What is the difference between organization and enterprise?

Often, we interchange the words organization and company when talking about businesses and work, but really, these two words aren’t interchangeable to the point where we want to pin them against each other and explain to you the difference between organization vs company.

Large organizations and successful commercial companies all started with an idea, a purpose, or a goal.

When people come together over these things, a business structure helps them achieve their goals. Institutions like banks, businesses, non-profit charities, and government departments play an essential role in our economy and provide a valuable service to the public.

Without these legal entities, there would be no control over business dealings and commercial activities, and the possibility for growth and expansion is limited.

In the battle between organization vs company, understanding how these two entities work can help you in your future dealings with them.

The major difference between the two is that:

An organization works for the greater good and has a common shared purpose.

A company‘s primary goal is to earn a profit through commercial business activities. A company can form part of an organization, but an organization is not just a company; it is so much more.

What Is an Organization?arrow_drop_down

What Is an Organization?

An organization is a group of people consciously cooperating with a common purpose.

It can be a business or government department and generally comprises two or more persons.

An organization is not just a company but a more extensive legal entity that contains other companies.

Larger groups and businesses opt for an organizational structure that can grow and expand with the group’s shared purpose.

Organizations can include non-profit entities such as churches, charities, and sports organizations. A hybrid organization operates in the private and public sectors and engages in both commercial activities and civic duties.

What Are Examples of an Organization?

An organization is created when a group of people with a common purpose join forces.

A few examples of the different types of organizations include:

  • Corporations
  • Political organizations
  • Non-governmental organizations
  • Armed forces
  • Charities
  • Partnerships
  • Cooperatives
  • Educational institutions

Non-profit organizations such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, United Nations Children Fund, American Red Cross are also examples of organizations.

What is the difference between organization and enterprise?
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What Is a Company?

A company is a collection of individuals working together to operate a commercial business. The business will focus on a specific product or service, with the sole aim to make a profit.

The kind of business that the company engages in will determine what type of business structure it chooses: Partnership, Proprietorship, or Corporation. The words firm, business, and corporation all refer to a company.

Companies can also be private or public, and they each have different ownership structures and regulations.

What is the difference between organization and enterprise?

Public companies allow shareholders to own equity in the company through the stock exchange.

Private companies are held in private ownership and generally comprise businesses focused on long-term growth such as bringing together physical and digital worlds to create a phygital company.

Companies are generally formed to profit from business activities, but some companies can be structured as non-profit making charities.

A company can enter into a contract, borrow money, own assets, pay taxes and hire employees. A company can have the same legal rights as a person.

The benefit of registering a commercial venture as a company is the creative freedom and flexibility it gives the owners.

There is a direct correlation between effort and reward. The disadvantage is that there’s more financial responsibility for the owners.

Can a Company Also Be an Organization?

It’s not always organization vs company. Sometimes, a company can form part of a larger organization, along with other companies.

Under the organization‘s umbrella, companies support each other, which adds benefit to the whole organization. It works similar to a major league club and all its farm teams, the organization is the club, and the companies provide the best players, making the club better and stronger.

The transfer of skills and experience across companies strengthens the organization.

Organization vs. Company – The 6 Differences

Six main factors differentiate companies from organizations, and they’re not a well-kept secret. With little to no effort, you can find all the details of any company or organization registered with a governmental and financial agency.

Legalities

There are four main types of legal structures a company can adopt:

The legal personality of an organization is different from other legal entities. For example, to register a non-profit organization, you need to apply for IRS tax exemption, draft bylaws, and appoint a board of directors, amongst a few other legalities.

Structure

The structure of an organization and a company is the main difference between them.

A company has clear lines of hierarchy and reporting channels. The Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director heads the team with support from managers. An organization comprises a group of people represented by a Board of Directors.

What is the difference between organization and enterprise?

A public company adds value for its shareholders by offering them equity shares on the stock exchange. An organization itself may or may not be listed and can have companies that are under its wing listed on the stock exchange.

Leadership

The leadership of a company and that of an organization differs in its structure. An organization depends on its Board of Directors and aims to add value to customers, employees, and communities.

A company is steered by an individual and supported by a management team.

Size

A company can consist of one or more people and may stay small or evolve into a large company. The structure of a company allows it to grow and become a commercial success.

An organization is set up in such a way that it can grow and accommodate other companies under its organizational structure.

Focus

A company‘s primary focus is to make a profit and become a commercial success. An organization aims to achieve the collective goals of a group of people with a common purpose.

Organizations work closely with the communities in which they operate. Their focus on a specific commercial activity helps to achieve their goal of financial success.

In Conclusion

An entrepreneur with a vision will form a company, and a group of like-minded people with a shared goal will register an organization. These businesses and organizations create wealth and employment, provide services, and look after the well-being of us and the planet.

So in the organization vs company battle, whether the vision is to make a profit, to fight for a cause, or provide a service, these entities will provide a platform for the visionaries to achieve their ultimate goal.

What type of business organization is enterprise?

Enterprise is another word for a for-profit business or company, but it is most often associated with entrepreneurial ventures. People who have entrepreneurial success are often referred to as “enterprising.” There are many forms of legal enterprises, with the most common in the U.S.

What is meant by enterprise organization?

An enterprise organization is a large business that has the size and resources to dominate a specific market and is characterized by being high revenue and having many employees. An enterprise is a substitute term for business or organization, but in this instance, we're referring to it as a company size.

What are the 4 types of organization?

There are 4 main types of business organization: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and Limited Liability Company, or LLC.

What are examples of enterprise?

Examples of enterprises Pelz-Sharpe says all Fortune 500 companies are considered enterprises. That includes companies such as Ford, Microsoft, GE, and Oracle. Edge's list includes Walmart, Exxon, Apple, Amazon, UnitedHealth Group, McKesson, CVS, and AT&T.