Definition:
The capital structure of a business is the mix of types of debt and equity the company has on its balance sheet. The capital or ownership of a business can be evaluated by knowing how much of the ownership is in debt and how much in equity. The company's debt might include both short-term debt and long-term debt (such as mortgages), and equity, including common stock, preferred shares, and retained earnings.
Capital structure is sometimes referred to as a company's debt to equity ratio.
