Forms of Business Organization
John Walter O. Boisvert TM 102 (12:20 – 2:00)
FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
1. Sole Proprietorship - is the simplest business form under which one can operate a business. The sole proprietorship is not a legal entity. It simply refers to a person who owns the business and is personally responsible for its debts. A sole proprietorship can operate under the name of its owner or it can do business under a fictitious name.
ADVANTAGES: * Capital - Sole proprietor contributes whatever capital needed. The owner receives all profits (subject to taxation specific to the business) and has unlimited responsibility for all losses and debts. Every asset of the business is owned by the proprietor and all debts of the business are the proprietor's.
* Management - Sole proprietors need to comply with licensing requirements in the states in which they're doing business, as well as local regulations and zoning ordinances. The paperwork and formalities, however, are substantially less than those of corporations, allowing sole proprietors to open a business quickly and with relative ease - from a bureaucratic standpoint. It can also be less costly to start a business as a sole proprietor, which is attractive to many new business owners who often find it difficult to attract investors.
* Taxes - In this type of business, there are no specific business taxes paid by the company. The owner pays taxes on income from the business as part of his or her personal income tax payments.
DISADVANTAGES: * Unlimited Personal Liablility
There is no legal distinction between the business and owner in a sole proprietorship, and therefore any assets owned by either are financially at risk. Debts, losses or lawsuits that can't be paid by the business will need to be covered by the owner even if that means using personal assets, including his home.
* Limited Ability to Raise Capital
Sole proprietorships are unable to sell interest or shares in the
FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
1. Sole Proprietorship - is the simplest business form under which one can operate a business. The sole proprietorship is not a legal entity. It simply refers to a person who owns the business and is personally responsible for its debts. A sole proprietorship can operate under the name of its owner or it can do business under a fictitious name.
ADVANTAGES: * Capital - Sole proprietor contributes whatever capital needed. The owner receives all profits (subject to taxation specific to the business) and has unlimited responsibility for all losses and debts. Every asset of the business is owned by the proprietor and all debts of the business are the proprietor's.
* Management - Sole proprietors need to comply with licensing requirements in the states in which they're doing business, as well as local regulations and zoning ordinances. The paperwork and formalities, however, are substantially less than those of corporations, allowing sole proprietors to open a business quickly and with relative ease - from a bureaucratic standpoint. It can also be less costly to start a business as a sole proprietor, which is attractive to many new business owners who often find it difficult to attract investors.
* Taxes - In this type of business, there are no specific business taxes paid by the company. The owner pays taxes on income from the business as part of his or her personal income tax payments.
DISADVANTAGES: * Unlimited Personal Liablility
There is no legal distinction between the business and owner in a sole proprietorship, and therefore any assets owned by either are financially at risk. Debts, losses or lawsuits that can't be paid by the business will need to be covered by the owner even if that means using personal assets, including his home.
* Limited Ability to Raise Capital
Sole proprietorships are unable to sell interest or shares in the