A Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (, abbreviated GmbH and also GesmbH in Austria), meaning "company with limited liability", is a type of legal entity very common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland (where it is equivalent to a "société à responsabilité limitée") and Liechtenstein. It is an entity broadly equivalent with the private limited company in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries, and the limited liability company (LLC) in the United States. The name of the GmbH form emphasizes the fact that the owners ("Gesellschafter", also known as members) of the entity are not personally liable or credible for the company's debts. GmbHs are considered legal persons under German, Swiss and Austrian law. Other variations include mbH (used when the term "Gesellschaft" is part of the company name itself), and gGmbH ("gemeinnützige" GmbH) for non-profit companies.