Abstract: In the 17th century, Dutch established the East India Company engaging in overseas trade in Asia, and the Zhengs overseas trade group could develop itself to be a leading private trader over the seas. Although they both were in pursuit of profits, their group organizational models had many differences because of their different formations and decisionmaking mechanisms. The East India Company was a largescale, state supported and jointstock company. The Zhengs overseas trade group was not a traditional overseas trader alliance which was loosely constructed and based on blood and geographical relations. It was a businessmilitary complex, which mixed a military organization with blood and geographical relations, and was a centralized administrative department of overseas trade with a function of customs.