Inc.
Business name ending
Inc. is an abbreviation for Incorporated, indicating a business that has been legally formed as a corporation.
It appears after company names: Apple Inc. , Time Warner Inc.
The abbreviation signals limited liability status—shareholders aren't personally responsible for corporate debts.
In American usage, Inc. is more common than Ltd., which predominates in British English.
Commercial enterprise or guests
- corporationLegally separate business entity
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
- businessCommercial activity or occupation
- firmSolid or resolute
startup · venture · conglomerate · multinational · subsidiary · holding company · parent company · franchise
Documents legally creating a corporation
- bylawsOrganization's internal regulations
- charterFounding organizational document
- board of directorsGoverning body of organization
- shareholdersOwners of company stock
fiduciary · compliance · governance · regulation · registered agent · corporate veil · liability protection · legal entity
Ownership stakes or inventory
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- dividendsProfits paid to shareholders
- IPOFirst public stock offering
- securitiesTradeable financial assets
revenue · profit · valuation · market cap · shares · stockholders · capitalization · prospectus
company
Commercial enterprise or guests
- corporationLegally separate business entity
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
- businessCommercial activity or occupation
firm · startup · venture · conglomerate · multinational · subsidiary · holding company · parent company · franchise · merger
articles of incorporation
Documents legally creating a corporation
- bylawsOrganization's internal regulations
- charterFounding organizational document
- board of directorsGoverning body of organization
shareholders · fiduciary · compliance · governance · regulation · registered agent · corporate veil · liability protection · legal entity · certificate
stocks
Ownership stakes or inventory
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- dividendsProfits paid to shareholders
- IPOFirst public stock offering
securities · revenue · profit · valuation · market cap · shares · stockholders · capitalization · prospectus · SEC filing
Ltd
Abbreviation for capped liability
- Co.Abbreviated enterprise designation
- Corp.Incorporated business, abbreviated
- LLCHybrid business entity abbreviation
LP · PLC · GmbH · AG · initialism · acronym · suffix · designation · shorthand · trademark
Unincorporated individual-owned business
partnership · unincorporated · LLC · Ltd. · nonprofit
Inc.unregistered
Not formally recorded
informal · underground · black market · unlicensed · off-the-books
Inc.unregistered
Not formally recorded
underground economy · sole trader · independent contractor · gig worker · mom-and-pop