Any organization that engages in business. There are many different structures a company can have, depending primarily on tax considerations and the type of business it does. Among some of the more prominent examples are a
sole proprietorship, where an individual works on his/her own and all
income is reported as
personal income; a
partnership, where two or more people create an organization partially distinct from each and where each
partner has his/her own role; and a
corporation, which is separate and distinct from its owners and is often a legally recognized person. See also:
Limited liability company,
Publicly-traded company.