general partnership

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Companies law
Company · Business Sole proprietorship Partnership (General · Limited · LLP) Corporation Cooperative
United States
S corporation · C corporation LLC · LLLP · Series LLC Delaware corporation Nevada corporation Massachusetts business trust
UK / Ireland / Commonwealth
Limited company (by shares · by guarantee Public · Proprietary) Unlimited company Community interest company
European Union / EEA
SE · SCE · SPE · EEIG
Elsewhere
AB · AG · ANS · A/S · AS · GmbH K.K. · N.V. · OY · S.A. · more
Doctrines
Corporate governance Limited liability · Ultra vires Business judgment rule Internal affairs doctrine De facto corporation and corporation by estoppel Piercing the corporate veil Rochdale Principles
Related areas
Contract · Civil procedure
v • d • e

There are many types of business entity defined in the legal systems of various countries. These include corporations, cooperatives, partnerships, sole traders, and other specialized types of organization. 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, e.g. ≈ p.l.c. (UK), ≈ Ltd. (UK), ≈ limited partnership, etc. It should be remembered, however, that the regulations governing particular types of entity, even those described as roughly equivalent, may differ to a greater or lesser extent between countries.

Depending on which type of business entity you choose will also influence the legal structure.^[1]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Contents 1 Albania 2 Argentina 3 Australia 4 Austria 5 Belarus 6 Belgium 7 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 Brazil 9 Bulgaria 10 Canada 11 Chile 12 China 13 Colombia 14 Croatia 15 Czech Republic 16 Denmark 17 Egypt 18 Estonia 19 European Economic Area (including the European Union) 20 Finland 21 France 22 Germany 23 Greece 24 Hong Kong 25 Hungary 26 Iceland 27 India 28 Indonesia 29 Iran 30 Ireland 31 Israel 32 Italy 33 Japan 34 Kazakhstan 35 South Korea 36 Latvia 37 Lithuania 38 Luxembourg 39 Macedonia 40 Malaysia 41 Mexico 42 Namibia 43 Netherlands 44 New Zealand 45 Nigeria 46 Norway 47 Pakistan 48 Peru 49 Philippines 50 Poland 51 Portugal 52 Romania 53 Russia 54 Serbia 55 Singapore 56 Slovakia 57 Slovenia 58 South Africa 59 Spain 60 Sweden 61 Switzerland 62 Thailand 63 Ukraine 64 United Kingdom 65 United States 65.1 Federally incorporated 65.2 State incorporated 66 Uruguay 67 Uzbekistan 68 Vietnam 69 References

Albania

• Sh.A., Sh.a. (Shoqëri Aksionare): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• Sh.p.K., Sh.p.k. (Shoqëri me Përgjegjësi të Kufizuar): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Argentina

• S.A. (Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• S.R.L. (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• Sociedad en Comandita: ≈ limited partnership

Australia

• Inc. (Incorporated): restricted to non-profit associations
• Ltd. (Limited): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). The suffix Ltd. may also be used by a private company limited by guarantee, such as a charity or university (these may obtain dispensation from the Registrar of Companies to operate without the suffix).
• NL (No liability): a type of mining company with no right to call up the unpaid issue price of shares
• Pty. Ltd. (Proprietary Limited Company): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• Pty. Ltd. (Proprietary Limited Company): ≈ Ltd. (UK) ATF Trust. In Australia companies can act as a trustee for a trust.
• Pty. (Unlimited Proprietary) company with a share capital: A company, similar to its limited company (Ltd., or Pty. Ltd.) counterpart, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited.

Austria

• AG (Aktiengesellschaft): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital €70,000.
• GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital €35,000.
• KG (Kommanditgesellschaft): limited partnership
• OG (Offene Gesellschaft): general partnership
• Genossenschaft: Cooperative

See also help.gv.at (Austrian government site, in German)

Belarus

• ААТ (Адкрытае акцыянернае таварыства): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), open
• ЗАТ (Закрытае ацыянернае таварыства): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), closed
• ІП (індывідуальны прадпрымальнік): sole proprietorship
• ПУП (Прыватнае унітарнае прадпрыемства): private unitary enterprise
• ТАА (Таварыства з абмежаванай адказнасцю): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Belgium

Dutch, French or German names may be used.

• NV (Naamloze Vennootschap) / SA (Societé Anonyme): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• BVBA (Besloten Vennootschap met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid) / SPRL (Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• EBVBA (Eenpersoons Besloten Vennootschap Met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid) / SPRLU (Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée Unipersonnelle): single member company
• Comm.V (Gewone Commanditaire Vennootschap) / SCS (Société en Commandite Simple): limited partnership
• Comm.VA (Commanditaire Vennootschap op Aandelen) / SCA (Société en Commandite par Actions): limited partnership with shares
• CVBA (Coöperatieve Vennootschap met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid) / SCRL (Société Coopérative à Responsabilité Limitée): limited liability cooperative
• CVOA (Coöperatieve Vennootschap met Onbeperkte Aansprakelijkheid) / SCRI (Société Coopérative à Responsabilité Illimitée): unlimited liability cooperative
• VOF (Vennootschap Onder Firma) / SNC (Société en Nom Collectif): ≈ general partnership

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• d.d.(dioničko društvo): ≈ p.l.c. (UK) ≈ AG (Germany)
• a.d.(akcionarsko društvo): ≈ p.l.c. (UK) ≈ AG (Germany)
• d.n.o.(društvo s neograničenom solidarnom odgovornošću): ≈ general partnership
• d.o.o.(društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću): ≈ Ltd. (UK) ≈ GmbH (Germany)
• k.d.(komanditno društvo): ≈ limited partnership

Brazil

• Ltda. (Limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• S.A. (Sociedade Anônima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• Sociedade em Comandita por Ações: limited partnership with shares
• Sociedade em Comandita Simples: ordinary limited partnership
• Sociedade em Nome Coletivo: ≈ general partnership

Bulgaria

• AD/АД (Aktsionerno drujestvo/Акционерно дружество): joint stock company ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• ADSITz/АДСИЦ (Aktsionerno Druzhestvo sus Spetsialna Investitsionna Tsel/Акционерно Дружество със Специална Инвестиционна Цел): real estate investment trust
• EAD/ЕАД (Ednolichno Aktsionerno Druzhestvo/Еднолично Акционерно Дружество): type of AD with a single member
• EOOD/ЕООД (Ednolichno Druzhestvo s Ogranichena Otgovornost/Еднолично Дружество с Ограничена Отговорност): type of OOD with a single member
• ET (Ednolichen Turgovetz/Едноличен Търговец): sole proprietorship
• OOD/ООД (Drujestvo s ogranichena otgovornost/Дружество с Ограничена Отговорност): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• KD/КД (Komanditno Druzhestvo/Командитно Дружество): ≈ limited partnership
• KDA/КДА (Komanditno Druzhestvo s Aktzii/Командитно Дружество с Акции): limited partnership with shares
• SD/СД (Subiratelno Druzhestvo/Събирателно Дружество): ≈ general partnership, but having legal personality

Canada

In Canada entities can be incorporated under either federal or provincial (or territorial) law. Unlimited liability corporations can be formed in Alberta "AULC" and Nova Scotia "NSULC".

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 (R.S., 1985, c. C-44). ≈ Ltd. or Plc (UK)

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 (1998, c. 1), 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.

Chile

• SpA (Sociedad por acciones): limited partnership with shares
• EIRL (Empresa Individual de Responsabilidad Limitada): individual enterprise with limited liability
• S.A. (Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• LTDA. (Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

China

• 有限公司: ≈ Ltd. (UK). See also Partnership (China).
• 股份有限公司: ≈ p.l.c. (UK)

See below for Hong Kong.

Colombia

• Ca. (y Compañía): company, shares with minor partners
• SCA (Comandita por acciones): limited partnership with shares.
• S. en C. (Comandita simple): limited partnership Commonly used for family business
• Ltda. which is more comparable to a General Partnership
• S.A. (Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• E.U.:(Empresa Unipersonal) [sole proprietorship]
• S.A.S. Sociedad por Accion simplificada:
• Suc. de Descendants: successors of a previous company

Croatia

• d.d. (dioničko društvo): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• d.o.o. (društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• javno trgovačko društvo: ≈ general partnership
• komanditno društvo: ≈ limited partnership

Czech Republic

• a.s., akc. spol. (Akciová společnost): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum share capital CZK 2m (20m for IPOs). Must have a supervisory board in addition to the management board.
• s.r.o., spol. s r.o. (Společnost s ručením omezeným): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• v.o.s. (veřejná obchodní společnost): ≈ general partnership

Denmark

• ApS (Anpartsselskab): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital DKK 125,000.
• A/S (Aktieselskab): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital DKK 500,000.
• A.M.B.A. (Andelsselskab med begrænset ansvar): limited liability cooperative
• I/S (Interessentskab): ≈ general partnership
• K/S (Kommanditselskab): ≈ limited partnership

Egypt

• SAE (Sharikat al-Mossahamah) ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital EGP 250,000.
• LLC (Sharikat That Massouliyyah Mahdoodah) ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital EGP 50,000.
• Sharikat Tadamun ≈ general partnership
• Sharikat Tawssiyah Bassita ≈ limited partnership
• Sharikat Tawssiyah Belashom ≈ LLP

Estonia

• OÜ (Osaühing) ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital EEK 40,000.
• AS (Aktsiaselts) ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital EEK 400,000.
• Tulundusühistu ≈ limited liability cooperative
• TÜ (Täisühing) ≈ general partnership
• UÜ (Usaldusühing) ≈ limited partnership
• FIE (Füüsilisest isikust ettevõtja) ≈ sole proprietorship

European Economic Area (including the European Union)

• SCE (Societas Cooperativa Europaea): a European Cooperative (Societas Cooperativa Europaea is Latin for "European Cooperative Society").
• SE (Societas Europaea): a European (Public) Limited Company (Societas Europaea is Latin for "European Company").

An SE or SCE may be created by registration in any of the EU/EEA Member States, and is subject to the European Company Statute. It may relocate its registered office to any other EU/EEA Member State with minimal formalities.

• EEIG (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 corporation tax.
• (proposed) SPE (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

• Ay (avoin yhtiö): ≈ general partnership (use optional)
• Ky (kommandiittiyhtiö): ≈ limited partnership
• Oy (osakeyhtiö): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum share capital €2500.
• Oyj (julkinen osakeyhtiö): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• Ok (osuuskunta): ≈ cooperative
• T:mi (toiminimi), Yksityinen elinkeinonharjoittaja: sole proprietorship (use optional)

Swedish names may also be used:

• Ab (aktiebolag) (=Oy)
• Abp (publikt aktiebolag) (=Oyj)
• Anl., Andelslag (cooperative)
• EEIG (europeisk ekonomisk intressegruppering, European Economic Interest Grouping)
• F:ma (firma), Enskild näringsidkare (=T:mi etc.)
• Ideell förening (non-profit organization)
• Kb (kommanditbolag) (=Ky)
• Öppet bolag (=Ay)
• Stiftelse (foundation)

France

• EI (Entreprise individuelle/entreprise en nom personnel): ≈ sole proprietorship (UK)
• Investment funds:
  • FCP (Fonds commun de placement): unincorporated investment fund
  • SICAF (Société d'investissement à capital fixe): closed-end investment fund
  • SICAV (Société d'investissement à capital variable): ≈ unit trust (UK), mutual fund (US)
• Partnerships (société de personnes):
  • SNC (Société en nom collectif): ≈ general partnership
  • SCS (Société en commandite simple): ≈ limited partnership
  • SCA (Société en commandite par actions): ≈ master limited partnership(US), mixed liability company (Guernsey)
• Companies (société de capitaux):
  • SARL, SàRL (Société à responsabilité limitée): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
    • EURL (Entreprise unipersonnelle à responsabilité limitée): ≈ single member company (SME Pvt) (Pakistan)
  • SA (Société anonyme): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
    • SCOP (Société coopérative de production): ≈ co-operative
    • SEM (Société d'économie mixte): semi-public company
  • Société par actions: ≈ joint stock company
    • SAS (Société par actions simplifiée): ≈ simplified stock company, often used for subsidiaries. It has a chairman but no board.
    • SASU (Société par actions simplifiée unipersonnelle): single member simplified stock company

Germany

• AG (Aktiengesellschaft): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital €50,000.
• GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital €25,000. If under the trade name "Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt)", its minimum capital is €1 (times the number of shares).
• KG (Kommanditgesellschaft): ≈ limited partnership
• KGaA (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien): limited partnership with shares
• GmbH & Co. KG and GmbH & Co. KGaA: a special type of Kommanditgesellschaft in which the general partner is a GmbH. The GmbH & Co. KGaA it is a variant with shares.
• AG & Co. KG and AG & Co. KGaA: a special type of Kommanditgesellschaft in which the general partner is an Aktiengesellschaft. The AG & Co. KGaA is a variant with shares.
• OHG (Offene Handelsgesellschaft): ≈ general partnership. No minimum capital, full liability of partners.
• GbR (Gesellschaft Bürgerlichen Rechts): partnership under civil law. No minimum capital, full liability of partners, non-business or small-business activities only.
• Partenreederei: A form of combined and continued ownership of a single merchant vessel.
• PartG (Partnerschaftsgesellschaft): type of partnership available to certain professions like lawyer, physician or tax consultant and similar.
• e.G. (eingetragene Genossenschaft): ≈ cooperative

Greece

• A.E. (Anonimi Eteria/Ανώνυμη Εταιρία): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), minimum capital €60,000
• E.E. (Eterorithmos etaria/Ετερόρρυθμος Εταιρία): limited partnership
• E.P.E. (Eteria Periorismenis Euthinis/Εταιρία Περιορισμένης Ευθύνης): ≈ Ltd. (UK), minimum capital €18,000
• M.E.P.E. (Monoprosopi Eteria Periorismenis Euthinis/Μονοπρόσωπη ΕΠΕ): type of E.P.E. with a single member
• O.E. (Omorithmos etaria/Ομόρρυθμος Εταιρία): general partnership
• Α.Β.Ε.Ε. (Anonimi Biomixaniki Emporiki Eteria/ Ανώνυμη Βιομηχανική Εμπορική Εταιρεία)
• Ο.Β.Ε.Ε. (Omorithmi Biomixaniki Emporiki Eteria/ Ομόρρυθμη Βιομηχανική Εμπορική Εταιρεία)

=

the limited amount of epe is 4500 euros anymore

Hong Kong

• Ltd. (Limited / 有限公司): may denote either a private or public company limited by shares, or a company limited by guarantee. Under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32), the name of a Hong Kong incorporated company may be registered in either the English or Chinese language, or both.

• Unltd. or Ultd. (Unlimited / 無限公司): similar to a limited liability company (Ltd.) 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 (無限公司) or its abbreviations (Unltd., or Ultd.) at the ending of its legal company name, and most unlimited companies do not.

Hungary

• e.v. (egyéni vállalkozó): sole proprietorship
• e.c. (egyéni cég): sole proprietorship registered at "companies house"
• bt. (betéti társaság): partnership, at least one unlimited/general partner and one limited partner
• kft. (korlátolt felelősségű társaság): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• kht. (közhasznú társaság): community interest Ltd. (UK) (not registrable anymore, must use Nonprofit Kft instead)
• kkt. (közkereseti társaság): ≈ general partnership
• kv. (közös vállalat): joint venture
• rt. (részvénytársaság) limited company with shares (not registrable anymore, must use Zrt or Nyrt depending on publicness)
• zrt. (zártkörűen működő részvénytársaság): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• nyrt. (nyilvánosan működő részvénytársaság): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)

Of these, only nyrt., zrt., and kft. have legal personality.

Iceland

Name	Type	Notes
ehf. (einkahlutafélag)	≈ Ltd. (UK)	Minimum capital: ISK 500,000 (£2,640; €2,946; $4,013). Minimum shareholders: 1.
einstaklingsfyrirtæki	sole proprietorship
hf. (hlutafélag)	≈ p.l.c. (UK)	Minimum capital: ISK 4,000,000 (£21,127; €23,570; $32,105). Minimum shareholders: 2.
ohf. (opinbert hlutafélag)	government-owned company
samlagsfélag	≈ limited partnership
samvinnufélag	cooperative
sf. (sameignarfélag)	≈ general partnership

India

• Sole Proprietorship - liability is unlimited.
• Partnership - liability is joint and several and is unlimited.
• Limited Liability Partnership - Liability is limited
• HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) - 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
• Family Owned Business
• Pvt. Ltd. (Private Limited Company): ≈ Ltd. (UK). May have 2–50 shareholders; shares are held privately and can not be offered to public.
• Ltd. (Public Limited Company)): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• Public Sector Unit (PSU) - Alternatively known as Public Sector Enterprise (PSE). 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.
• Unlimited company. A company, similar to its limited company (Ltd., or Pvt. Ltd.) counterpart, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited.

Indonesia

• Yayasan: foundation
• UD (Usaha Dagang): sole proprietorship
• Fa (Firma): a partnership firm for the purpose of dealing with third parties.
• Koperasi: a cooperative, where the clients/customers are also the owner
• Maatschap: a professional partnership, where the partners are treated as natural persons for tax and liability purposes
• Persekutuan Komanditer (Dutch: CV – Commanditaire Vennootschaap): limited partnership
• Perusahaan Umum (Perum), Perusahaan Jawatan (Perjan): state-owned entities e.g. Perum Peruri, Perjan Rumah Sakit Fatmawati
• PP (Persekutuan Perdata): partnership
• PT (PERSERO) Tbk, PT (PERSERO): state-owned or majority state-owned PT Tbk or PT, e.g. PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
• PT (Perseroan Terbatas): ≈ Ltd. (UK), e.g. PT Astra Honda Motor
• PT Tbk (Perseroan Terbatas Terbuka or Perseroan Terbuka): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, e.g. PT Multi Bintang Indonesia Tbk. Formerly also Dutch NV (Naamloze Vennootschap)

Iran

• شرکت سهامی عام (Sherkat Sahami Am): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), public
• شرکت سهامی خاص (Sherkat Sahami Khas): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), private
• شرکت با مسئولیت محدود (Sherkat ba Masouliyat Mahdoud): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• شرکت مختلط غیر سهامی (Sherkat Mokhtalet Gheyr Sahami): ≈ limited partnership
• شرکت مختلط سهامی (Sherkat Mokhtalet Sahami): mixed joint-stock partnership
• شرکت تضامنی (Sherkat Tazamoni): ≈ general partnership
• شرکت نسبی (Sherkat Nesbi): proportional liability partnership
• شرکت تعاونی تولید و مصرف (Sherkat Ta’avoni Tolid va Masraf): production and consumption cooperative

Ireland

Similar to United Kingdom below, though without the class Community Interest Company. There were two forms of Company Limited by Guarantee, but only the form without a share capital is now used. Irish names may also be used, such as cpt (cuideachta phoibli theoranta) for p.l.c., and Teo (Teoranta) for Ltd.

Israel

• B.M./BM/בע"מ (Be'eravon Mugbal) literally: by limited liability/warranty, usually translated "Ltd." in English, pronounced "BE'AM" in Hebrew.

Italy

• S.a.p.a (Società in accomandita per azioni): ≈ limited partnership with shares
• S.a.s (Società in accomandita semplice): ordinary limited partnership
• S.c.r.l. (Società cooperativa a responsabilità limitata) cooperative limited (liability) company
• S.n.c. ("Società in nome collettivo"): ≈ general partnership
• S.p.A. (Società per Azioni): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• S.r.l., Srl, S.R.L. (Società a responsabilità limitata): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Japan

Business corporations are referred to as kaisha (会社) and are formed under the Companies Law of 2005.

• 株式会社 (kabushiki-kaisha or kabushiki-gaisha, "K.K.") - lit. "stock company," the most typical form of business corporation
• 有限会社 (yūgen-kaisha or yūgen-gaisha, "Y.K.") - lit. "limited company," a close corporation form for smaller businesses, abolished in 2006
• 合同会社 (gōdō-kaisha or gōdō-gaisha, "G.K.") - lit. "amalgamated company," a close corporation form similar to the American LLC
• 合資会社 (gōshi-kaisha or gōshi-gaisha, "GSK") - corporation similar to a limited partnership
• 合名会社 (gōmei-kaisha or gōmei-gaisha, "GMK") - corporation similar to a general partnership

Corporations formed under other statutes are as follows:

• 一般社団法人 (ippan-shadan-hōjin) - incorporated association (Law concerning General Incorporated Association and General Incorporated Foundation)
• 一般財団法人 (ippan-zaidan-hōjin) - incorporated foundation (Law concerning General Incorporated Association and General Incorporated Foundation)
• 相互会社 (sōgo-kaisha or sōgo-gaisha) - mutual insurer (Insurance Business Law)
• 学校法人 (gakkō-hōjin) - school corporation (Private School Law)
• 宗教法人 (shūkyō-hōjin) - religious corporation (Religious Corporation Law)
• 監査法人 (kansa-hōjin) - audit corporation (Certified Public Accountant Law)
• 税理士法人 (zeirishi-hōjin) - tax accounting corporation
• 弁護士法人 (bengoshi-hōjin) - legal services corporation (Attorney Law)
• 社会福祉法人 (shakai-fukushi-hōjin) - social welfare corporation (Social Welfare Law)
• 共同組合 (kyōdō-kumiai) - cooperative (formed under several specialized statutes)
• 信用組合 (shin'yō-kumiai) - credit union (Credit Union Law)
• 信用金庫 (shin'yō-kinko) - shinkin bank (Shinkin Bank Law)

Types of Public Government Service Groups

• 地方公共団体 (chihō-kōkyō-dantai) - local authority (prefectures, cities, etc.)
  • 一部事務組合 (ichibu-jimu-kumiai) - Public service joint venture
  • 全部事務組合 (zenbu-jimu-kumiai) - Public service joint venture

Types of public corporations include:

• 特殊法人 (tokusyu-hōjin) - public service corporation
  • 公団 (kōdan) - public investment corporation
  • 公庫 (kōko) - public finance corporation
  • 公社 (kōsha) - public service corporation
• 独立行政法人 (dokuritu-Gyōsei-hōjin) - public service corporation
  • 国立大学法人 (kokuritsu-daigaku-hōjin) - national university corporation
  • 公立大学法人 (kōritsu-daigaku-hōjin) - public university corporation

Kazakhstan

• АО (Aktsionernoe obschestvo/Акционерное общество): Joint stock company
• ТОО (Tovarishchestvo s ogranichennoy otvetstvennostyu/Товарищество с ограниченной ответственностью): limited liability partnership
• ТДО (Товарищество с дополнительной ответственностью) Additional liability partnership
• ГП (Gosudarstvenoe predpriyatie/Государственное предприятие): State company
• КТ (Командитное товарищество)
• ОО (Общественное объединение) Social association
• ПТ (Полное товарищество) Full partnership
• ПтК (Потребительский кооператив)
• ПрК (Производственный кооператив)
• РО (Религиозное объединение)
• Учр (Учреждение)

South Korea

• 주식회사 or 株式會社 (jusik hoesa): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• 유한회사 or 有限會社 (yuhan hoesa): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• 합자회사 or 合資會社 (hapja hoesa): corporation similar to a limited partnership
• 합명회사 or 合名會社 (hapmyoung hoesa): corporation similar to a general partnership

Latvia

• SIA (Sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• AS (Akciju sabiedrība): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)

Lithuania

• UAB (Uždaroji Akcinė Bendrovė): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• AB (Akcinė Bendrovė): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)

Luxembourg

• S.A. (Société anonyme): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• S.A.R.L. (Société à responsabilité limitée): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Macedonia

• А.Д. (Акционерско Друштво): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• Д.О.О (Друштво со Ограничена Одговорност): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• К.Д. (Командитно друштво): ≈ limited partnership
• К.Д.А (Командитно друштво со акции): ≈ limited partnership with shares
• Ј.Т.Д (Јавно трговско друштво): ≈ General partnership

Malaysia

• Bhd. (Berhad): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• Sdn. Bhd. (Sendirian Berhad): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Mexico

Business entities according to the "Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles" (General Law of Business entities)

• S.A.(Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• S. de R.L.(Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• Associates name and "y compañía" or Associates name and "y sucesores"(Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo): ≈ general partnership
• S. en C. (Sociedad en Comandita Simple): ≈ limited partnership
• S. en C. por A. (Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones): ≈ master limited partnership

Note: Any of this entities can be incorporated as a "Capital Variable" entity, in which case has to add the " de C.V." sufix to its company name. Example: "S.A. de C.V.", "S. de R.L. de C.V."

Business entities according to the "Ley del Mercado de Valores" (Stock Market Law)

• S.A.B. (Sociedad Anonima Bursatil)

Namibia

• Close Corporation*
• Companies*
• Sole Trader*

Netherlands

• Coöperatie ("cooperative"), Onderlinge Waarborgmaatschappij ("mutual insurance company"): associations which are allowed to pay dividends to their members; liability may be full, limited (B.A.) or excluded (U.A.)
• N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). The name means "nameless company". Minimum issued share capital upon incorporation: EUR 45,000.
• B.V. (Besloten Vennootschap): ≈ Ltd. (UK). The name means "secluded company". Minimum issued share capital upon incorporation: EUR 18,000.
• C.V. (Commanditaire Vennootschap): ≈ limited partnership
• Maatschap: ≈ limited liability partnership, a professional partnership where the partners are treated as natural persons for tax and liability purposes.
• V.O.F. (Vennootschap Onder Firma): ≈ general partnership

Corporations are registered with a regional Chamber of Commerce, in the Dutch Trade Register.[1]

New Zealand

• LTD (Limited): ≈ p.l.c. or Ltd. (UK). All New Zealand limited liability companies must use the suffix LTD.

Nigeria

• Limited (Ltd.): a private company limited by shares
• Public Limited Company (PLC): a public company limited by shares
• Limited by Guarantee (Ltd./Gte.): a company limited by guarantee (non-profit company)
• Unlimited (ULtd.): A company with a share capital, similar to its limited company (Ltd., or PLC.) counterparts, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited.

Norway

• ASA (Allmennaksjeselskap): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital NOK 1,000,000
• AS (Aksjeselskap): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital NOK 100,000.
• ANS (Ansvarlig selskap): general partnership with mutual liability
• BA (Selskap med begrenset ansvar): cooperatives and companies created by legislatation
• BL (Borettslag): housing share company
• DA (Selskap med delt ansvar): general partnership with apportioned liability
• Enkeltpersonforetak: sole proprietorship
• Etat: state, county or municipal agency
• FKF (Fylkeskommunalt foretak): county enterprise
• HF (helseforetak): subsidiary health enterprise
• IKS (Interkommunalt selskap): inter-municipal enterprise (owners' liability)
• KF (Kommunalt foretak): municipal enterprise (owner's liability)
• KS (Kommandittselskap): ≈ limited partnership
• NUF (Norskregistrert utenlandsk foretak): foreign enterprise registered in Norway
• RHF (regionalt helseforetak): regional health enterprise
• SF (Statsforetak): 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.

Pakistan

• Ltd. (Limited): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• SME Pvt(ltd): Single member company
• Pvt. Ltd. (Private Limited Company): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• Unlimited company. A company, similar to its limited company (Ltd., or Pvt. Ltd.) counterpart, but where the liability of the members or shareholders is not limited.

Peru

• S.A. (Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)

regisered companies and non-registered companies

Philippines

• Co. (Company): can be used for general partnerships
• Corp. (Corporation)
• Inc. (Incorporated)
• Ltd. (Limited), Ltd. Co. (Limited Company): for limited partnerships

Older forms (now rarely used)

• Cía (Compañía): for partnerships and other forms of business during the Spanish rule
• SA (Sociedad Anónima): formed under Spanish rule

Poland

• jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza: sole proprietorship
• P.P. (Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowe): state enterprise (has legal personality)
• S.A. (spółka akcyjna): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum share capital PLN 100,000 (approx. €25,000).
• s.c. (spółka cywilna): type of partnership regulated by the Civil Code (German equivalent: Gesellschaft Bürgerlichen Rechts), no legal personality, no legal capacity, an agreement between partners
• S.K.A. (spółka komandytowo-akcyjna): limited partnership with shares
• sp.j. (spółka jawna): ≈ general partnership
• sp.k. (spółka komandytowa): ≈ limited partnership
• sp.p. (spółka partnerska): ≈ limited liability partnership. May also be denoted by the addition of i partner(zy) ("and partner(s)") to the firm's name.
• Sp. z o.o. (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum share capital PLN 5,000 (approx. €1,250).
• Spółdzielnia: ≈ cooperative. Has legal personality. May also be denoted by the word Spółdzielczy in the firm's name.

References: (Polish) Commercial Companies Code of 15 September 2000 (Dz.U. N^o 94 item 1037 as amended); (Polish) Civil Code of 23 April 1964 (Dz.U. N^o 16 item 93 as amended); (Polish) Law on Cooperatives of 16 September 1982 (Dz.U. 2003 N^o 188 item 1848 as amended)

Portugal

• CRL (Cooperativa de Responsabilidade Limitada): limited liability cooperative
• S.A. (Sociedade Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), and these are further classified as:
  • S.A., Sociedade Aberta: ≈ publicly traded corporation (literally "open company").
  • S.F., Sociedade Fechada: ≈ privately held (closely held) corporation (literally "closed company")
• Lda. (Limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK), and these might be:
  • Unipessoal Lda.: single member company (literally: "Unipersonal Ltd.")
• SGPS (Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais): holding corporation (literally "shareholding management company")

Romania

• S.A. (Societate pe Acţiuni): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• s.c.a. (societate în comandită pe acţiuni): limited partnership with shares
• s.c.s. (societate în comandită simplă): ≈ limited partnership
• s.n.c. (societate în nume colectiv): ≈ general partnership
• S.R.L. (societate cu răspundere limitată): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Russia

• ANO/AHO (Avtonomnaya nekommercheskaya organizatsiya/Автономная некоммерческая организация): autonomous non-profit organization
• GP/ГП, GUP/ГУП (Gosudarstvennoye unitarnoye predpriyatie/Государственное унитарное предприятие): state (unitary) enterprise
• IP/ИП (Individualny predprinimatel/Индивидуальный предприниматель): sole proprietorship
• OAO (Otkrytoye aktsionernoye obshchestvo/Открытое акционерное общество): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), publicly traded
• OOO (Obshchestvo s ogranichennoy otvetstvennostyu/Общество с ограниченной ответственностью): ≈ Ltd. (UK)/ LLC (USA)
• PK/ПK (Proizvodstvenny kooperativ/Производственный кооператив): production cooperative
• ZAO/ЗАО (Zakrytoe aktionernoye obshchestvo/Закрытое акционерное общество): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), closely held (privately held) (maximum 50 shareholders)

Serbia

• A.D./А.Д. (Akcionarsko društvo/Акционарско друштво): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• d.o.o./д.о.о. (Društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću/Друштво с ограниченом одговорношћу): ≈ Ltd. (UK)-
• k.d./к.д. (komanditno društvo / командитно друштво): ≈ Limited Partnership (UK)
• o.d./о.д. (ortačko društvo / ортачко друштво): ≈ General Partnership (UK)

Singapore

• LLP (limited liability partnership): 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.
• Ltd/Pte Ltd (private limited company): ≈ Ltd. (UK). 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 (public limited company): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). 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.

Slovakia

• a.s. (Akciová spoločnosť)): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum share capital SKK 1m (approx. €25,000). Must have a supervisory board in addition to the management board.
• s.r.o. (Spoločnosť s ručením obmedzeným): ≈ Ltd. (UK)
• k.s. (Komanditná spoločnosť): ≈ LLP. or Limited liability partnership (UK). Must have at least one "general partner" with unlimited liability.
• v.o.s. (Verejná obchodná spoločnosť): ≈ general partnership or unlimited partnership
• družstvo: ≈ Cooperative

Slovenia

• d.d. (Delniška družba): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• d.o.o. (Družba z omejeno odgovornostjo): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

South Africa

• CC/BK (Close Corporation, Beslote Korporasie): 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.
• Private Company/Privaat Maatskappy: Has 1–50 shareholders, one or more directors. The name must end "(Pty) Ltd"; registration number ends /07. Registration number and directors' names must appear on all correspondence.
• Public Company, Afrikaans: Publieke Maatskappy. Has at least 7 shareholders (unless it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of another company) and at least two directors. The company's name must end in "LTD"; its registration number ends in /06.
• Section 21 Company: a non-profit organization.

Spain

• S.A. (Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital €60,101.21.
• S.L. (Sociedad Limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital €3,012.
• S.L.L. (Sociedad Limitada Laboral): "labour limited corporation"
• S.L.N.E. (Sociedad Limitada Nueva Empresa). Similar to S.L., it was introduced in 2003 to speed up new company registration (registration can be completed in one day). Minimum capital €3,012.
• S.C. (Sociedad Colectiva), roughly a General partnership
• S.Cra. (Sociedad Comanditaria), a type of partnership roughly equivalent to a Kommanditgesellschaft.
• S.Coop. (Sociedad Cooperativa), a Cooperative, a company that typically is owned and democratically controlled by its workers.

Sweden

• AB (Aktiebolag): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital SEK 100,000.
• AB (publ) (Publikt aktiebolag): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum capital SEK 500,000.
• Ek. för. (Ekonomisk förening): economic association
  • Bostadsrättsförening: home-owners' association
  • Hyresrättsförening: home-renters' association
  • Kooperativ: cooperative
• Enskild firma: sole proprietorship
• HB (Handelsbolag): ≈ general partnership
• KB (Kommanditbolag): ≈ limited partnership
• Enkelt bolag: Regulated partnership between two parts (Companys or private persons)
• Ideell förening: non-profit organization

Switzerland

German	French	Italian	Notes
AG (Aktiengesellschaft)	SA (Société anonyme)	SA (Società anonima)	≈ p.l.c. (UK) or Inc. (US). Min. share capital CHF 100,000. Bearer or registered shares, of a par value of min. CHF 0.01 each. Details of shareholders generally not publicly available (except for main shareholders and management shares of publicly listed companies).
GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung)	Sàrl (Société à responsabilité limitée)	Sagl (Società a garanzia limitata)	≈ Ltd. (UK), LLC (US). Min. capital CHF 20,000. Registered shares only, of a par value of min. CHF 100 each. Name, address and share of each owner (and any changes) publicly recorded in the Official Register of Commerce (http://zefix.admin.ch/).

Thailand

• บริษัทมหาชนจำกัด, name format บริษัท corporation name จำกัด (มหาชน): ≈ p.l.c. (UK). Minimum 15 shareholders.
• บริษัทเอกชนจำกัด (name format บริษัท corporation name จำกัด): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum three shareholders.
• ห้างหุ้นส่วนจำกัด (name format ห้างหุ้นส่วน corporation name จำกัด): ≈ limited partnership
• ห้างหุ้นส่วนสามัญนิติบุคคล (name format ห้างหุ้นส่วน corporation name): ≈ general partnership

Ukraine

• DAT/ДАТ (Державне акціонерне товариство): ≈ p.l.c. (UK), national
• FOP/ФОП (фізична особа підприємець): sole proprietorship
• KT (Командитне товариство): ≈ limited partnership
• PT/ПT (Повне товариство): ≈ general partnership
• TDV/ТДВ (Товариство з додатковою відповідальністю): "additional liability company"
• TOV/TOB (Товариство з обмеженою відповідальністю): ≈ Ltd. (UK). Minimum capital UAH 63,000.
• PP/ПП (Приватне підприємство): ≈ Ltd. (UK). No minimum capital.
• VAT/ВАТ( Вiдкрите акцiонерне товариство) or PuAT/ПуАТ (Публічне акціонерне товариство) since 29.04.2009: ≈ p.l.c. (UK), public. Minimum capital UAH 630,000.
• ZAT/ЗАТ (Закрите акцiонерне товариство)or PrAT/ПрАТ (Приватне акціонерне товариство) since 29.04.2009:: ≈ p.l.c. (UK), private.
• AO/AO (Адвокатське об'єднання): ≈ Law firm/Legal company - is registered by the Ministry of Justices of Ukraine.

Company formation is regulated by the Ukrainian Civil Code and Commercial Code, Law of Commercial companies, Law of stock companies,law and order.

United Kingdom

• CIC or community interest company
• Industrial and Provident Society, eg. a Co-operative (which does include Ltd. at the end of its name) or charity
• General partnership
• LLP or Limited liability partnership
• LP or Limited partnership
• Ltd. or Cyf (Limited, or Welsh Cyfyngedig): a private company limited by shares, the shares not being traded publicly
• p.l.c. or Ccc (public limited company, or Welsh Cwmni Cyfyngedig Cyhoeddus): a company whose shares may be traded publicly. Requires an authorized minimum share capital of £50,000;^[2] 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.
• Private company limited by guarantee. Such a company must include Limited or Ltd. at the end of its name (so cannot readily be distinguished from a private company limited by shares), unless it cannot distribute its profits. Guarantee companies are commonly used by not for profit organizations, which do not include Ltd. at the end of their names.
• Unlimited company (or Welsh Anghyfyngedig). A company either with or without a share capital 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 (Unltd., or Ultd.) at the ending of its legal company name, and most unlimited companies do not. Unlimited companies are exempted from filing accounts with the Registrar of Companies for public disclosure, subject to a few exceptions (unless the company was a qualified subsidiary or a parent of a limited company during the accounting period).
• Sole proprietorship or Sole trader

United States

In the United States, the individual states incorporate most businesses, and some special types are incorporated by the federal government.

For federal tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service has separate entity classification rules. Under the rules, an entity may be classified as a corporation, a partnership or disregarded entity, and a corporation may be either an S corporation or a C corporation.

Federally incorporated

• N.A. (National Association), a designation used by national banks
• NT&SA (National Trust and Savings Association), a less common designation used by national banks
• Federal Credit Union
• Federal Savings Bank

Many governmental units are specially formed public corporations and some private organizations have received a charter from Congress.

State incorporated

See also corporations law in the United States .

The following are the main business designations and types:

• Corp., Inc. (Corporation, Incorporated): used to denote corporations (public or otherwise). These are the only terms universally accepted by all 51 corporation chartering agencies 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. (in Connecticut; see under Italy). Some states that allow the use of "Company" prohibit the use of "and Company", "and Co.", "& Company" or "& Co.". In some states individuals and partnerships may register a fictitious name with the word "Company" in it. For a full list of allowed designations by state, see the table below. See also Delaware corporation, Nevada corporation, Massachusetts business trust.
• General partnership is a partnership in which all the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the partnership. It is typically created by agreement rather than being created by a public filing.
• 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 Ltd. by itself is not a valid abbreviation for an LLC, because in some states (e.g. Texas), it may denote a corporation instead. See also Series LLC.
• LLLP (limited liability limited partnership): a combination of LP and LLP, available in some states
• 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. This is often the only form of limited partnership allowed for law firms (as opposed to general partnerships).
• LP (limited partnership): a partnership where at least one partner has unlimited liability and one or more partners have limited liability
• 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 the professionals provide such as doctors, medical care; lawyers, legal advice; and accountants, accounting services, when the company formed offers the services of the professionals. Instead 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 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 not immune to malpractice suits.
• Professional corporations (abbreviated as PC or P.C.) are 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, and doctors.
• Sole proprietorship

Required designations for corporations, by state:

State	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(a)(1) 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 (a) and (b), 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", 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 (1), Arkansas Code
California	"corporation", "incorporated" or "limited" or an abbreviation of one of such words is required for closed corporations. May not contain "bank," " trust," "trustee" or "credit union" unless approved by the Commissioner of Financial Institutions.	§202(a), 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 abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation), or words (or abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation) of like import of foreign countries or jurisdictions (provided they are written in Roman characters or letters)	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
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	(except for banks) "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	(except for railroad, telegraph and telephone corporations) "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 (for Business Corporations); Chapter 317A, Section 317A.115 Minnesota Statutes (for non-profit corporations)
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
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 (provided they are written in Roman characters or letters); existing corporations which were formed using only "limited" or "ltd" are not required to change their name	§ 48-14-101 Tennessee Code
Texas	"corporation," "company," or "incorporated," or shall contain an abbreviation of one of such words, and shall contain such additional words as may be required by law; shall not contain the word "lottery."	Art. 2.05 Business Corporation Act
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 (for Stock corporations) and §181.0401 Wisconsin Statutes (for non-stock corporations)
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. (Sociedad Anónima): ≈ p.l.c. (UK)
• S.A.F.I. (Sociedad Anónima Financiera de Inversión)
• S.R.L. (Sociedad Responsabilidad Limitada): ≈ Ltd. (UK)

Uzbekistan

• MChJ (Mas'uliyati Cheklangan Jamiyat/Масъулияти Чекланган Жамият): limited liability company

Vietnam

• TNHH/Cty TNHH (Công ty trách nhiệm hữu hạn): limited liability company
• CTCP/Cty CTCP (Công Ty Cổ Phần): Joint Stock Company
• NHC/(National Holding Company) in English

References