A private company is a business entity that is owned by an individual or a small group of investors, and remains closed from public access. This type of company is usually owned by its founders or a small circle of shareholders, and does its business without gaining funds from the public market by issuing stocks. Private companies can showcase their own assets and/or loans in order to finance new projects, but lack the initial capital needed to take necessary risks.

Private companies are generally not listed on any stock exchange and therefore, the public investors cannot directly buy or sell the firm's shares. The company cannot go public by selling stock to the general public unless they register the company and go through the expensive and time-consuming process of an initial public offering (IPO).

Companies often choose to remain private as a matter of strategy. While a public debut through an IPO can create an influx of capital and market attention, it can also place a significant strain on the company itself. A public listing can make businesses accountable to their shareholders and require that press releases, quarterly reports, and other crucial information is made readily available to the general public. This often puts a strain on the company's resources and can make the challenging process of expanding and growing the business far more complex.

Private companies may possess any type of organization structure, from sole proprietorships to corporations. Their operations often come with a number of benefits over their public counterparts, from greater control over capital decisions, to more privacy, less liquidity and less government interference.

In conclusion, for many small businesses, remaining a private company can offer a number of benefits. By avoiding an IPO, businesses can have more privacy and control over their decisions, while also avoiding any potential losses due to the scrutiny that comes with being a public company. However, it is important to consider the fact that private companies often have limited access to capital overall, and may need to rely heavily on financing from private investors.