Legal Entity Types by Country 2025

A business entity has certain rights depending on the jurisdiction where it is formed. It is registered in the proper jurisdiction to conduct business, do charitable work, or participate in other permitted activities.

In the United States, businesses are formed and registered under state laws while at the same time following the requirements of the tax code of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The types of entities commonly used in the USA are:

1. Sole proprietorship
2. Partnership
3. Limited Liability Company
4. Corporation
5. Nonprofit organization

Here are some of the common legal entity structures listed by country.

Argentina: Sociedad Anónima (SA), Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL)

Australia: Proprietary Company, Public Company

Austria: Offene Gesellschaft (OG), Kommanditgesellschaft (KG), Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH)

Bahrain: With Limited Liability (WLL), Closed Shareholding Company (BSC9(c))

Belgium: société anonyme/naamloze vennootschap, société à responsabilité limitée/besloten vennootschap

Brazil: Sociedade Limitada, Sociedade Anônima

Canada: Federal Corporation or Provincial Corporation

Chile: Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL), Sociedad Anónima (S.A.), Sociedades por Acciones (SpA)

China: Limited Liability Company, Company Limited by Shares

Czechia: veřejná obchodní společnost (v.o.s.), komanditní společnost (k.s.), společnost s ručením omezeným (s.r.o.), akciová společnost (a.s.)

Denmark: Kapitalselskab

Egypt: Joint Stock Company, One-Person company (OPC)

Finland: Osakeyhtiö (Oy)

France: Société par actions simplifiée (SAS), Société à responsabilité limitée (SARL), Société anonyme (SA)

Greece: Societe anonyme (S.A.), Limited liability company (L.T.D.)

Hungary: zártkörűen működő részvénytársaság (Zrt.), korlátolt felelősségű társaság (Kft.)

India: Private limited company

Indonesia: Limited liability company

Ireland: designated activity company (DAC), private unlimited company (ULC), company limited by guarantee (CLG), public limited company (PLC),

Israel: Company or Foreign Branch

Italy: Società a responsabilità limitata (S.r.l.)

Japan: Kabushiki-Kaisha (KK), Godo-Kaisha (GK)

Luxembourg: Société à responsabilité limitée (S.à r.l), Société anonyme (S.A.)

Malaysia: Private Limited Company

Mauritius: Company limited by shares, Company limited by guarantee, Company limited by shares and by guarantee, Unlimited company, Foreign company, Limited life company, Global Business corporation, Authorized company, Protected cell company, Société, Trust, Foundations, Limited liability partnerships, Variable capital company

Mexico: S.A. de C.V., S. de R.L. de C.V., S.A.P.I. de C.V.

Netherlands: Business Venture (B.V.), Co-operative U.A., C.V.

New Zealand: Limited Liability Company

Nigeria: Company limited by shares (private/public company), Unlimited company (private/public), Company limited by guarantee, Limited liability partnership

Norway: Private LLC, Public LLC

Peru: sociedades anónimas (S.A.), sociedades de responsabilidad limitada (S.R.L.)

Philippines: Domestic stock corporation

Portugal: Sociedade Anónima (S.A.), Sociedade por Quotas

Romania: societate pe actiuni (JSC), societate cu raspundere limitata (LLC)

Saudi Arabia: Limited liability company

Singapore: Limited liability company

South Africa: Private or Public company, Personal liability company

South Korea: Jusik Hoesa (JSC), Yuhan Hoesa (LLC)

Spain: Sociedad Limitada, Sociedad Anónima

Sweden: aktiebolag (AB), handelsbolag (HB)

Switzerland: Stock corporation

Taiwan: Closely held company (CHC)

Thailand: Private or public limited company

Turkey: JSC, LLC

United Arab Emirates: LLC