Closely Held Corporation

A closely held corporation, often referred to as a “close corporation,” is a form of business organization characterized by a limited number of shareholders who manage and own a corporation. All close corporations are privately owned entities (i.e., not publicly traded) that are owned by a limited number of shareholders, but the exact criteria of what constitutes a close corporation vary by state and are also defined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This entry addresses the historical development of close corporations, various criteria and definitions of close corporations, and the governance of close corporations.