The Entrepreneur's Ultimate Tool Kit - Business Entity Types (Three of Twelve)

<p><strong>Here’s an overview of the four basic legal forms of ownership for small businesses: sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies (LLCs).</strong></p> <h1><strong>Sole Proprietorships</strong></h1> <p>The vast majority of small businesses start out as sole proprietorships. These firms are owned by one person, usually the individual who has day-to-day responsibility for running the business. Sole proprietors own all the assets of the business and the profits generated by it. They also assume complete responsibility for any of its liabilities or debts. In the eyes of the law and the public, the owner <em>is</em> the business.</p> <h1><strong>Partnerships</strong></h1> <p>In a partnership, two or more people share ownership of a single business. Like proprietorships, the law does not distinguish between the business and its owners. The partners should have a legal agreement that sets forth how decisions will be made, profits will be shared, disputes will be resolved, how future partners will be admitted to the partnership, how partners can be bought out, or what steps will be taken to dissolve the partnership when needed. Yes, it’s hard to think about a “break-up” when the business is just getting started, but many partnerships split up at times of crisis, and unless there is a defined process, there will be even greater problems. They also must decide up-front how much time and capital each will contribute, etc.</p> <h1><strong>Corporations</strong></h1> <p>A corporation—chartered by the state in which it is headquartered—is considered by law to be a unique entity, separate and apart from those who own it. A corporation can be taxed; it can be sued; it can enter into contractual agreements. The owners of a corporation are its shareholders. The shareholders elect a board of directors to oversee the major policies and decisions. The corporation has a life of its own and does not dissolve when ownership changes.</p> <h1><strong>Subchapter S Corporations</strong></h1> <p>A