Public Limited companies
PLC or plc follows the trading name, as in Lloyds TSB plc. These tend to be large organization which has shares in vast numbers. These shares have value which quoted on the Stock Exchange.
Franchise
These are business run using the trading name of a much larger company. For instance Body shop and Burger King
Public enterprises
Central government enterprises
The obvious example is the Health Service which Is a responsibility of the Department of health and social Security. At one time there were dozens of examples, but these have dwindled substantially since 1979.
Local government enterprises
These are businesses owned by the local council or corporation. Some of them are heavily subsidized whilst other are designed to make a profit. An example is a sports center or a museum which charge gees for entry
Public corporations
There are not many of these left although the post office is an example which so far retains this status. The corporations are run like a PLC but have no shareholders, the government being a principal recipient of the profit. In the case of the Post office the government sets the amount of profit it wishes to collect each year and this is built into the costs for delivering services. The profit runs into many £ millions. What is over, after the payment of the government’s share, is used for development of new services (like setting up shops) or for computerizing things like the payment of pensions and benefits.
Organizations Which fit into either of these categories
Co-operatives
Some of these exist for the benefit of the consumers whilst others (producer co- operatives) are for the benefit of the workers. The most famous of the latter was the triumph Motorcycle Co-operative which went on producing motorcycles which the original management could not afford to sell.
Voluntary organizations including charities
Regardless of how many money is acquired, once the costs have been paid off the remainder is devoted to good cause. Examples are numerous: Friends of the earth, RNIB, WWF, Oxfam.
Mutual organization
Much of the financial sector particularly the past devoted to life assurance and mortgages for buying houses was run by mutual organizations.
There were no shareholders but all the people who had policies with the organization were deemed to be members and thus had a word in the way in which the business was run. Many of these businesses have fallen foul of carpetbaggers who open accounts and then call for change of ownership.
The members often vote in favor as they may receive a short-term gain in exchange for giving up their membership rights. The building societies were the best example of mutuality. Members put money into the society and other people used it to buy their homes. The rate of interest paid by the buyer benefited the lenders.
The sole trader
Usually have to be 18 to start a business as a sole trader. This is because legally you may not enter into a contact before the age of 18except for unimportant (!) ones like apprenticeships, employment and marriage. Even then there is often a written or tacit agreement by a guarantor (why is over 18) of their agreement to the marriage (a parent or guardian). Have a look at this case study