The topic of this paper is joint stock companies, and as such it will deal with the aspects, characteristics, legislation and finances of joint stock companies. Not only will this work give birth to all of the above, but it will be possible to see the state through the structure of joint stock companies both in the Republic of Croatia and in other countries, mainly the EU. A particularly interesting topic because joint-stock companies are a special type of trading company. Joint-stock companies have the potential to create jobs because they play an important role in the economy by stimulating economic growth and creating jobs. The capital of the company is divided into shares of equal denomination, and it is important to mention that shares can change owners by sale and, in rare cases, by donation. The shares are the biggest charm of this trading company because the price of the shares can fluctuate, depending on the market and the performance of the company. Also, there is potential for losses if the company fails to achieve expected results or if financial difficulties arise.