Inc

Inc., an abbreviation of Incorporated, is a suffix used in the names of many companies to indicate they are legally formed as corporations under recognized corporate law. An incorporated entity is a separate legal person from its owners, typically providing limited liability for shareholders and a defined framework of governance through articles of incorporation and bylaws.

Formation involves filing articles of incorporation with the appropriate government authority, selecting a board of directors, and adopting corporate bylaws. Once incorporated, the entity may own property, enter into contracts, sue and be sued in its own name. The owners' liability is generally limited to their investment, a protection known as the corporate veil.

In the United States and many other jurisdictions, Inc. (or Corp.) is a common suffix in company names. The designation indicates corporate status rather than partnership or sole proprietorship. Different corporate forms exist for taxation and governance, most notably C corporations and S corporations in the United States; S corporations pass income through to shareholders for tax purposes but remain separate legal entities.

Globally, analogous suffixes such as Ltd., PLC, AG, or GmbH denote incorporation under different systems. The practical meaning of Inc. depends on the jurisdiction: it signals a legally distinct entity with rights and duties distinct from its owners, subject to corporate law and regulatory oversight. The term has a long-standing role in business organization and modern markets.