryland Code – Corporations and Associations § 1-502 |
Massachusetts | "any name which, in the judgment of the secretary, indicates that it is a corporation" | General Laws Of Massachusetts – Chapter 155: Section 9 |
Michigan | "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited" or shall contain 1 of the following abbreviations, corp., co., inc., or ltd. | Act 284 of 1972 Section 450.1211 Michigan Business Corporation Act |
Minnesota | nonprofit corporations are not required to use any of these words; for business corporations, they must use "corporation", "incorporated", or "limited", or shall contain an abbreviation of one or more of these words, or the word "company" or the abbreviation "Co." if that word or abbreviation is not immediately preceded by the word "and" or the character "&" | Chapter 302A, Section 302A.115 Minnesota Statutes ; Chapter 317A, Section 317A.115 Minnesota Statutes |
Mississippi | "corporation", "incorporated", "company" or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co." or "ltd." or words or abbreviations of like import in another language | § 79-4-4.01 Mississippi code |
Missouri | "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited", or shall end with an abbreviation of one of said words | Chapter 351 Section 351.110 Missouri Revised Statutes |
Montana | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited"; the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd."; or words or abbreviations of similar meaning in another language | 35-1-308 Montana Code Annotated |
Nebraska | corporation, incorporated, company, or limited, or the abbreviation corp., inc., co., or ltd., or words or abbreviations of like import in another language, except that a corporation organized to conduct a banking business under the Nebraska Banking Act may use a name which includes the word bank without using any such words or abbreviations | Section 21-2028 State of Nebraska Statutes |
Nevada | No specific requirements stated except that a name appearing to be that of a natural person and containing a given name or initials must not be used as a corporate name except with an additional word or words such as "Incorporated", "Limited", "Inc.", "Ltd.", "Company", "Co.", "Corporation", "Corp.", or other word which identifies it as not being a natural person | 78.035 Nevada Revised Statutes |
New Hampshire | Contain the word "corporation", "incorporated", or "limited" or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", or "ltd." | New Hampshire Revised Statutes – Title XXVII; Section 293-A:4.01 for business corporations |
New Jersey | Shall contain the word "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or shall contain an abbreviation of one of those words, or shall include the abbreviation Ltd. | New Jersey Statutes 14A:2-2 |
New Mexico | contain the separate word "corporation", "company", "incorporated" or "limited" or shall contain a separate abbreviation of one of these words | New Mexico Statutes Unannotated 53-11-7 |
New York | Shall contain the word "corporation", "incorporated" or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of such words; there is also a long list of words a business corporation is not allowed to use without additional approval from other agencies including "board of trade", "state police", "urban development", "chamber of commerce", "state trooper", "urban relocation", "community renewal", "tenant relocation", "acceptance", "endowment", "loan", "annuity", "fidelity", "mortgage", "assurance", "finance", "savings" and many others | New York State Consolidated Laws, Business Corporations Law § 301; Not-For-Profit Corporations Law, § 301 |
North Carolina | a corporation must contain the word "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd."; a limited liability company must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC", or the combination "ltd. liability co.", "limited liability co.", or "ltd. liability company"; a limited partnership that is not a limited liability limited partnership must contain the words "limited partnership", the abbreviation "L.P." or "LP", or the combination "ltd. partnership"; a limited liability limited partnership must contain the words "registered limited liability limited partnership" or "limited liability limited partnership" or the abbreviation "L.L.L.P.", "R.L.L.L.P.", "LLLP", or "RLLLP"; a registered limited liability partnership's name must contain the words "registered limited liability partnership" or "limited liability partnership" or the abbreviation "L.L.P.", "R.L.L.P.", "LLP" or "RLLP". | North Carolina General Statutes § 55D‑20 |
North Dakota | must contain the word "company", "corporation", "incorporated", "limited", or an abbreviation of one or more of these words; may not contain the words "limited liability company", "limited partnership", "limited liability partnership", "limited liability limited partnership", or any abbreviation of these words. | North Dakota century Code 10-19.1-13 |
Ohio | It shall end with or include the word or abbreviation "company", "co.", "corporation", "corp.", "incorporated", or "inc." | Ohio Revised Code § 1701.05 |
Oklahoma | The name of the corporation which shall contain one of the words "association", "company", "corporation", "club", "foundation", "fund", "incorporated", "institute", "society", "union", "syndicate", or "limited" or abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation | Oklahoma Statutes § 18-1006 |
Oregon | For private corporations it shall contain one or more of the words "corporation", "incorporated", "company" or "limited" or an abbreviation of one or more of those words; shall not contain the word "cooperative." For non-profit corporations there is no specific requirement except the name cannot imply a purpose not dictated in its articles of incorporation and cannot contain the word "cooperative" or the phrase "limited partnership." | Oregon Revised Statutes 60.094 for Private Corporations; ORS 65.094 for Non-Profit corporations |
Pennsylvania | Corporation, Corp., Company, Co., Incorporated, Inc., Limited, Ltd., Association., Fund., Syndicate or words or abbreviations of like import in languages other than English | Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 19, § 23.3 |
Puerto Rico | Corporation, Corp. or Inc., or words or abbreviations of like import in other languages, provided they are written in roman letters or characters | Title 14, Subtitle 4, § 2602, Laws of Puerto Rico. |
Rhode Island | "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of these words | Rhode Island General Laws § 7-1.2-401 |
South Carolina | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language | South Carolina Code of Laws Section 33-4-101 |
South Dakota | corporation, incorporated, company, or limited, or the abbreviation, corp., inc., co., or ltd., or terms or abbreviations of like import in another language | South Dakota Codified Laws 47-1A-401 |
Tennessee | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language ; existing corporations which were formed using only "limited" or "ltd" are not required to change their name | § 48-14-101 Tennessee Code |
Texas | "company", "corporation", "incorporated", or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of those words. | Texas Business Organizations Code § 5.054 |
U.S. Virgin Islands | name shall be such as to indicate that it is a corporation as distinguished from a natural person or partnership. | Title Thirteen, § 2, Virgin Islands Code |
Utah | "corporation", "incorporated", "company"; the abbreviation: "corp.", "inc." or "co." or words or abbreviations of like import to the words or abbreviations listed in another language; without the written consent of the United States Olympic Committee, may not contain the words "Olympic", "Olympiad", or "Citius Altius Fortius"; without the written consent of the Division of Consumer Protection may not contain the words "university", "college" or "institute" | § 16-10a-401 Utah Code |
Vermont | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language; shall not have the word "cooperative" or any abbreviation thereof as part of its name unless the corporation is a worker cooperative corporation | Title 11A, § 4.01 Vermont Statutes |
Virginia | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd." | § 13.1-630. Code of Virginia |
Washington | "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd."; must not include "Bank", "banking", "banker", "trust", "cooperative", or any combination of the words "industrial" and "loan", or any combination of any two or more of the words "building", "savings", "loan", "home", "association", and "society" | § 23B.04.010 Revised Code of Washington |
West Virginia | "corporation", "incorporated", "company" or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co." or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language | § 31D-4-401 West Virginia Code |
Wisconsin | "corporation", "incorporated", "company" or "limited" or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co." or "ltd." or words or abbreviations of like import in another language | § 180.0401 Wisconsin Statutes and § 181.0401 Wisconsin Statutes |
Wyoming | Unclear; apparently any of "corporation", "company", "incorporated", and probably the usual abbreviations of "Corp." "Co." and "Inc." | § 17-16-401 Wyoming Statutes |
Uruguay
- S.A.. Company by shares.
- S.A.S.. A simplified version of the S.A.
- S.R.L.. Limited liability company.
- S.C.I.. A company with segregated shares between capital and labor.
- S.C.. A company with unlimited liability between its members.
Uzbekistan
- MChJ : limited liability company
- QMJ : additional liability company
- AJ : joint-stock company
- * OAJ : public joint-stock company
- * YoAJ : closed joint-stock company
- XK : private company
- XT : sole proprietorship
- OK : family company
- UK : unitary enterprise
- QK : joint venture
Vietnam
- Cty TNHH : Limited Liability Company
- Cty TNHH MTV since 2005
- Cty CP : Joint Stock Company
- Công ty hợp danh / "Company of Partners": Partnership
- Doanh nghiệp hợp danh / "Enterprise Partnership": Partnership
- DNNN : State-Owned Enterprise
- DNTN : Proprietorship
- DTNN : Foreign Investment Enterprise
- HTX
- Chi nhánh : Branch Company
- Nhóm Cty : Holding Company