branch office

File:FMM Johor Branch.jpg branch office of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.]]

A branch office is an outlet of a company or, more generally, an organization that – unlike a subsidiary – does not constitute a separate legal entity, while being physically separated from the organization's main office.{{Cite web |title=Branch Office: Definition, Benefits, Structures, and Example |url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/branch-office.asp |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Investopedia |language=en}} Branching is particularly widespread in banking and other financial institutions, where the products' complexity requires local offices to act more like an agency than as a separate company. A branch structure exposes the owning company to full taxability and legal liability in regard to the branch office's operations.