Enterprise vs. Company: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
An enterprise is any business or project undertaking, often emphasizing its adventurous or risky nature, while a company is a legal entity formed to conduct business.
Key Differences
An enterprise refers to a business venture or project, often highlighting its ambitious or innovative aspects. A company, however, specifically denotes a legally recognized organization designed to conduct business or commercial activities.
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Nov 29, 2023
Enterprises can vary in scale and scope, encompassing individual projects or entire corporations, and often imply a certain level of risk-taking or entrepreneurship. Companies are established entities with a defined legal structure, such as a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship.
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Nov 29, 2023
The term enterprise can also imply an entrepreneurial spirit, focusing on innovation and strategic risk. In contrast, a company is typically characterized by its legal formation, ownership structure, and operational mechanisms.
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Enterprises can exist within companies, representing various ventures or initiatives undertaken by the company. Conversely, a company is the formal, legal entity that encompasses and supports such enterprises.
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An enterprise often represents the operational or strategic aspect of business, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of business activities. A company, on the other hand, denotes the formal, static structure that governs and regulates these activities.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A business or project undertaking, often with an adventurous or risky aspect
A legal entity formed for business activities
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Scale and Scope
Can vary from individual projects to entire organizations
Structured as corporations, partnerships, or proprietorships
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Emphasis
Entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and strategic risk
Legal formation, ownership, and operational mechanisms
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Role within Business
Represents various ventures or initiatives
Formal entity that encompasses and supports enterprises
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Nature
Dynamic, evolving aspect of business activities
Static, regulatory structure governing business activities
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Enterprise and Company Definitions
Enterprise
The entrepreneurial aspect of business activity.
Innovation is at the heart of this tech enterprise.
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Enterprise
An undertaking or activity, especially one requiring boldness or effort.
The construction of the bridge was an enterprise of great magnitude.
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Company
One's companions or associates
Moved in fast company.
Is known by the company she keeps.
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Enterprise
An undertaking, especially one of some scope, complication, and risk.
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Company
The state of friendly companionship; fellowship
Was grateful for her company.
Friends who finally parted company.
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Enterprise
Industrious, systematic activity, especially when directed toward profit
Private enterprise is basic to capitalism.
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Enterprise
Willingness to undertake new ventures; initiative
"Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling, and spending their lives like serfs" (Henry David Thoreau).
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Company
A partner or partners not specifically named in a firm's title
Lee Rogers and Company.
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Enterprise
A company, business, organization, or other purposeful endeavor.
The government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are a group of financial services corporations which have been created by the United States Congress.
A micro-enterprise is defined as a company or business having 5 or fewer employees and a low seed capital.
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Enterprise
An undertaking, venture, or project, especially a daring and courageous one.
Biosphere 2 was a scientific enterprise aimed at the exploration of the complex web of interactions within life systems.
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Company
A subdivision of a military regiment or battalion that constitutes the lowest administrative unit. It is usually under the command of a captain and is made up of at least two platoons.
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Enterprise
(uncountable) A willingness to undertake new or risky projects; energy and initiative.
He has shown great enterprise throughout his early career.
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Enterprise
(intransitive) To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult.
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Enterprise
(transitive) To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
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Enterprise
That which is undertaken; something attempted to be performed; a work projected which involves activity, courage, energy, and the like; a bold, arduous, or hazardous attempt; an undertaking; as, a manly enterprise; a warlike enterprise.
Their hands can not perform their enterprise.
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Company
A group of individuals who work together for a common purpose.
A company of actors.
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Enterprise
Willingness or eagerness to engage in labor which requires boldness, promptness, energy, and like qualities; as, a man of great enterprise.
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Company
(military) A unit of approximately sixty to one hundred and twenty soldiers, typically consisting of two or three platoons and forming part of a battalion.
The boys in Company C
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Enterprise
To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
The business must be enterprised this night.
What would I not renounce or enterprise for you!
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Company
A unit of firefighters and their equipment.
It took six companies to put out the fire.
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Enterprise
To treat with hospitality; to entertain.
Him at the threshold met, and well did enterprise.
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Enterprise
To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult.
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Company
An intelligence service.
As he had worked for the CIA for over 30 years, he would soon take retirement from the company.
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Enterprise
A purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness);
He had doubts about the whole enterprise
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Enterprise
An organization created for business ventures;
A growing enterprise must have a bold leader
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Company
(legal) An entity having legal personality, and thus able to own property and to sue and be sued in its own name; a corporation.
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Company
(business) Any business, whether incorporated or not, that manufactures or sells products (also known as goods), or provides services as a commercial venture.
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Enterprise
A project or venture, particularly one that is bold or complex.
Launching the new app was a risky but exciting enterprise.
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Company
(uncountable) Social visitors or companions.
Keep the house clean; I have company coming.
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Oct 19, 2023
Enterprise
A business organization, especially when large and complex.
She built her catering service into a thriving enterprise.
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Enterprise
The willingness to engage in daring or difficult projects.
His spirit of enterprise led him to invest in new technologies.
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Company
The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompanying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse.
Evil company doth corrupt good manners.
Brethren, farewell: your company alongI will not wish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Company
A companion or companions.
To thee and thy company I bidA hearty welcome.
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Company
An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient.
Thou shalt meet a company of prophets.
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Company
Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.
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Company
Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse.
Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company.
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Company
An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company.
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Company
Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; - often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.
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Company
A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.
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Company
The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company.
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Company
The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play.
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Company
An institution created to conduct business;
He only invests in large well-established companies
He started the company in his garage
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Company
Organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical);
The traveling company all stayed at the same hotel
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Company
The state of being with someone;
He missed their company
He enjoyed the society of his friends
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Company
A band of people associated temporarily in some activity;
They organized a party to search for food
The company of cooks walked into the kitchen
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Company
A social gathering of guests or companions;
The house was filled with company when I arrived
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Company
A social or business visitor;
The room was a mess because he hadn't expected company
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Company
A unit of firefighters including their equipment;
A hook-and-ladder company
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Company
Crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship
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Company
A commercial business.
She started a company that specializes in web design.
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Company
A legal entity formed to conduct business.
The company was incorporated last year.
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Company
An association of persons for commercial purposes.
He joined the company as a junior partner.
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Company
The state of being with another person or people.
She enjoys the company of her colleagues.
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Company
A group of actors, dancers, or other performers.
The theater company is staging a new play.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are all companies enterprises?
All companies can be considered enterprises, but the term enterprise is broader and not limited to legal entities.
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Nov 29, 2023
What is an enterprise?
An enterprise is a business or project undertaking, often highlighting its bold or complex nature.
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Nov 29, 2023
What defines a company?
A company is a legally recognized entity formed to conduct business.
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What is the focus of an enterprise?
An enterprise focuses on ventures and projects, often with an emphasis on innovation and risk-taking.
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Is a company always for profit?
Most companies are for profit, but there are also non-profit companies.
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Is risk-taking more associated with enterprises?
Yes, enterprises often imply a certain level of risk-taking and entrepreneurial spirit.
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Can an individual be an enterprise?
Yes, an individual's business activities can be considered an enterprise.
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Can a company own an enterprise?
Yes, a company can own enterprises as part of its business operations.
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Can a company be an enterprise?
Yes, a company can be an enterprise if it involves entrepreneurial projects.
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Do enterprises have a specific legal structure?
Enterprises don't have a specific legal structure; they represent business activities more generally.
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What role do enterprises play in the economy?
Enterprises drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
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Does an enterprise need to be legally registered?
Not necessarily; an enterprise can refer to any business activity, regardless of legal status.
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What legal forms can a company take?
A company can be a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship, among other forms.
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Can a company be part of a larger enterprise?
Yes, a company can be part of a larger enterprise, especially in conglomerates.
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Do enterprises focus on a specific industry?
Enterprises can exist in any industry, encompassing a wide range of activities.
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Are startups considered enterprises?
Yes, startups are often considered enterprises due to their innovative and entrepreneurial nature.
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Is the term 'enterprise' more flexible than 'company'?
Yes, 'enterprise' is a more flexible term, encompassing a wider range of business activities.
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Nov 29, 2023
Do enterprises have shareholders?
Enterprises themselves don't necessarily have shareholders; this is more specific to companies, especially corporations.
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Are companies always large and structured?
Companies vary in size and structure, from small businesses to large corporations.
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Can a non-profit organization be a company?
Yes, non-profit organizations can be structured as companies.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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