Other types of business organizations that were common in the early United States included partnerships and corporations. Partnerships were similar to proprietorships, except that they were owned and managed by two or more people. Corporations were more complex legal entities that were created by a special act of the legislature. Corporations had many advantages over proprietorships and partnerships, including limited liability for the owners and the ability to raise capital from outside investors.
As the United States economy grew and became more complex, the number of corporations increased. This was due in part to the fact that corporations were better able to raise the capital needed to finance large-scale business ventures. Corporations also had the advantage of being able to operate in multiple states, which was important in a country with a large and growing population.
By the end of the 19th century, corporations had become the dominant form of business organization in the United States. They have remained so to this day, although other types of business organizations, such as proprietorships and partnerships, still exist.