Launch offer — 25% off with code LAUNCH-25 See plans →
Microlesson · 5-min read

LLP vs Limited Liability Company — Comparison

## LLP vs Limited Liability Company

BasisLLPLimited Company
Regulating ActLLP Act, 2008Companies Act, 2013
Contributors calledPartnersMembers (shareholders)
Internal GovernanceGoverned by LLP Agreement (contractual)Regulated by Statute (Companies Act)
Name Suffix'LLP' / 'Limited Liability Partnership''Private Limited' / 'Limited'
Number of Partners/MembersMin: 2; Max: No limitPvt Co: Min 2, Max 200<br>Public Co: Min 7, Max No limit
LiabilityTo extent of agreed contributionLimited to unpaid amount on shares
ManagementManaged by Designated PartnersManaged by Board of Directors
Min. No. of Directors / DPsMin 2 Designated PartnersPvt Co: 2; Public Co: 3 directors

### Key Conceptual Differences

1. Flexibility: LLP's internal governance is agreement-based → highly customisable. Company's governance is statute-driven → standardised.

2. Capital: No share capital concept in LLP; partner contributions need not be in cash.

3. No board / committee structure is mandated by LLP Act (other than DPs); company has a mandatory Board.

4. Compliance burden: LLP has lighter compliance (e.g., audit only if turnover/contribution thresholds crossed) compared to a Company.

### Memory Anchor — 'C-G-M' Triangle

Contribute (LLP) vs Subscribe (Co.); Governed by Agreement (LLP) vs Statute (Co.); Managed by DPs (LLP) vs BoD (Co.).

Worked example

### Example 1

Example: ABC LLP has 250 partners. Is this valid?

Answer: Yes. LLP has no maximum limit on partners — unlike a Pvt Co. which is capped at 200.

### Example 2

Example: A Pvt Ltd has only 1 director. An LLP has only 1 DP. Are both valid?

Answer: No. Both fall short. Pvt Co. requires min 2 directors; LLP requires min 2 DPs (at least 1 resident in India).

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Confusing the max member cap (200 for Pvt Co.) and applying it to LLPs (LLP has no max).
  • Saying LLPs are managed by Board of Directors — actually by Designated Partners.
  • Quoting min 3 DPs (confusing with public company minimum 3 directors) — LLP requires only min 2 DPs.
Reference: — Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
Now that you've read this — what's next?
Move from understanding → mastery in 3 clicks. Each option below picks up from this lesson's topic.
Start 15-min diagnostic