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 company 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,
However, the regulations governing particular types of entity, even those described as roughly equivalent, differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
When creating or restructuring a business, the legal responsibilities will depend on the type of business entity chosen.
ILP (Incorporated limited partnership): used for venture capital investments comes in four types: Venture Capital Limited Partnership (VCLP), Early-stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership (ESCVLP), Australian Venture Capital Fund of Funds (AFOF), Venture Capital Management Partnership (VCMP).
See also help.gv.at (Austrian government site, in German)
Dutch, French or German names may be used.
There are three main types of business entity in Brunei, namely sole proprietorship, partnership and company.
A private company contains the term "Sendirian Berhad" or "Sdn. Bhd." as part of its name where as for a public company "Berhad" or "Bhd." is used.
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".