Free Company
“What Is a Free Company?
The Grand Companies of the Eorzean Alliance suffered grave losses at the Battle of Carteneau. But nothing could have prepared them for the calamitous arrival of the Seventh Umbral Era. Dalamud's descent upon the battlefield triggered the release of Bahamut, an elder primal seething with rage from eons of imprisonment.
Bahamut's wrath cost the Grand Companies countless troops, and of those who survived, many reportedly deserted the battlefield. When the dust of the Calamity had settled, it became apparent that consolidating the strength of the Grand Companies was imperative. The resurgence of the Garlean threat could not be ignored; the Grand Companies needed to replenish their troops to ensure the safety of the realm.
And so, in an effort to bolster their forces and encourage the cooperation of adventurers, the Eorzean Alliance sanctioned the creation of free companies—mercenary groups that would serve as an extension of the Grand Companies.
Both established and operated by adventurers, these new organizations require little if any contribution from the Grand Companies to sustain them. Moreover, their contracts are formed on an individual basis, making the assembly of troops against opposing threats swift and efficient.
By the decree of the council of the Alliance leadership, adventurers are now free to lend their aid to any Grand Company, transferring their allegiance as they please, and as a result, provide the Alliance with the manpower it needs. As the forces that threaten Eorzea continue to grow, the policies of this new system will allow adventurers to undertake such duties as transcend political boundaries.
Each free company can only be affiliated with a single Grand Company, that each organization might have a better measure of the manpower at its disposal.
What are the benefits of a Free Company?
Free companies are adventurer-run organizations which allow their members to pool resources, be it items or gil, to accomplish feats that would be difficult or impossible for a single individual.
To form a free company, a player must first submit a free company petition after acquiring signatures from three other players. The player who submits the petition will become master of the free company, and can invite additional players to join.
Upon forming a free company, members will be granted access to a company chest, which can be used to store items and gear to be shared with all members. Furthermore, by increasing your free company's rank, you can create a company crest, as well as use a number of company actions to the benefit of your members.
Free companies will also be allowed to purchase estates upon which to establish headquarters. They can also participate in a number of events such as large-scale player-versus-player combat.— https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/special/grandcompany/about_freecompany/
Free Companies are player operated organizations similar to guilds in other MMOs. Players can only be in 1 Free Company at a time, and the size limit on companies is 512 members. Like Linkshells, Free Companies have separate chat channels that operate across servers; unlike Linkshells, Free Companies have the option of additional ranks and activities for members. Free Trial players cannot join Free Companies.
Finding and joining a Free Company
New players can find an existing Free Company on the official Community Finder on Lodestone (added in Patch 5.35). Use the search options to filter by server, size, affiliated Grand Company, and desired activities. Once a desired Free Company is located, check the Member List for the Free Company and use the in-game Player Search to find an online representative of the Free Company. Once found, click the player's name and select "View Company Profile", then click the "Submit Application" button if the company is open to application. Another option is to travel to the Free Company's estate, if they own one, and apply at the placard out front.
While there is no in-game search for Free Companies, Free Companies often recruit in the /shout chat of major cities and endgame hubs, and asking in the /shout chat for a Free Company can also result in multiple recruitment notices.
Creating a Free Company
To create a Free Company players need to be level 25 or higher. The founding player must not have been in a free company for at least 24 hours. Creation process:
- Obtain a company petition from the OIC administrator in Ul'dah, Limsa Lominsa, or Gridania.
- Fill out the petition with the company's name and tag.
- Obtain three signatures from three other player characters in the same server. The player characters can be at any level, but they cannot be in a Free Company. Note: All signatories will become founding members of the Free Company after creation. They can leave after the process is complete.
- Return to the OIC administrator with the petition and pay a
15,000 gil registration fee.
Name changes
The master of the Free Company can change the Free Company's name by speaking with the OIC administrator at Grand Company Headquarters. This is possible once every 30 days (Earth time).
The tag can be changed in the same way, but as frequently as desired.
Activities and ranks
Players can rank up their Free Companies by participating in activities on their home world to earn Free Company experience points. As of patch 5.2, there are 30 ranks (up from the previous eight ranks).
Activities include, but are not limited to: fighting monsters, gathering resources, crafting high quality items, completing guildleves, Grand Company Leves, recruiting new members, turning in Allied Society Quests, undertaking supply and provisioning missions, Treasure Hunts, and Main Scenario Quests. These activities also grant Free Company Credits 
that can be used to earn buffs and items.
Introduced in Heavensward, Free Company Crafting allows the players to create Aetherial Wheels, Exterior Walls, and Company Airships for the Free Company.
Introduced in Heavensward, Company Airships can embark on Exploratory Voyages. These voyages explore the uncharted lands in The Sea of Clouds for exclusive, rare items.
In a similar vein, in Patch 4.2 of Stormblood Subaquatic Voyages were added, allowing Free Companies to send submersibles out on Exploratory Voyages for rare and exclusive items.
Introduced in Patch 2.5, Aetherial Wheels allows the Free Company to use Free Company Actions without spending company credit.
Retainer Dispatchment
An 
Expansion of Duties Permit is required to place a retainer on your estate grounds outside the hall. These permits are purchasable from independent sutlers in any residential district.
One, two, or three retainers can be placed on small, medium, and large estates respectively.
Once a retainer is placed on estate grounds, items that they currently have listed for sale on the market can be purchased by anyone who speaks with them. Other players can also view the retainer's sales history (up to 20 entries). Placing retainers on estate grounds does not impact your ability to summon them via summoning bells to deposit and withdraw items, or to assign retainer ventures.
Free Company Entitlements
The amount of XP required to "rank up" a Free Company is determined by the number of members in that Free Company (XP required increases as the member count increases). As such, there are currently no guides available that state the amount of XP needed for each of the ranks found below.
| Rank | Entitlement | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Company Chest | Gives access to the free company chest. |
| 2 | Crest Customization | Allows the limited customization of your free company crest. |
| 3 | Chest Expansion | Increases the number of company chest tabs to three. |
| 4 | Gear Customization | Allows user to affix their free company crest to armor |
| 5 | Company Actions | Allows the execution of company actions |
| 6 | Land Acquisition | Enables the acquisition of land in residential districts. |
| 7 | Crest Expansion | Allows for full customization of company crest. |
| 8 | Action Expansion | Increases the maximum number of inactive and active company actions. |
| 10 | Chest Expansion | Increases the number of company chest tabs to four. |
| 12 | Action Expansion | Increases the maximum number of inactive company actions to 12. |
| 15 | Chest Expansion | Increases the number of company chest tabs to five. |
| 18 | Action Expansion | Increases the maximum number of inactive company actions to 14. |
| 20 | Action Expansion | Increases the maximum number of inactive company actions to 15. |
Free Company Actions
All Free Company Actions have a duration of 24 hours, and only 2 actions can be enabled at once. Actions granting the same buff may not be stacked.
Grade 1 Actions
Grade 2 Actions
Grade 3 Actions
Company Chest
Locations
| Region | Zone | Aethernet Shard | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Black Shroud | Old Gridania | Leatherworkers' Guild & Shaded Bower | (X:14, Y:9) |
| The Black Shroud | New Gridania | Gridania Aetheryte Plaza | The Adders' Nest (X:9, Y:11) |
| La Noscea | Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks | Hawkers' Round | (X:7, Y:12) |
| La Noscea | Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks | The Aftcastle | Maelstrom Command (X:13, Y:12) |
| Thanalan | Ul'dah - Steps of Nald | Ul'dah Aetheryte Plaza | The Hall of Flames (X:8.3, Y:9.4) |
| Thanalan | Ul'dah - Steps of Thal | The Sapphire Avenue Exchange | (X:13.8, Y:10.4) |
| Gyr Abania | Rhalgr's Reach | Western Rhalgr's Reach | (X:10.1, Y:12.9) |
| Hingashi | Kugane | Kogane Dori | (X:12.3, Y:12.3) |
There is also a craftable furniture item for use in Free Company estates: 
Company Chest.