Business entities in Russia

Without creating a separate legal entity, Russians can go into business as a sole trader, or an "individual entrepreneur". There are three main organisations which can be created as legal persons for business: This excellent wikipedia page gives an international comparison of types of business entity around the world explaining them in terms of their Anglo-saxon equivalents.
 * ООО - where shares (stocks) are not created
 * ЗАО - a limited company with restrictions on the transfer of stocks, something like a private limited company
 * ОАО - a limited company where members can easily sell their stocks, something like a public limited company