The purpose and the tasks of this study are to analyze the functioning of trade enterprises of different organizational and legal forms of activity and to maximize the volumes of profit received by these enterprises. Modern aspects of organizational and legal activity of market participants were considered. Criteria of assessment of management of business activity of trade organizations were analyzed. It is demonstrated that the existing legal forms define differently the practice of functioning of trade structures. The problems arising in the management of trade enterprises are detected; the differences between the concepts “organization” and “enterprise” are clarified. The directions of problem solving related to organizational and legal activity of market subjects are suggested.