Privately-owned companies are enterprises that are owned and controlled by individuals or private equity firms instead of being publicly traded on the stock exchange. Some alternative ways to describe such enterprises are family-owned businesses, closely-held companies, non-public firms, proprietorships and partnerships. These diverse terms can also refer to small and medium-sized businesses that are not owned by publicly-traded corporations, holding companies, or government entities. It is also worth noting that privately-owned companies can have a significant impact on the economy and job market, with some well-known examples including Koch Industries, Walmart, and Cargill.