Corporate Structures

Corporate Structures

Corporate structures

C-Corporation A standard company, pays tax, then shareholders pay tax on dividends (double taxation)

S-Corporation An American partnership-type company (conditionally, one owner, taxed once)

LLC (Limited Liability Company) A company with limited liability (popular in the USA, taxed as a partnership)

LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) A partnership with limited liability (for professionals: lawyers, doctors)

Partnership (General, Limited) Partnership (General = full liability, Limited = limited liability)

Sole proprietorship Sole proprietorship, one owner, full liability (simple structure)

Joint venture A temporary union of two companies for a project

Holding company A company that owns other companies (holding)

Operating company A company that conducts business (in contrast to a holding)

SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) A company created for a specific purpose (for example, to own a single property)

SPE (Special Purpose Entity) Same as SPV (different name)

Prescribed Company (DIFC/ADGM) Simplified company in DIFC for asset ownership (cheap, not for commercial purposes)