Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is an American technology company. Founded in California in 1977 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Apple designs consumer electronics and software. The company creates products like iPhones, Macs, and iPads and sells them globally. With a revenue of US$394.3 billion in 2022, Apple is the world’s largest technology company by revenue. It is the fourth-largest PC vendor and second-largest phone manufacturer as of June 2022. Apple is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange since its 2004 IPO, with majority ownership held by institutional investors.
Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon.com, Inc. is a corporation listed on NASDAQ. Originally an online bookseller, Amazon now focuses on ecommerce, cloud computing, and other services. Its headquarters are in Seattle, Washington. Amazon has subsidiaries like Amazon Services LLC and Amazon Web Services.
Amazon Services LLC
- Offers services to third-party Amazon sellers including storage, shipping, and order fulfillment.
- The LLC structure allows Amazon to optimize taxes.
Amazon Web Services
- Provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs for individuals, companies, and governments.
- Designed to enable businesses to quickly build, deploy, and manage applications and services in the cloud.
Amazon Overview
- Amazon is not a franchise but offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to operate their own Amazon delivery service.
- Establishing an LLC better protects established sellers.
- Despite its extensive reach, Amazon is a corporation and not an LLC.
Comparison Notes
- While both Apple and Amazon are major technology companies, Apple focuses on consumer electronics design, while Amazon has diversified into ecommerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming services.
- Apple’s revenue in 2022 was US$394.3 billion, while Amazon ranks eighth on the Fortune 500 by revenue as of 2018.
- Amazon completed its IPO in 1997, showcasing the viability of ecommerce, and has since grown into one of the largest companies globally.