Several legal forms similar to the UK unlimited company exist in various jurisdictions around the world, each with its own characteristics and applications. These forms share the common feature of unlimited liability for owners or shareholders. Here are some examples: 1. **General Partnership**: Common in many countries, this is a business structure where two or more individuals (or entities) run a business as partners. The partners have unlimited liability for the debts and obligations of the partnership, meaning their personal assets can be used to cover the partnership's liabilities. 2. **Sole Proprietorship**: This is a business owned and operated by a single individual, common worldwide. The owner has unlimited liability, meaning personal assets can be targeted to settle business debts. 3. **Limited Partnership**: This is a partnership composed of at least one general partner with unlimited liability and one or more limited partners with liability limited to their investment. It's common in the USA, UK, and other countries. 4. **Commandite Company (Société en Commandite)**: Found in several European countries, this is similar to the limited partnership, with general partners having unlimited liability and limited partners having limited liability. 5. **Unlimited Liability Corporation (ULC)**: In Canada, particularly in provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia, this structure allows shareholders to have unlimited liability. ULCs are often used for tax reasons by U.S. businesses operating in Canada. 6. **Kommanditgesellschaft (KG)**: A form of partnership in Germany and Austria similar to a limited partnership, where at least one partner (the Komplementär) has unlimited liability, while the limited partners (Kommanditisten) have limited liability. 7. **Società in Nome Collettivo (S.n.c.)**: In Italy, this is a type of general partnership where all partners have unlimited liability for the company's debts. 8. **Entrepreneurship Company with Limited Liability (EURL)**: In France, this structure allows a sole proprietorship to enjoy some benefits of limited liability, but with certain exceptions, the owner can still face unlimited liability. These business structures are chosen based on various factors such as the nature of the business, tax considerations, and the level of risk the owners are willing to assume. The common thread across these forms is the element of unlimited liability, which impacts the extent of financial risk for the owners or partners.