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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
: G# X% H; H# f- ^) t- pGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
' f5 Z L6 L) O, I9 e8 p0 X" i4 }See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
1 @5 m# b1 J- y2 D/ T2. See the article:; e& f3 A9 B9 q% `) @* I1 \/ H# R5 K5 Z
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION U7 v. l8 b8 x2 \
By Jay Chauhan) {0 ]9 w( ]/ v# C0 s: w; N m
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS; C1 m- D# v" e+ \
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole, U. @( _8 G- j
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person7 @1 J+ U) [& S# i
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or; T8 f; G" a% g1 `" X* d6 U) v5 S
more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
( |2 G; x. e2 \/ L# Z6 K3 Z, lpartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
# Q5 i! W3 V$ H% @2 hlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
# o7 y" E# S! R/ qSOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
- [- n% r1 U* N7 AIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
. s- A B/ @7 Z! R( h# MPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
. W) {$ g/ T9 ^# M. J0 [can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the( _/ X; F; R u1 r1 A
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
/ q; t9 Z4 N% i! J" c1 M4 o- e. wjudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
( e, Q2 {2 ?7 e XIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
# S" e' t' u1 ^0 b0 Sfact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as7 n& u3 \5 i( @- N! K0 {
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,( i! x9 E1 L6 f
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.# e8 W( f. E3 d
PARTNERSHIP/ Z- o/ F* w4 M! {6 G
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.0 }/ o# X3 s# L" a; v9 R. r; d
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
1 U6 J) O! T1 q/ X- a. n6 K/ Q0 }are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
$ L% c7 D& b6 h* feach partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
- y3 N" a% {+ [7 i) X: O"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
0 q0 z& B( I9 ^4 u( j1 A, QEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
! P5 g' l, ~5 iincurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against* N. j; v7 T+ l+ u: n5 Q) a; N
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who. r! C: E" k$ v- ~8 b' n
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.! o: m+ C4 ]' N/ V" i
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
5 U, x# ~# {* h5 `) o" _! ~9 B4 Eliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.) J; e8 J/ ^' U2 z: T
29 K+ g, J4 I g f( U# ?) c& e( K
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
! I! O c* t9 X) Y) uterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and! ^* j6 W; G- T7 l- e
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the& H# m& \% R( _' ?* o$ X
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
/ T2 m4 n6 z& e% ^) q4 N0 Vwhat salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
7 E8 T% p/ n+ t8 L: mPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
+ e; x, _8 I( A1 U$ ?9 E7 Uthe death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which3 o7 ^9 k1 l1 ]/ T, U
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
+ v0 Q2 R2 r, j8 h7 m! Y6 cprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the, d% k3 H$ }& F
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.9 M [% v- r- ?4 `1 }* R
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
- W I' o/ ]& Cpartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.1 J5 ^, C3 x6 S; G" Z( A U" |
INCORPORATION
8 J) D3 x7 {6 PIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a/ N5 {; p8 d5 G" e' P! l" T5 N
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
" X0 E5 l; C( N2 {( a; bthat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
; u- J, Q# a+ ~5 oor "corporation"./ V* d0 i8 R; E- e9 L
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
8 i1 h' p. S. r1 Y% }! ?7 H6 Lformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the- Z; p, T; ^; T. l0 {% Y
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,1 t3 w4 b0 U0 ^! _# `
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
' M) C4 ]6 s# D# ^8 sagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and( y, H! P$ D9 L' B5 Z: n
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as! V: Q9 {' V* S
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business. x1 g4 R( W( o2 h$ ?/ ^7 a9 K5 J
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
% c! m" ]: h% D7 l; C6 `possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.% c, C% x" D+ L0 D: D/ F* c' V6 V
Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to7 z' d9 ?7 x0 s( P3 B% w6 s4 L' p
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the" [$ [; |) N. Y* z. H/ T
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
' s, A* I8 {) n) }! X& s4 x1 w' c8 Lwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.( k/ `) q u6 W& h$ R
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
5 h. m# s6 Q [: s" uchildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
! U5 ^1 h: x& ^% x- }children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.- R( s) Q: A) ^0 h# j
A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the! y8 [1 s& q' _
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal; I+ B( w& i9 d) [" C
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A5 b' A' B# s5 B8 _8 y! k
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It3 U5 I+ Q8 G6 N% i1 @( z6 X" j
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
; }6 \0 h' u% m" e Xcompany owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such
/ E# K1 p$ k# {( n* L2 u$ Ulicense to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
0 n- \4 \4 Y: E* |/ ~provinces, except Quebec.
2 o7 _) z2 h! i3
( X8 [1 R& \. d1 ?* m* q! N3 V7 Q" SIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
" o8 U' R/ o) ^- i9 _9 n5 ~also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult! |1 c/ I$ N2 Q2 E
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
, s6 v+ s! ^1 x. t. {3 mcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
, N6 \( |# Y" g6 R9 b9 T+ ~2 iaccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.4 G1 H. E: v4 r, q% ?/ }+ d
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual4 p, e* Z! N; z$ z/ p: O
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
5 K5 I# _: c% Z1 H0 I, w- R. _& {5 X( `same persons as the directors.
0 b3 t! z7 r- a1 v" zWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
7 J! _6 t C j' Nshareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
8 w: K, U. J, p9 p. a. @withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
9 \* ~" i2 R+ I5 ~2 q, d- HThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually+ Y. }3 S0 Q8 k
too late.! m% H: Y0 q5 M. [8 ]* B/ l+ n( g" r
Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
3 [) T* r7 r) r/ X o+ Y" p5 [: c0 kthe registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
: Z. e% C1 h& f4 j( C$ kChauhan & Associates% b: b# A( D8 L, X8 D+ F
Barristers and Solicitors
$ b: T6 j# q: }' P: t3 x9 W: l330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 3097 |( [# U+ T( f/ t
Richmond Hill, Ontario& X9 U g* H2 r$ F' l9 @
L4B 3P8
1 H7 a! z1 a. ^Tel. (905) 771-1235
* V, Y: K# W0 h! cFax (905) 771-1237) G& L4 V% @3 p
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com* I- r( \. E* e- q; q* |
48 U7 u) n K' G+ t
PARTNERSHIP MEMO6 V) d+ Y( X7 w$ I6 W9 L5 O
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
1 ]0 T: g, f$ ^9 z! g XWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a! h0 D2 b# {5 @
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
/ m! ]6 N% V5 B* a1 abeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.4 w2 t+ y# W4 ~. a/ J; u: |4 s
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by* G, M3 j( y. a/ \# i1 N3 z
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.6 l5 |1 k, C% _# n( I
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
+ c* G; U, ~2 Q0 W1 u3 A5 Fme know.
" f* J" ~; p' D: _; t- JLIABILITY& B4 j7 m% C7 K `' ^$ z7 b t3 r9 j' _
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which: z$ M' h' y9 O* c) e" W2 U* x7 h1 ~
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
7 @2 W( J' L4 _3 Cagainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
9 n; q' k. V- d$ {! ^0 L8 Xwho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
6 A/ c9 W0 }7 ^8 g9 AUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
7 q2 z% Y% H* uTAX" `0 N- t) M" l3 z8 h
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted+ G0 C, r* P* a7 H) {# E7 @* s
from the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
7 d+ } S2 j- i) z; Y3 l1 X4 QPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.& D7 ]* y- }/ _3 J6 Q3 _
AGREEMENT
& J: J. s; W$ z" |! G& X: uIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
) A( y6 R5 f) `: o3 r+ ythe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
& m+ B: M* O8 {9 J9 [profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,, A j2 w, B$ n1 `( O3 g
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed2 n! J; M- U% k
full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions. @' `8 f, I* f6 B6 Y r- s; p
of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
+ N% r. E9 |8 x; i5 r, Ydeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in, s( X+ X$ ^3 N: X2 I
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is9 b2 U/ r' |& F2 D P
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
7 w- O2 f# }# y, Ppartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement., G0 w+ e9 r* i
INCORPORATION
; v/ y" y6 `) i1 g" o* @# N0 yIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
& G9 Y! L5 X4 M% Cformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation9 A8 e5 F$ A) V1 p4 a2 V7 W
may be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".& l% g2 Q! c2 Y
55 i# t5 A- v. @$ T& N7 |4 F4 {
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.. i. _5 }! Z$ X' V1 W! D" B9 Q
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
6 t. v( v1 M- I! qthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the9 |+ v1 Y. s* I7 x
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only' }$ c( L# r6 Y2 V
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
3 O; N! @4 `. ]4 c: ~3 T" V4 O n% Zhis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
G ~2 ^+ c4 PThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
- N) J$ P$ E7 _+ W- irisks of the business.4 ^+ c+ J9 L9 F; J) }0 r
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole/ z+ ?( |3 e' {; b# I" _
director and also the sole shareholder in that company., t& ]0 x6 E9 R. h
A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
4 C9 `% \; c) k2 K' q {- fJay Chauhan
8 }, Q0 D# K' U4 LBarrister and Solicitor
! f# |' m3 [5 {) R, b* k330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309- {. Q0 J8 q. U$ ~0 U" S( e
Richmond Hill, Ontario8 y) U3 {4 F" d7 G8 M
L4B 3P8
) ]# \' N8 a# a# @! A& bTel.: (905) 771-1235
/ z( i0 W [+ K8 O7 ^: dFax: (905) 771-12375 X5 e t/ p0 a
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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