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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:% ~, D. |4 U! |& U) |% `0 ^! \4 F3 f
General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
d6 Q [/ E: s- CSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html$ B' N! D3 G0 y, m
2. See the article:1 r- [5 E( X9 ^8 N
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION
! q: a# |7 @ e1 t# k4 X# b& hBy Jay Chauhan
1 `( p' g2 S0 B' m" oLEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
( `4 C2 b: y, O* w) @+ z2 kThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
. k9 G$ q, g1 @2 m+ p: u3 |proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person/ c3 j9 l( k& }
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
% L4 Q+ j# J5 Xmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
+ ?, E% ?4 D& c" `. Vpartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
0 [9 e' E. q/ vlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.6 d: i/ {& G: f- {
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP+ l, Y6 e# q4 {- W
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
6 g1 N" {$ a3 x/ Z2 n" sPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
. M. {: s6 v8 ucan be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
8 Y% q8 o$ b7 ` rindividual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
1 T8 w9 M- E8 c: S; F4 ojudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
+ p5 D, v6 b. C1 HIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The5 J/ L& V9 T& d! |$ Y
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
9 C2 ?8 E: d; n4 f% }2 Jincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
! P6 x+ ?- [% [/ R- gthe sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
! b' r- y K5 x9 |- f; H$ |PARTNERSHIP2 k9 E5 U4 b D. x: E1 Q9 m" ]8 v& @
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.+ ?( ?/ S. l9 _0 D: ?
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own% G0 T# s* P5 q6 H, W
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
2 _6 J6 s8 d5 D8 \$ peach partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word" N& m( V0 P* ]+ q' K2 q: V5 g
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
9 a0 b( C1 S0 h" u/ x \ z9 mEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner- U; W9 }+ H8 K4 f3 v! t" ]
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against1 z, Y+ u8 @7 S8 d& m# Z* M
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
% c' V; u3 r3 r7 @has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.$ Q6 f$ G& Q8 C3 h
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
, i+ |& e; d4 @3 B2 tliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
0 X7 r; K6 G3 c1 {24 A5 h/ ^2 v( `1 j' ~: a
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
P/ b4 |; s9 R, L6 eterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and/ P0 v: t" Q5 K. p% l; V; u
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
$ u1 [8 k% G O3 a- d; c- @0 {account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
* A/ }2 q9 L2 Y2 P' ^, }what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the: X$ N5 m- d% p: I% O
Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
" Y# e- s' a( I9 lthe death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
4 t: l5 o! L1 X5 u6 P# p; pupon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
- O- Y2 L1 v" Lprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the1 {* k+ W+ o: S/ n: h# A
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
# U: y) S1 L, e/ M) |( FIn case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
0 h+ N9 n0 r+ \0 g6 tpartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
4 g+ O. L8 i6 C/ D. eINCORPORATION6 T1 b0 k: k+ d% v/ s
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a1 [; y( F* g# O3 a
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed4 d- E6 n& V) D
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",$ X) F% d2 |0 j8 y8 Z8 Z* I' Z( A
or "corporation".& H5 J# E7 Q0 F7 [( w
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
$ n" T! \+ c0 i. V( c2 Z; }. v( jformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the3 S, ?- n- j* }6 l
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,- T; G4 m' k2 x! F$ Z* x9 H
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
* N3 v3 v+ L' \/ Y" {against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and4 Z% y) c' _2 r9 G$ n0 V
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
' n/ ^& J- ]4 ~5 wmost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.# e3 W; c' ^: {7 T) A
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the# T- }; k; O, r8 U) D" f
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
& q9 n( {. ]& w# wUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to$ l) Y8 w! F8 ?2 W8 ^
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
9 |" U" k% N( c1 X6 R5 ncorporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
9 z% |- M3 M4 k9 Y& {wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.
6 Q+ z. d' D1 HA corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to) @; r% z s3 v a1 V
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the9 x" W& Q& ]- u" e; x2 U
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
" P; [8 s9 _1 o* X$ BA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
( p6 p: W% z: k- [Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal9 x8 R3 f0 r+ J9 h( i
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
! O) [- L0 W+ P' W% e- |federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
9 j( T! D4 O3 I8 B* R: O( y1 ddoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the( U0 M4 V- M" |+ y, u6 ]
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such3 b" [8 S( ]$ b
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
* L9 k, q" `% j: Fprovinces, except Quebec.5 C- E5 |' A% k& D
3
& x1 m1 w* \2 j: r3 `It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director- n* N* M5 P) {
also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
_" c" r9 g+ S3 Z a4 Adecision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
) ?- g. c, y: u' R. J fcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and) z7 E8 s9 v2 j6 Y1 G7 B8 C
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
5 l9 f2 i& \6 ~3 jThe directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
9 ]' c6 Y/ B7 E( P5 R) Mgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
, D8 N- U: F6 ~( U5 h# U6 Z% X- Zsame persons as the directors.
) Z- J5 c4 \1 a+ W: `5 SWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some! a: b3 B( b: \/ n
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
# z% c9 H& x E1 d7 r8 ]withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.1 X O2 ]3 P$ Z2 t) |9 P
This agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually# Q& \& N# O( z: [
too late.
7 v7 }3 z# D5 Y7 ]0 K9 g" _Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
5 p: e* R! j5 p7 n3 X( ~) B" L) C8 othe registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
( {0 k- d( m' e( l) lChauhan & Associates& o4 k0 a5 r: l. ]- X
Barristers and Solicitors
% p# t) [3 h0 }, }330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
* N/ o# h, a8 [: ~- X8 K4 N$ |Richmond Hill, Ontario
: }- T" t( \$ W$ V6 @L4B 3P8
- _: G9 m3 ]) {; B. ^Tel. (905) 771-12359 \# g, u- i$ z1 \
Fax (905) 771-1237 S7 @) @, S! a1 z' F( n
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com; d6 i* p- t$ A- A
40 k7 a! b; W* o# ?1 A$ J5 O8 _# X
PARTNERSHIP MEMO) m( O$ G! }) b2 G' F; l" S8 r
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS/ `2 _+ @7 R H# y, O1 ~
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
1 z3 Z4 c4 E8 L/ mpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are6 ]) Y9 A5 @- A7 v9 a1 m9 {; S. H, o
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
/ O( t! w( v% V7 I3 Y- ~- R$ ^Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by; U9 e5 S; l6 @0 ]3 M, f$ J6 S
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.1 r: [" T6 K- u D1 M- k
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let' b+ c; t; k/ D* M" U
me know. x7 i- Q4 x' K
LIABILITY6 m4 i/ u+ E& q6 u* c
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
- t a! e" o2 ?$ ?& c( Wpartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced& c: o8 Q2 h: j1 L+ \
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
* r0 _% F& E/ A* X" }9 a3 Cwho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
9 Q+ y+ N$ k' f" U& m1 h# |, gUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.5 `, X1 }; l3 ?9 E6 M
TAX
8 M. d/ m, `; I! d, V7 h$ v& @# uEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
8 x+ B' ]0 i s6 _. efrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return. J5 o* _, E! p+ ^6 P
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
. g1 m/ q5 Q& h9 Z w* r' _AGREEMENT; Q* W$ Z- l* P0 t' @3 Q
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
& g- O# I- E: Vthe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
. p/ s. {6 U7 G+ t+ \# p7 Uprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,, E0 F" I9 `0 i& V+ E, H5 B- B; V
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
7 j5 \, a! _ z7 Q, D8 F, `" [0 {full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
5 g9 t6 x- e) T/ F7 |( zof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
; \+ S$ u' e s6 Udeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in) D% B8 w$ Y: }/ Q; y8 s$ t, p
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is. a8 Y' k. @% E3 Z
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the$ [) p2 a8 s# p+ n ]9 \
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement." q# O3 H( `/ R& p1 G% ^ r6 E
INCORPORATION
% d: T! o. X' {% ~8 A$ KIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
! R- U3 c, t5 S+ ^( n$ \5 S+ pformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
( \, H5 L6 E) N1 imay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".
; T& ~& W* i C$ u1 s52 f# z1 Z8 H; r. z4 m% r
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
: ?9 h8 Z/ t( R9 p3 CUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or. k% p& a- x5 L6 s# U
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
1 F+ e) w" D l" }$ E- lCorporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
( y) S" [8 p9 B4 L b" |against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and9 I1 Y% U. [3 J2 Z9 ^+ y
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
! G$ y9 o E, aThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the3 c# V3 J; t- m5 H; b
risks of the business.
, c& q5 f- A2 i0 K# D; @- uIt is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole% y2 }2 y: v! r- k
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
5 {: m7 G2 v$ ]! x, i5 rA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.$ S' s# Y' N. y/ X; a+ ~
Jay Chauhan: }* L8 y5 i5 p9 G
Barrister and Solicitor( o( `& s/ x" g* q: A: \
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309+ b' R, r7 I1 g/ K0 w( y5 M1 O$ p
Richmond Hill, Ontario
5 M5 a! P% s) n$ L/ t: wL4B 3P84 X: z. k" b# o! S
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
+ ^8 K O* G. ^6 t, a! u( P) rFax: (905) 771-1237! | Z4 G1 \2 E
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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