GmbH
Limited liability entity
GmbH is a German abbreviation for *Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung*, meaning "company with limited liability." It appears after company names to indicate a legal structure similar to a limited liability company (LLC) in the United States or Ltd. in the United Kingdom: Bosch GmbH, Siemens GmbH.
The designation signals that shareholders' personal assets are protected from business debts.
Business based in Germany
- startupNew business enterprise
- subsidiaryOf lesser importance
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
venture · firm · small business · medium-sized · family business · private company · commercial · operations
Capped financial responsibility for owners
- incorporationForming a legal entity
- shareholdersOwners of company stock
- managing directorSenior executive in charge
- notarizationOfficial document verification
partnership · corporate veil · liability protection · founding documents · registration · legal entity · memorandum · statute
- cross-borderSpanning national boundaries
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
- branch officeRemote corporate location
- localizationAdapting for specific markets
market entry · offshore · joint venture · acquisition · merger · expansion · globalization · Austria
German company
Business based in Germany
- startupNew business enterprise
- subsidiaryOf lesser importance
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
enterprise · venture · firm · small business · medium-sized · family business · private company · commercial · operations · headquarters
limited liability
Capped financial responsibility for owners
- incorporationForming a legal entity
- shareholdersOwners of company stock
- managing directorSenior executive in charge
notarization · partnership · corporate veil · liability protection · founding documents · registration · legal entity · memorandum · statute · members
foreign subsidiary
- cross-borderSpanning national boundaries
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
- branch officeRemote corporate location
localization · market entry · offshore · joint venture · acquisition · merger · expansion · globalization · Austria · Switzerland
Unincorporated individual-owned business
general partnership · personal liability · sole trader · freelancer · KG