1. Private Limited Company – S. 2(68)

“Private company” means a company having a minimum paid-up share capital as may be prescribed, and which by its articles,

1. Restricts the right to transfer its shares;
2. Except in case of One Person Company, limits the number of its members to two hundred:
   Provided that where two or more persons hold one or more shares in a company jointly, they shall, for the purposes of this clause, be treated as a single member:
3. Prohibits any invitation to the public to subscribe for any securities of the company.

2. Public Company – S. 2(71)

“Public company” means a company which—

1. Is not a private company;
2. Has a minimum paid-up share capital as may be prescribed:
   Provided that a company which is a subsidiary of a company, not being a private company, shall be deemed to be public company for the purposes of this Act even where such subsidiary company continues to be a private company in its articles.

REQUIREMENT OF minimum paid-up share capital is not applicable to Section 8 Company.

3. One Person Company – S. 2(62) “One Person Company” means a company which has only one person as a member;

4. Small Companies – S. 2 (86) “Small companies” means a company other than public company

1. Paid-up capital is less than ₹ 50 lakhs or higher amount as may be prescribed which shall not be more than ₹ 5 crore; or
2. Turnover of which is less than ₹ 2 crore as per its last profit & loss account or higher amount as may be prescribed which shall not be more than ₹ 20 crore;

Following companies shall not be small companies:

Holding company or a subsidiary company;

Company registered under section 8; or

Company or body corporate governed by any special Act.