unazienda

In Italian, un'azienda is a legal-economic unit organized to carry out activities for the production of goods or services, with the aim of profit. It covers a wide range of scales and sectors.

Enterprises range from micro and small enterprises to large multinational corporations. They can be privately held or publicly traded, owned by individuals, families, cooperatives, or the state. In Italian corporate law, common forms include società di persone (like snc, sas) and società di capitali (spa, srl), as well as cooperative and consortia. Some aziende operate in the public sector as aziende pubbliche.

An azienda combines capital, labor, and technology to produce goods or deliver services. It has governance structures, management processes, and financial accounts; success is measured by revenues, profitability, and sustainability. It must comply with applicable laws on contracts, labor, taxation, competition, and environment.

The term can also denote an agricultural estate, such as un'azienda agricola, where farming activities, vineyards, or livestock are managed. In everyday language, phrases like avviare un'azienda (to start a business) or gestire un'azienda (to run a business) are common.