In simplest terms, a business entity is an organization created by an individual or individuals to conduct business, engage in a trade or partake in similar activities. There are various types of business entities — sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, etc. — and a business's entity type dictates both the structure of that organization and how that company is taxed. Show
When starting a business, one of the first things you want to do is choose the structure of your company — in other words, choose a business entity type. This decision will have important legal and financial implications for your business. The amount of taxes you have to pay depends on your business entity choice, as does the ease with which you can get a small business loan or raise money from investors. Plus, if someone sues your business, your business entity structure determines your risk exposure. State governments in the U.S. recognize more than a dozen different types of business entities, but the average small business owner chooses between these six: sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, C corporation and S corporation. Which business entity is right for you? This guide is here to help you make that decision. We'll explain the types of business entities and the pros and cons of each so that you have all of the information you need to determine what's best for your company. Do you need funding fast? See offers from multiple lenders with one search. Some of our lending partners offer financing within days. Types of business entities: An overviewAs we mentioned above, at a very basic level, a business entity simply means an organization that has been formed to conduct business. However, the type of entity you choose for your business determines how your company is structured and taxed. For example, by definition, a sole proprietorship must be owned and operated by a single owner. If your business entity type is a partnership, on the other hand, this means there are two or more owners. Similarly, if you establish a business as a sole proprietorship, this means for tax purposes, you're a pass-through entity (the taxes are passed onto the business owner). Conversely, if you establish your business as a corporation, this means the business exists separately from its owners, and therefore, pays separate taxes. Generally, to actually establish your business's entity structure, you'll register in the state where your business is located. Most business owners will choose from the six most common options: sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, LLC, C corporation or S corporation. Below, we've explained each of these popular business entity types, as well as the pros and cons of choosing each particular structure for your company. Sole proprietorshipA sole proprietorship is the simplest business entity, with one person (or a married couple) as the sole owner and operator of the business. If you launch a new business and are the only owner, you are automatically a sole proprietorship under the law. There’s no need to register a sole proprietorship with the state, though you might need local business licenses or permits depending on your industry. Freelancers, consultants and other service professionals commonly work as sole proprietors, but it’s also a viable option for more established businesses, such as retail stores, with one person at the helm. Pros of sole proprietorship
Cons of sole proprietorship
Sole proprietorships are by far the most popular type of business structure in the U.S. because of how easy they are to set up. There’s a lot of overlap between your personal and business finances, which makes it easy to launch and file taxes. The problem is that this same lack of separation can also land you in legal trouble. If a customer, employee or another third party successfully sues your business, they can take your personal assets. Due to this risk, most sole proprietors eventually convert their business to an LLC or corporation. General partnershipPartnerships share many similarities with sole proprietorships — the key difference is that the business has two or more owners. There are two kinds of partnerships: general partnerships, or GPs, and limited partnerships, or LPs. In a general partnership, all partners actively manage the business and share in the profits and losses. Like a sole proprietorship, a general partnership is the default mode of ownership for multiple-owner businesses — there’s no need to register a general partnership with the state. Pros of general partnership
Cons of general partnership
Most people form partnerships to lower the risk of starting a business. Instead of going all-in on your own, having multiple people sharing the struggles and successes can be very helpful, especially in the early years. If you do go this route, it’s very important to choose the right partner or partners. Disputes can seriously limit a business’s growth, and many state laws hold each partner fully responsible for the actions of the others. For example, if one partner enters into a contract and then violates one of the terms, the third party can personally sue any or all of the partners. Limited partnershipUnlike a general partnership, a limited partnership, or LP, is a registered business entity. To form a limited partnership, therefore, you must file paperwork with the state. In an LP, there are two kinds of partners: those who own, operate and assume liability for the business (general partners), and those who act only as investors (limited partners, sometimes called “silent partners”). Limited partners don’t have control over business operations and have fewer liabilities. They typically act as investors in the business and also pay fewer taxes because they have a more tangential role in the company. Pros of limited partnership
Cons of limited partnership
Multi-owner businesses that want to raise money from investors often do well as LPs because investors can avoid liability. You might come across yet another business entity structure called a limited liability partnership, or LLP. In an LLP, none of the partners have personal liability for the business, but most states only allow law firms, accounting firms, doctor’s offices and other professional service firms to organize as LLPs. These types of businesses can organize as an LLP to avoid each partner being liable for the other’s actions. For example, if one doctor in a medical practice commits malpractice, having an LLP lets the other doctors avoid liability. C corporationA C corporation is an independent legal entity that exists separately from the company’s owners. Shareholders (the owners), a board of directors, and officers have control over the corporation, although one person in a C corp can fulfill all of these roles, so it is possible to create a corporation where you're in charge of everything. With this type of business entity, there are many more regulations and tax laws that the company must comply with. Methods for incorporating, fees, and required forms vary by state. Pros of C corporation
Cons of C corporation
Most small businesses pass over C corps when deciding how to structure their business, but they can be a good choice as your business grows and you find yourself needing more legal protections. The biggest benefit of a C corp is limited liability. If someone sues the business, they are limited to taking business assets to cover the judgment — they can’t come after your home, car or other personal assets. Corporations are a mixed bag from a tax perspective — there are more tax deductions and fewer self-employment taxes, but there’s the possibility of double taxation if you plan to offer dividends. Owners who invest profits back into the business as opposed to taking dividends are more likely to benefit under a corporate structure. Corporation formation and maintenance can be complicated, but online legal services can help with these things. S corporationAn S corporation preserves the limited liability that comes with a C corporation but is a pass-through entity for tax purposes. This means that, similar to a sole prop or partnership, an S corp’s profits and losses pass through to the owners’ personal tax returns. There’s no corporate-level taxation for an S corp. Pros of S corporation
Cons of S corporation
In order to organize as an S corporation or convert your business to an S corporation, you have to file IRS form 2553. S corporations can be a good choice for businesses that want a corporate structure but like the tax flexibility of a sole proprietorship or partnership. Limited liability companyA limited liability company takes positive features from each of the other business entity types. Like corporations, LLCs offer limited liability protections. But, LLCs also have less paperwork and ongoing requirements, and in that sense, they are more like sole proprietorships and partnerships. Another big benefit is that you can choose how you want the IRS to tax your LLC. You can elect to have the IRS treat it as a corporation or as a pass-through entity on your taxes. Pros of LLC
Cons of LLC
LLCs are popular among small business owners, including freelancers, because they combine the best of many worlds: the ease of a sole proprietorship or partnership with the legal protections of a corporation. How to choose the best business entity typeWith a better understanding of how the common business entity types work and their respective pros and cons, you can now determine which type works best for your small business. The best course of action, if you can afford it, is to consult a business lawyer and tax professional on which structure is optimal for you, given where your business is currently and where you hope to take it. As a starting point, however, there are three general factors to consider when choosing among business entity types: legal protection, tax treatment and paperwork requirements. In the section below, you can see how the entities stack up with regard to each of these factors. Business entity summarySole proprietorship Limited Liability Protections? No. Tax Treatment: Taxed at personal tax rate. Level of Government Requirements: Low. General partnership Limited Liability Protections? No. Tax Treatment: Taxed at personal tax rate. Level of Government Requirements: Low. Limited partnership Limited Liability Protections? For limited partners only. Tax Treatment: General partners taxed at personal tax rate. Level of Government Requirements: Medium. S corporation Limited Liability Protections? Yes. Tax Treatment: Taxed at personal tax rate. Level of Government Requirements: High. C corporation Limited Liability Protections? Yes. Tax Treatment: Must pay corporate taxes (but beware of double taxation on dividends). Level of Government Requirements: High. Limited liability company Limited Liability Protections? Yes. Tax Treatment: Can choose how you want to be taxed. Level of Government Requirements: Medium. As you can see, sole proprietorships and GPs are light on liability protections, so they expose you to greater legal risk if someone sues your business. But, taxation is simple when you have a sole proprietorships or GP, and you don’t have nearly as many government regulations to comply with. That means more time to do what you love — running your business. The simplicity of a sole proprietorship or a partnership makes either of these business entity structures a good starting point for freelancers and consultants, particularly if the industry they're in brings little legal risk with it. Along these lines, fashion and beauty influencer Joanna Faith Williams said: "Being a sole proprietor now seems most appropriate as there is not much that I am liable for at this time. I keep well-written contracts to protect myself, but as I begin to dive more into creating content such as ebooks… or things that my audience will have to pay for, I will definitely consider registering as an LLC." If your business is in a more litigious industry, on the other hand, such as food service, child care or professional services, that’s a strong reason to create an LLC or corporation right off the bat. And regardless of industry, as your business grows and more dollars are at stake, that can be the ideal time to “graduate” to an LLC or corporation. What works for a freelancer or hobbyist likely won’t work for someone who is trying to hire employees, bring on additional owners, or expand. Brett Helling, owner of ridesharing blog Ridester.com, found this to be true. “Initially, I started this blog as a part-time thing. However, once the site began to experience growth at a very rapid pace and began making money, I realized it was turning into an actual business. I quickly realized that I should register an LLC… to shield myself from liability in case something went wrong,” he explains. Although it’s certainly possible to change business structures at any point in your business’s journey, some changes are easier to make than others. For instance, it’s relatively simple to convert from a sole prop or partnership to an LLC by filing the right paperwork with your state. Converting to a corporation, however, is more difficult, particularly if you plan to issue stock. Additionally, converting from a C corp to an S corp can bring unexpected taxes. Therefore, before changing your business structure, you'll want to think through the possible advantages and potential problems associated with doing so and consult a business attorney for professional advice. Moreover, you'll want to keep in mind that the IRS places certain limits and deadlines on how often you can change your business’s entity type. Plus, it's also worth remembering that different government tax plans can change how business entity types are taxed, and this may contribute to how taxes factor into your ultimate decision. The bottom lineYour choice of business entity is a very important one. The entity you choose can affect how people perceive your business, and more importantly, it has a big impact on your legal exposure and finances. All in all, you'll want to keep the following in mind when deciding among the different types of business entities:
Ultimately, although there’s not a single best business entity choice for all small businesses, by referring to this guide and consulting legal or financial professionals, you'll be able to determine which type is right for your business. Compare cardsWhat is a business created as a distinct legal entity?A business created as a distinct legal entity and treated as a legal "person" is called a: Corporation.
What is a business created as a distinct legal entity composed of more than five individuals or entities?A corporation is legally a separate and distinct entity from its owners. Corporations possess many of the same legal rights and responsibilities as individuals. An important element of a corporation is limited liability, which means that its shareholders are not personally responsible for the company's debts.
What is a business organization that acts as a legal entity and is owned by individual stockholders?A limited liability company (LLC) combines the characteristics of businesses and partnerships, making it an ideal entity for many businesses. One of the advantages of an LLC is that investors` liability is limited to the amount of their investment in the LLC.
What type of business is treated as its own legal entity?Sole proprietorship
This means your business assets and liabilities are not separate from your personal assets and liabilities. You can be held personally liable for the debts and obligations of the business. Sole proprietors are still able to get a trade name.
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