| Incorporated Association | Unincorporated Associations |
| This is an association of persons recognized as a legal entity.
It has an independent legal personality with rights and subject to obligations.
Such a corporation may be brought into existence by registration, charter or by statute and
Examples include corporations sole, corporations aggregate, Registered corporation, chartered corporation, statutory corporation.
Characteristics of incorporated associations. Legal personality Limited liability Perpetual succession. Owning property Sue or be sued Capacity to contract |
These are associations of persons who come together to promote a common and lawful purpose.
They have no legal existence of their own.
Property if any is jointly owned or held in trust for all members.
Members rights are enshrined in the constitution of the association.
Members are liable for debts and other obligations of the association.
The association can sue or be sued through its principal officers.
In the event of dissolution members are entitled to share in whatever remains.
The law which regulates the association is the law which regulates the activities it engages in.
Examples include: Partnerships Trade unions Political parties Welfare associations Clubs Staff unions. |
| Partnership | Limited Company |
| A partnership is the relation which subsist between persons carrying on a business in common with a view of profit | This is a body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act and may be public or private. |
| It may be general or limited. | All companies are legal entities or incorporated. |
| It is an unincorporated association. | |
|
Consists of 2-20 members. |
Liability of members is limited by shares or guarantee. |
| Liability of members is generally unlimited | It has perpetual succession. |
| It is a contract of the utmost good faith. | Has capacity to sue or be sued. |
| Property is jointly owned by the partners. | Has capacity to contract and own property. |
| Every partner is an agent of every other and the firm. | A private company consists of 2-50 excluding employees who are members. |
| A partnership is a profit motivated concern. | A public must have a minimum of 7 members but has no maximum. |
| The firm name is registrable under the provisions of the Registration of Business Names Act. |
Companies are subject to the doctrine of Ultra vires. |
| A company must have directors, at least one for a private company and at least two for a public company. | |
| All companies are incorporated by registration in accordance with the provisions of the
companies act. |
