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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
* v- J. G% ]: ^( b' v7 MGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
) O9 x. l4 @1 @2 o9 _" JSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
0 `6 r6 K% X+ [2. See the article:: F0 x! }! _( ?/ W6 x; ?
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION
) n% P4 ^( `/ D" V8 P- W9 h% rBy Jay Chauhan
: u) d% G- R7 K; P" \6 I! QLEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS% Y+ i& k5 X1 J5 U- J
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
" \$ u k, x `+ n9 kproprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
G4 i4 k. q9 w& g2 N3 Kusing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or! ]9 C+ ]8 S( M$ v
more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
2 w5 n4 i3 p' Z2 |7 Apartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by; w- |. b" ~' Q8 m/ Q
law and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
3 s( i: j0 k. n) J/ |, LSOLE PROPRIETORSHIP2 d* H7 f: n f) S/ f( _- F( ~) j( `
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the5 _" s9 _* i6 V4 a. J- o( V
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it+ `/ q9 x A2 n$ k/ q9 ]' K
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
* V! w M; f6 }6 c$ n& [5 Vindividual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
% S* ?4 P$ \9 r( x; }) [( j) P4 djudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
0 @1 b8 z z8 u* ]) ?It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The. k; s+ Q( W/ q' _" j0 `1 J. f
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
0 F4 A, A7 B" aincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
% _, q/ m7 W5 P* Z$ `+ @$ zthe sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name./ Z, }) j* u, L
PARTNERSHIP9 |+ r+ d% W+ K8 B, p1 p+ U S3 J
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership. b# m/ T4 k, d
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own% u' O3 X% t) t; X" @5 R
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and0 t, _5 F+ r- Y- S1 T5 z
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word2 `( X) [# ~8 d% B$ n: p$ ]# W: A
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.+ `* H* K) p& B3 x! i
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner- F, i# s b- r" m& H4 i6 J& A! y/ V
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against! E! s% q. E$ g8 t
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
5 b3 t \/ n( ^) ~; B9 ihas the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
4 i2 E) ?# A0 X! ^0 I0 ^$ b; XEach partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
2 t! b/ @! Y5 ?: {1 S3 Y$ hliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
7 q% O9 C( U) s! Y2( Q. ~; \5 K" }' U3 P
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic$ _. k# y# i. V0 c, G' X
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and$ Q. k- o3 q s4 f! \
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
1 J+ R. S' M/ q1 A8 E9 }5 daccount of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
! d; d) Q1 Z" s: `# F3 ~# jwhat salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the* @/ v, Q+ V* N7 W- S! }, u
Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on/ h7 l; {# e: ?$ I
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which6 X$ G; P g1 h
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
1 |9 K: W9 i9 Jprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the, }5 g) `, L, y, U
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
4 C& H; D& k/ o& v+ hIn case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the1 @0 o# {% t' e
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.$ S9 A7 T% N7 F& M; {
INCORPORATION0 Z- G5 m4 } I
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
( |. m4 }: V: |% A/ k; ]4 _4 Kseparate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed+ C& z: S: a' }- r$ F7 d
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
7 L2 Z* J: Z" C/ B4 K4 a3 z( vor "corporation".
9 _* \& ^6 I$ y/ V7 ~$ RThe word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is" m& e1 O# |5 ^/ U
formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the) W# r% g. W! b' d( j
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,( ?7 J i* O# G2 |5 d
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
% D) D, \! z* J1 qagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
* b7 V9 o% U5 y1 h/ H! Mhis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as3 x* Z$ S' G% ? z9 \/ G2 T5 _( N# v
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business." r9 X8 l; ?2 r
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
8 ^% e/ q' B( v; x0 ~possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
. @, D' G% j% M# |7 U0 Y9 @Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
4 N( p* P) P: _! f1 ?: O$ C- {be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
8 s- Y" E+ x2 l; }# @corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the! ]) ?* i6 n$ p
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.
: Z. V* W Z( C) f& s J' o1 z/ A# g( {" {A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
. O( E# c4 l9 |* V/ |# d5 Dchildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
4 Y. Q; h( _# D* B( {) G' pchildren without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
5 B. Y$ P# v( p, U" a6 f& uA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
% m6 r1 v( z7 m1 d/ ?/ R' d) ]/ YProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
% j+ x% h+ j' g# @) lcompany is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
# _9 j) e* c& Y$ ffederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
1 a: @- ~9 k0 U" v3 s- S: udoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
9 F9 G5 p, w! x" ycompany owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such
" r8 v2 H2 A2 ?license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other; j/ o0 Q0 B* I k/ j* F" m
provinces, except Quebec.2 B% r& Y, S! U0 p$ I
37 S8 [+ c9 K/ F& ]# v+ F
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director8 q/ I& ~8 Y# B+ e+ k- f B: a
also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult3 e) k0 `; i) x: N
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
. x D2 ]* f5 ~6 `, |control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
) @" G9 |: D0 E" G( s) G8 |$ ]! Iaccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
. W) C' L( q! u. K# xThe directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual" {: D- L5 }! ~- N, ^3 b+ d
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the! @( \+ K- R7 q6 j% N
same persons as the directors./ m3 I" I! d% }/ q, x+ ?
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some/ C1 B8 d |6 L% y. v, E3 _; f
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can+ O7 L8 j, R. n$ N5 r; J
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
0 p0 t; k2 ^. e! i: c; tThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually% o! i( p3 [ |: `
too late.
+ G+ ?8 v' s; L; o* ZCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as- N; u1 f8 A: `0 b9 k) B& J$ C
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
* F( Z4 R! B$ |Chauhan & Associates
+ H! J6 F% ^( {- M" zBarristers and Solicitors
. ]+ V( E! F+ U' A* ]330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
6 H, N- ?: n$ v- yRichmond Hill, Ontario3 C6 c/ J5 c6 P; q+ m' E3 m& F
L4B 3P8, U' W- {8 i4 ~
Tel. (905) 771-1235. B: c8 Q* f+ N+ U+ ?, U
Fax (905) 771-1237
0 ~: z' K% {9 W* e9 H9 yEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
+ R, R, w$ I- Z9 _4 x* F1 T46 l. [5 X( {# l& P/ D; |
PARTNERSHIP MEMO
3 x# g( B3 x' A9 X4 L8 ?REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS- X2 Y6 v% v9 b; _2 |8 w1 m" L
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
7 v$ n: b' h7 b! K' Tpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are* F. n# N: \& {- Q
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form. A3 R* ]9 t8 B3 W2 _. I
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by u4 z6 U/ G% l; [, r2 A0 r. w. W
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
, J" p* N) ]! x& V- Q. ^: Y" [If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
; r8 `- c3 ]4 C3 J3 e2 g$ qme know.. k, }, O' p7 `5 d
LIABILITY
) x' v' Q9 ^, ^) [3 B$ j! I/ E; |- ?Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
' a5 m$ y4 U6 [; n5 `3 dpartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
/ w# v5 R" E9 K+ H- ragainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner+ U# h1 s# v. D" h! Z" M
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
# X. r3 l. F7 H* xUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.) f# d6 m% P2 v7 r& L+ c6 t: g' A
TAX2 `. c" R' Y8 ~( j8 @
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
0 R: e+ ]+ f7 r6 S+ W7 x/ Dfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.4 O6 o+ g) i2 q& J% @" x
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
- M. s; x: s! O8 o% o# Y, GAGREEMENT
$ ~$ J* J. c/ z7 |& ]# A& DIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out6 u& Q: P) p; F' W# t$ A' h
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
8 P, M* r# M/ e- oprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,
2 f1 p6 \% k7 A9 iwhere the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed2 ^" q$ N3 ^+ z7 C0 [
full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
* }- K1 X" `' h7 ]" d! H* E: kof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the" K% ?, ^0 k7 ?" s
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in s+ Q+ I3 u1 N! A2 ]1 H6 k
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is+ J9 T$ j% l* R& j# G, I- b B
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
* y1 P8 x$ M$ o! x$ D1 k2 B9 {partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.3 g# d$ U: E" l; R
INCORPORATION
7 o1 w$ C1 A- K- K) nIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
! f& [ `2 l) D* D% f9 |formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation9 V! ~. G9 c: H3 f1 ^1 k
may be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".
1 C0 g9 p+ v5 Z( a5 S t' j5$ F3 K3 y' X/ P
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.6 W+ C1 [! _, k1 J. G9 G. M! v' P
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
9 m; P: t6 A: D8 m0 ]the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
; C7 r& R c- P9 J, u( kCorporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only/ J( }" C7 P- x( G) [: q) u
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
& E0 t" V% A/ \5 `* }/ Ahis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible. D$ Z( ?$ i$ e3 r7 V9 f
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the- Y# Z& H6 _: X8 L& w) V
risks of the business.
% S, H* k% i; ?+ pIt is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole1 k. R9 C; p. f9 h
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.6 B7 I2 Q3 E$ K2 A/ R6 D9 Z
A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability., u) a* f& a1 S- P \6 ~
Jay Chauhan
' w1 W) c' d7 U0 I# |. E- fBarrister and Solicitor
! l$ ]/ C& Y% k; n# ~330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
8 I& G- M! \6 [5 z& X. f$ V! VRichmond Hill, Ontario7 W1 O! d& U' U' x# T8 Q0 u2 `
L4B 3P8; N" G0 G6 e4 _2 l* p
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
/ r6 b! ~& I( {1 z: [ K1 n, m5 PFax: (905) 771-12378 a" x e. T6 A9 I9 d7 C
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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