Types of Commercial Companies in Mexico 2025
Choosing the right type of commercial company is a fundamental decision when formalizing your business in Mexico. This choice will determine the legal structure of your company, tax responsibilities, partners’ rights, and possibilities for future growth.
In this article, we explain the 7 types of commercial companies that exist in Mexico, their main characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, in addition to providing practical examples to make an informed decision.
What is a Commercial Company?
A commercial company is a legal entity formed by two or more people (individuals or legal entities) who come together to carry out commercial activities and share the profits generated. This legal figure provides a legal framework that regulates the relationships between the partners, establishing rights and responsibilities defined in its articles of incorporation.
Commercial companies in Mexico are governed by the General Law of Commercial Companies, which establishes the rules for their constitution, organization, and operation. By constituting a commercial company, your business acquires its own legal personality, separate from its partners, allowing it to enter into contracts, acquire assets, and assume obligations independently.
How Many Commercial Companies Exist in Mexico?
The General Law of Commercial Companies officially recognizes 7 commercial companies. Although historically 6 commercial companies were mentioned in Mexico, the incorporation of the Simplified Stock Corporation (S.A.S.) completed the options available for entrepreneurs.
In summary:
How many types of commercial companies exist: 7
How many types of commercial companies are there in Mexico: 7
How many types of companies exist in general: depends on the legal framework, but in Mexico there are 7.
The 7 Types of Commercial Companies
These are the legal forms of commercial organizations in Mexico, also known as types of companies or commercial partnerships.
Types of Commercial Companies and their Characteristics
1. General Partnership (S.N.C.)
Unlimited liability, all partners manage.
Examples: family workshops, professional offices.
2. Limited Partnership (S. en C.S.)
Two types of partners: general partners (unlimited liability) and limited partners (limited liability).
Example: restaurant with managing chef and investor.
Maximum 50 partners, capital in social shares.
Examples: Toyota Motor Sales S. de R.L., IKEA México S. de R.L.
5 names of recognized limited liability companies: Toyota, Cemento Cruz Azul, Mabe, IKEA, Zara.
4. Corporation (S.A.)
Capital in shares, limited liability.
Modalities: S.A. de C.V., S.A.B., S.A.P.I.
Examples: Grupo Bimbo, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Walmart de México.
5. Limited Partnership with Shares (S. en C. por A.)
Combines limited partnership and shares.
6. Cooperative Society (S.C.)
Democratic: one partner, one vote.
Example: Pascual S.C.L. (meaning of the acronym SCL: Limited Cooperative Society).
7. Simplified Stock Corporation (S.A.S.)
Single-member, electronic constitution.
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Classification of Commercial Companies
Commercial companies are classified according to different criteria:
By liability: limited or unlimited
By capital: shares or social shares
By participation: active or passive in administration
By purpose: for profit or cooperative
This answers how commercial companies are classified and how companies and commercial partnerships are classified.
Characteristics of Commercial Companies
The most important characteristics of a commercial company include:
Independent legal personality
Assets separate from the partners
Capacity to contract obligations
Distribution of profits among partners
Legal framework defined by the LGSM
These are also the characteristics of a commercial enterprise that differentiate commercial enterprises from other models.
More than 20 years creating successful companies in Mexico
At CICDE we have more than 20 years of experience advising Mexican and foreign entrepreneurs in the creation of commercial companies in Mexico. Our track record supports us: we know each legal figure in detail and design the most convenient structure to protect your assets and grow your business.
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Types of Commercial Companies and Examples
There are different types of commercial companies, also called types of companies in Mexico.
The three most basic types of companies: personalist, capitalist, and mixed.
Capital companies: S.A., S.A.B., S.A.P.I.
Commercial shares examples: ordinary and preferred shares.
Examples of Commercial Companies in Mexico
10 examples of recognized commercial companies:
Grupo Bimbo S.A. de C.V.
Alpura S.A. de C.V.
Toyota Motor Sales S. de R.L.
Cemento Cruz Azul S. de R.L.
Coca-Cola FEMSA S.A.B. de C.V.
Sociedad Cooperativa Pascual S.C.L.
Mabe México S. de R.L. de C.V.
IKEA México S. de R.L.
Walmart de México S.A.B. de C.V.
Zara México S. de R.L.
These are examples of commercial companies in Mexico, also considered commercial examples.
Types of Partners in a Company
The types of partners in a company include:
Active
Capitalist
General Partners
Limited Partners
Constitution of Commercial Companies
Steps to constitute legally constituted companies in Mexico:
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Request authorization of denomination
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Draft articles of incorporation
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Protocolize before a notary (except S.A.S.)
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Register in the Public Registry of Commerce
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Obtain RFC before SAT
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Open business bank account
Summary of Types of Companies
S.N.C.: unlimited
S. en C.S.: general and limited partners
S. de R.L.: limited, maximum 50 partners
S.A.: capital in shares
S. en C. por A.: hybrid
S.C.: cooperative
S.A.S.: simplified
Conclusion
Knowing what a commercial company is, what the types of commercial companies are, and what commercial companies exist in Mexico is essential to formalize your business.
In total, how many types of commercial companies exist in Mexico: 7 main figures recognized by the General Law of Commercial Companies. These types of companies range from common companies to capital companies, each with advantages and limitations.
The importance of commercial companies lies in the fact that they allow formalizing projects, protecting personal assets, accessing financing, and giving continuity to the business.
The correct choice will depend on the number of partners, available capital, growth expectations, and desired level of responsibility.
Constitute your company without complications
At CICDE we accompany you in each step, from the choice of the type of company to the legal formalization, so that your business starts with solid bases and without complications.
Frequently Asked Questions Commercial Companies in Mexico
What are Commercial Companies?
Imagine that you and other people decide to join efforts to create a business. A commercial company is precisely that: a legal figure that allows two or more people (whether individuals or companies) to work together for profit, sharing resources, responsibilities and, of course, profits. All this under a legal framework that gives certainty and clear rules to the relationship between the partners.
What are the Main Characteristics?
The main characteristics of commercial companies are:
Independent legal personality of the partners
Assets separate from the partners
Capacity to contract obligations and enter into contracts
Distribution of profits among partners
Limited or unlimited liability depending on the type
Legal framework defined by the General Law of Commercial Companies
What Type of Company is the Best in Mexico?
There is no “best” commercial company: the choice depends on the specific needs of each project.
For individual startups: S.A.S. (Simplified Stock Corporation)
For family SMEs: S. de R.L. (Limited Liability Company)
For large companies: S.A. (Corporation)
For cooperative projects: S.C. (Cooperative Society)
The decision should be based on factors such as the number of partners, the available capital, the level of responsibility that one wishes to assume, and the expectations of growth.
👉 At CICDE, with more than 20 years of experience, we are experts in the constitution of commercial companies and we can help you choose the legal figure that best suits your business, whether you are a Mexican or foreign entrepreneur.
How many Types of Commercial Companies Exist in Mexico?
In Mexico, the law recognizes 7 types of commercial companies. Each one has its own rules and advantages:
General Partnership (S.N.C.)
Limited Partnership (S. en C.S.)
Limited Liability Company (S. de R.L.)
Corporation (S.A.)
Limited Partnership with Shares (S. en C. por A.)
Cooperative Society (S.C.)
Simplified Stock Corporation (S.A.S.)
Which Commercial Company is most Suitable for Foreigners who Want to Invest in Mexico?
There is no single answer: the S.A. de C.V. is usually the most used due to its flexibility and ease to attract capital, while the S. de R.L. is common in strategic alliances. However, the choice depends on each project, and at CICDE we can advise you to define the company that best suits your needs.
