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The Daily Insight Hub

Who are the members of a private company?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on January 15, 2026

Members- A minimum number of two and a maximum number of 200 members or shareholders are required as per the companies’ act 2013 before registration of the company. Directors- A minimum number of two directors is required for registering the private limited company.

What is the difference between a member and a shareholder?

A member is a person who subscribed the memorandum of the company. A shareholder is a person who owns the shares of the company. The term member is defined under section 2 (55) of the Indian Companies Act, 1956. Conversely, the term shareholder is not defined in the Indian Companies Act, 1956.

Are employees members of a company?

(A) The current employee of the company, who is also the member of the company, which means he is working as an employee and also a member of the company (As per Section 9 of Companies Act, 2013, a person may be a member, employee, debtor, creditor, etc. at the same time in the same company).

Do all companies have members?

In a company limited by guarantee, there are no shareholders, but the company must have one or more members. Just as in a company limited by shares there may be different classes of shares, it is possible to have different classes of members in a guarantee company.

Who is owner of a company?

If a person owns 100% of a company, he or she is the owner of that company. If a person has a partner with equity in the company, then that person is a co-owner. Owners are in charge of everything in their business, from operations to sales to marketing.

Who is not a member of a company?

Individuals like minor, insolvent person, insane/lunatic person and Foreigner (if the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 do not allow to become a member) cannot become a member of the company.

Is a director an owner?

Shareholders and directors have two completely different roles in a company. The shareholders (also called members) own the company by owning its shares and the directors manage it. Unless the articles say so (and most do not) a director does not need to be a shareholder and a shareholder has no right to be a director.

Who are the board members of a company?

Who are the Board Members? Board Members is a group of elected people by the shareholders of a company who supervise all aspects of the company and keep everything aligned with the company’s objectives so as to maintain that the best interest of shareholders. Roles & Responsibilities of Board Members

Who are the shareholders and members of a company?

Members of a Company. In the ordinary commercial usage, the term ‘ Member ‘ denotes a person who holds shares in a company. The members or the shareholders are the real owners of a company. They collectively constitute the company as a corporate body.

What does it mean to be a member of a company?

Subscribing for shares is basically a contract between the company and the shareholder. However, the Memorandum or Articles may impose certain restrictions or restrain certain persons from acquiring membership in a company. In the absence of any express provision regarding the capacity of a person, the provisions of the Contract Act shall apply.

Who are the three classes of members of a company?

According to Sec. 41 of the Companies Act, the three classes of members are: 1. The persons who have subscribed to the Memorandum of a company. 2. Every other person who has agreed in writing to become a member of the company and whose name has been entered in the Register of Members.