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Legal Forms of Companies

Sole proprietorship

Number of partners: One person only.
Capital (max/min): No minimum legal capital required.
Shareholders and liability: The owner is liable for the company's debt.

General Partnership

Number of partners: No limit on the number of partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum legal capital required.
Shareholders and liability: The General Partner is personally liable, with no limitation, for the company's debts and obligations.

Limited Partnership

Number of partners: In addition of general partners there is one or more limited partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum legal capital required.
Shareholders and liability: The general partner has unlimited liability for the debt, whereas any limited partners have limited liability up to the amount of their investment.

Public Company

Number of partners: No limit on the number of partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum legal capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the value of the capital contributed.

Limited Liability Corporation or LLC

Number of partners: No limit on the number of partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum legal capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the value of the capital contributed.

The Competent Organisation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The certificate of incorporation, also called Doing Business As (DBA) must be registered with the Trade Register of the State where the company is located. General Partnerships do not need to be registered.

Company directories

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Source: Doing Business, 2016