Types of Business Ownership

| In a sole proprietorship, the business and single owner are one in the same. A single owner makes all decisions with regard to the business and the single owner retains all profits earned by the business. The single owner is also responsible/liable for all debts and obligations of the business on a personal level.

Failure to handle these situations properly can lead to huge product liability suits and even bankruptcy.

Limited liability means it does not exceed the amount invested in a partnership or limited liability company. The limited liability feature is one of the biggest advantages of investing in publicly listed companies. While a shareholder can participate wholly in the growth of a company, his or her liability is restricted to the

General Partnerships are not without their disadvantages. Without being an incorporated company the owners are still subject to issues such as liability, control, and location issues.

Because the general partner holds majority of the interest and the limited partners are prohibited for participating in the control of the business.

both a and b (Yes.  The corporate structure provides for limited liability and ease of transferring ownership.)

c. Private companies may issue stock and have shareholders. And are invested by individuals. However, their shares do not trade on public exchanges and are not issued through an initial public offering.

When you form a C corporation, you protect your personal assets. Anyone who sues your company can't go after you personally. You also can buy and sell stock. A corporation survives you, which means you can pass it on to your heirs. To form a C corporation, you must follow specific guidelines. If you file the correct papers, both the Internal Revenue Service and your state will recognize your company as a C corporation.

Longevity/Continuity- A sole proprietorship exits only as long as the owner is alive or until the owner decides to

• Liability: The owner has unlimited liability. When the business fails it is up to the owner to pay all the creditors off.

A sole proprietorship is a form of business that is owned by a single individual.  • Liability – Due to the lack of legal distinction between the owner and the business, the owner is fully responsible and liable for all debts that the business incurs in the same manner that an individual is fully responsible and liable for all debts that they incur. There is no legal distinction between the assets of the owner of the sole proprietorship and the business; this means that creditors have the ability to come after the owner’s business and personal material assets.   Income Taxes – Since the business is the same as the owner of the sole proprietorship, all profits or losses from the business are filed by the

LIABILITY- The same as a C-corporation, shareholders of S-corporation have limited liability. In the case of bankruptcy they only lose their shares of the corporation.

A limited liability company consists of a single owner, or sometimes more than one owner, and are not taxed as separate business entities. All profits and losses pass through the business to those who own the company. Owners must report profits and losses on their personal tax return filing as a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. If the LLC is ran by a single owner, they file a 1040 Schedule C form as a sole proprietor. Partners file a 1065 form consisting of a partnership, and a form 1120 is filed if the LLC is filing as a corporation. The LLC must be registered such as the State Corporation Commission, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, or the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. The great thing about an LLC is that the owner has freedom in management. The owner is able to run the organization as they see fit not answering to anyone,

The advantages to the sole proprietorship are single control over the business and its decisions, easy to start up, less regulations and paperwork burden that the other types of business. The disadvantages are unlimited liability for their company debts and actions. The law does not recognize any distinctions between the owner’s business assets and personal assets. Banks are very skeptical about lending to these types business because there is only one person to hold liable for repaying the debt.

Longevity: Similar to a sole proprietorship, in case of death or incapacity of a partner the