Company Structures (Australia)

https://www.aicd.com.au/board-of-directors/duties/liabilities-of-directors/organisation-definitions.html#anchortarget4

Companies in Australia operate under different structures regulated by the Corporations Act 2001.

The main categories of company structures are private companies, public companies, not-for-profit organisations, and government entities. Private companies like proprietary companies have restrictions on ownership and fundraising while public companies can raise funds publicly. Not-for-profits pursue non-commercial objectives and government entities provide public services. The structure adopted depends on objectives like profit-making, community benefit, ownership and liability.

This overview summaries key features of major Australian company categories.

Not-for-profit organisations

Not-for-profit (NFP) organisations have a primary purpose of pursuing non-commercial objectives like charitable, social, educational or religious goals rather than generating profits. Common NFP structures are public companies limited by guarantee and incorporated associations.

Public companies limited by guarantee

Public companies limited by guarantee Examples

Incorporated Associations

Private companies

Small Proprietary Company

Large Proprietary Company

Public Companies

Unlisted public companies

Public companies limited by shares (not listed)

##Unlimited public companies

No liability companies (not listed)

Listed public companies

Government

Federal Government Commonwealth-owned corporations

Federal Government departments

State & Territory Governments