When a corporation goes bankrupt, even though the owners may have lost their investment, they could form a new corporation the next day and go right back in the same business. It's a fact. Corporations have Bylaws which are rules set down by which the corporation must be run and operated. They are hard, fast, and well understood rules. Further, the Courts of each state have so often tested the rules of Bylaws that there is a well defined set of cases which make up the case law to prove up what the words and terms of the Bylaws really mean.
Corporations can sell shares to investors who become the owners of the corporation.
The corporation can do other things with its shares. It can pledge some as security for loans and as guarantees. Shares can be given as bonuses to important employees. Shares can be traded for the ownership of other companies. Corporations can set up retirement plans for its employees in which the corporation contributes a portion to match the deductions from the employees.