ecoDa's report Corporate Governance Guidance and Principles for Unlisted Companies in Europe offers advice on corporate governance best practice that is helpful for any company starting up and growing that is not yet listed on a stock exchange.

The OECD defines corporate governance as follows:

"Corporate governance involves a set of relationships between a company’s management, its board, its shareholders and other stakeholders. Corporate governance also provides the structure through which the objectives of the company are set, and the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring performance are determined. Good corporate governance should provide proper incentives for the board and management to pursue objectives that are in the interests of the company and its shareholders and should facilitate effective monitoring."