Company vs. Business — What's the Difference?

A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared goals.

Business is the activity of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). Simply put, it is "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit."Having a business name does not separate the business entity from the owner, which means that the owner of the business is responsible and liable for debts incurred by the business.

A commercial business

The activity of buying and selling commodities, products, or services

The fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment

The amount or volume of this activity

A number of individuals gathered together

The variety of this activity in which a person is engaged

A flock of wigeon (ducks)

A specific occupation or pursuit

Associate with; keep company with

A commercial enterprise or establishment

A group of persons

Commercial dealings; patronage

One's companions or associates

One's rightful or proper concern or interest

A guest or guests

Something involving one personally

The state of friendly companionship; fellowship

Serious work or endeavor

A business enterprise; a firm.

An affair or matter

A partner or partners not specifically named in a firm's title

An incidental action performed by an actor on the stage to fill a pause between lines or to provide interesting detail.

A troupe of dramatic or musical performers

(Informal) Strong verbal criticism; scolding

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.

(Informal) Urination or defecation

A unit of firefighters.

(Obsolete) The condition of being busy.

A ship's crew and officers. See Usage Note at collective noun.

(countable) A specific commercial enterprise or establishment.

To accompany or associate with.

(countable) A person's occupation, work, or trade.

To keep company with someone; associate.

(uncountable) Commercial, industrial, or professional activity.

A team; a group of people who work together professionally.

(uncountable) The volume or amount of commercial trade.

A group of individuals who work together for a common purpose.

(uncountable) One's dealings; patronage.

(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.

(uncountable) Private commercial interests taken collectively.

A unit of firefighters and their equipment.

(uncountable) The management of commercial enterprises, or the study of such management.

(nautical) The entire crew of a ship.

(countable) A particular situation or activity.

An intelligence service.

(countable) Any activity or objective needing to be dealt with; especially, one of a financial or legal matter.

A small group of birds or animals.

(uncountable) Something involving one personally.

(legal) An entity having legal personality, and thus able to own property and to sue and be sued in its own name; a corporation.

Matters that come before a body for deliberation or action.

(business) Any business, whether incorporated or not, that manufactures or sells products (also known as goods), or provides services as a commercial venture.

Business class, the class of seating provided by airlines between first class and coach.

(uncountable) Social visitors or companions.

(acting) Action carried out with a prop or piece of clothing, usually away from the focus of the scene.

(uncountable) Companionship.

The collective noun for a group of ferrets.

To accompany, keep company with.

Something very good; top quality. (possibly from "the bee's knees")

To associate.

The act of defecation, or the excrement itself, particularly that of a non-human animal.

To be a lively, cheerful companion.

(slang) Disruptive shenanigans.

To have sexual intercourse.

(Australian Aboriginal) matters (e.g sorry business = a funeral)

The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompanying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse.

Of, to, pertaining to or utilized for purposes of conducting trade, commerce, governance, advocacy or other professional purposes.

A companion or companions.

Professional, businesslike, having concern for good business practice.

An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient.

Supporting business, conducive to the conduct of business.

Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.

That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or shorter time; constant employment; regular occupation; as, the business of life; business before pleasure.

Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse.

Any particular occupation or employment engaged in for livelihood or gain, as agriculture, trade, art, or a profession.

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.

Financial dealings; buying and selling; traffic in general; mercantile transactions.

Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; - often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.

That which one has to do or should do; special service, duty, or mission.

A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.

Affair; concern; matter; - used in an indefinite sense, and modified by the connected words.

The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company.

The position, distribution, and order of persons and properties on the stage of a theater, as determined by the stage manager in rehearsal.

The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play.

Care; anxiety; diligence.

To accompany or go with; to be companion to.

A commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it;

To associate.

The activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects;

To be a gay companion.

Business concerns collectively;

To have sexual commerce.

The volume of business activity;

An institution created to conduct business;

A rightful concern or responsibility;

Organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical);

The principal activity in your life that you do to earn money;

The state of being with someone;

An immediate objective;

Small military unit; usually two or three platoons

Incidental activity performed by an actor for dramatic effect;

A band of people associated temporarily in some activity;

Customers collectively;

A social gathering of guests or companions;

A social or business visitor;

A unit of firefighters including their equipment;

Crew of a ship including the officers; the whole force or personnel of a ship

Be a companion to somebody