These dougsguides are geared to for-profit businesses, but for completeness let me mention something about non-profits. Organizations built to deliver charitable or other specialized services may organize as a non-profit. This means that any money left over after paying expenses (the profit in a for-profit organization) is not distributed to the shareholders or partners, but has to be used to deliver the mission for which it was formed. The management of a non-profit still can earn a salary - and in some cases a damned good salary - but any surplus of income (typically gifts, grants, etc. but non-profits can also make and sell stuff) over expenses stays in the organization to be used to further the cause. To encourage the formation of non-profits, the government typically doesn't tax their income or real property, although it will tax the income of the non-profit's employees.
