What is a special business arrangement between two or more companies called?

A special business arrangement between two or more companies is referred to as a joint venture. This type of arrangement allows companies to collaborate on a project while retaining their separate legal identities and independence. In a joint venture, the companies typically share resources, risks, and profits in a predetermined manner, which can lead to innovative solutions and increased market reach for both parties.

A joint venture is often formed for a specific purpose, such as developing a new product, entering a new market, or undertaking a large project that would be challenging for a single entity to manage alone. The collaboration can combine the strengths and expertise of the involved companies, allowing them to leverage each other's capabilities and overcome challenges more effectively.

Other terms like partnership, franchise, and corporation refer to different types of business relationships or structures. A partnership usually involves a more permanent relationship with shared ownership, a franchise involves granting rights to operate a business under a brand, and a corporation is a specific legal structure for a business entity. These do not specifically represent the temporary and collaborative nature of projects that define a joint venture.