 鲜花( 25)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
1. there are three kinds of partnerships:( i9 r1 z2 f* v$ x7 ^' V
General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
; s7 {( y. I; g0 L3 ]2 U# VSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
" U& b8 s4 c4 p" g0 W2. See the article:0 g# ^% y- c$ A+ j/ h; k
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION
, I3 R$ t8 W# o& J$ _5 K0 xBy Jay Chauhan& j4 w+ l0 \, l+ ~7 x0 z7 L8 b9 ]
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
9 F J2 l! ^2 U1 P* m4 wThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
7 n' k2 o) K; P4 Yproprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person+ |" ]0 c5 o0 c7 L. i3 U$ _
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or* G# T7 d- S8 n4 B- Y) {
more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
! v8 ]8 {# v: l( S5 e' Lpartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
2 B- ^0 o& C* f7 `$ f9 o! Dlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together." k* A, m+ R$ A/ K
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
) r/ {! E4 N2 ]If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
$ E( q1 ^# c- m5 J2 R/ {, D8 J. RPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
) {6 D+ s( x" E- qcan be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the- Y' O& Q: s/ _& S- d' e! e
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a& p- l1 a( o3 @+ `/ p' |8 c
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry., T; D0 F, X% M! [$ N. X' S
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The' b/ m. X; {% v( b$ e5 v4 k, q# J
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as& i/ n: U' ]( `! [3 q5 B, x
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,* E) R/ ^- D' r: d2 T" d! N+ f
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.$ L$ t7 f; l I- L
PARTNERSHIP
' m, K( r$ p3 R7 L( _# {3 fWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
/ X; m) b* c& @ V# H8 DLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
" L8 |. Y$ h7 G! R7 D# F' q% U* uare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
+ Z9 R4 d( n9 p. |' ~each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word; z6 v0 Q) l0 }$ k
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
& ?# o7 |/ {3 B4 oEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner* K6 I$ j6 \) I7 L$ \
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against
/ P) L& J0 ~) {; {+ Leach and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
8 N1 Y0 u/ G6 B V. yhas the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.1 D y: l5 X+ N) D) B
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
8 W" X3 Z% E Y; Sliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
' V* W7 B; R9 z7 {( @2
4 ]/ Y9 x1 [2 e6 X# fIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
. r# }( H5 o( x2 Y- uterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
6 k. i# r0 k! ?# i( S% @7 ?' Gloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
/ w0 j5 E# p4 J Yaccount of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,/ @: h3 } y4 k8 T" p/ n
what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
% ]/ t8 l' V% p! v* \+ E0 ~Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
' {( O2 _& B7 W$ Uthe death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
" A. {! c) V; N. w. C: ^# i, S4 D" Oupon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
) }. {; U9 T% x6 w0 qprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the+ x- n8 v0 a4 M; @' f. e7 T7 Z
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
) K7 I3 I# v0 h, N2 |In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
0 G4 B1 k% T) ^, Q4 zpartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.7 x1 `5 s d2 Y" m" G g" g) q
INCORPORATION
& ]0 E8 }1 [# V W, D, ~6 \Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a( c- g; D* {2 [* D# {
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed8 [5 ^. c, R$ e. d/ M
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
' `$ r. O/ |8 Y- W/ g+ ~or "corporation".2 K6 X8 s* Z: M) R
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
' |) g6 C. H# E9 L0 F; D. X1 _formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the
0 M% N- M W, G+ u5 ]5 X6 D2 r7 vindividual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
6 C. _1 Q7 [# i1 I$ v1 Win the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only" o& }$ e9 ^! A* ^2 I, }* n
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and+ y) M, c9 f5 D7 N& ?
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
% q& k. I. A8 ^8 ~" gmost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business." \" q5 g9 F# p2 C! N( x
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
3 c8 F) h5 ^! J; |possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
?' t( ~* |, F. z" q6 P7 }/ SUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to0 D$ S% w) x+ @# W+ V% k
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
$ S1 F: G, l: \, l& H9 ]corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the' R$ E. z! [7 G# C
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.$ m; P, z2 X# q4 Z5 {
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
3 X' ?0 t5 N& Z8 @children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the) D6 i# u$ }; g9 J
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
, N& l; S3 ], q- K& D8 F) |A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
' X$ p( |/ g+ m5 a2 uProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal( X% G6 M/ Q' r- J: E- }! w' W1 X/ }
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
- Z3 u! d; }+ D; Q3 \, \ Zfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It* D& ^" b$ ~$ _" G8 P$ [
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
( |9 S+ g% c; e4 f% ]company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such3 ~ F, u& ?1 }- H) m
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
2 l3 X, [0 e, O* ^ f8 _provinces, except Quebec." @* i* p2 E" ^
36 q! m2 L" ~# ^( O C% B; P* h
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
7 n, q- F* i R; a! s: ]) jalso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult) W& v. |9 K1 k2 I$ `
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
- V/ B7 C5 E( H" N* W0 U; lcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
3 o& `. F: m7 maccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.6 C+ c7 R' b- c3 A( A- {
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
; w# N0 f/ n! ]6 X) pgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
; S- a" X1 L$ l; c1 O8 W" tsame persons as the directors.4 }" Y! C* ~ g8 E b6 x
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
x+ f6 T# t* W( j# @* D7 j: o( lshareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
$ f% A+ R8 e; o: kwithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
" |. \& P( g0 L g3 M9 ~/ OThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
4 O7 U3 J& y3 ~+ T) B- d# utoo late.
' ~1 H3 q9 |3 H# k# HCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
9 [+ e n8 y6 N' t; o5 Athe registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
) \5 M* m* K( F% gChauhan & Associates
* ]! w$ ]( a4 b1 HBarristers and Solicitors: z: [* ~: u4 \" T9 {) p3 Q
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309' S/ I3 I" y4 X7 S5 C
Richmond Hill, Ontario+ g5 N: Y+ p' A( \/ y
L4B 3P8
$ K' f' g% q7 r( _1 b) q$ JTel. (905) 771-1235
, [7 J! c: l5 Y7 {$ e! ~& QFax (905) 771-1237
+ I. l9 m9 L5 z! v2 AEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
3 J9 R1 H0 c, A; M* \4
( q3 e: Y/ D9 [/ xPARTNERSHIP MEMO
- d0 w7 |* O/ M/ j; }9 M2 N5 y. ]REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
: `' e6 `/ R% C$ K# v0 E) _# I2 fWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a( @0 z) J1 ~; P$ m7 h+ X6 ?
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
6 }: `+ l8 K4 |8 O h9 Vbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.& ~$ O; i1 O' t1 Q3 q
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by: P# j; E# j9 s' M5 d
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered./ F; ]# _* h9 s. l. Z" z! k
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let+ k; }. X1 q/ p8 z& b
me know.3 I+ t( O: i P1 J# Y
LIABILITY
. B9 O3 Y' t+ W' }- s- ^Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which/ z @/ F( R# l R
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
* [, ] ~3 S0 G4 k/ Cagainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner, C- I" p; d/ Q! r; l5 k" Z1 ^! V
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.* u0 K7 u+ X+ X
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.; \8 H: t* k' O; h+ z& a: G% ]4 @
TAX
9 p5 b# F2 {9 g+ d7 IEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
1 }9 J3 N* w& Q% |. @/ o, Mfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
& D4 y- d+ c+ m. D2 xPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
% B; \; A8 {( t" C2 R* I- J9 mAGREEMENT6 {) ^! S- s' U, d% f
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out. Q9 e6 Y7 C- X% y2 E3 }8 I4 N
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
* Y! ~7 T% v. n, z, G% a- F: ~profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,. z( |/ i, A/ F0 q1 ^9 H4 Z
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
/ ?# d! e) k( |$ x' c4 r5 Gfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
3 q( C4 m. F$ J# R: Z" o$ s# Tof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the8 i3 q( u7 q1 \! ~: [
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
( c. L1 v3 @8 e( j( x' pthe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
+ e+ A, N1 o" _7 ^provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the, ~7 e* \, Y- [/ l
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement./ d% H% x7 N. e; u7 m/ z3 y4 S/ L
INCORPORATION
F3 V% m* @4 u5 P" r& p" hIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
8 o! b) }) X7 A; f. qformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
0 @0 A9 B: H2 F+ `4 R; B wmay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".* j3 P9 C$ i6 |! h# r
5$ g6 u U$ ~: ^" {7 A* w
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
1 x- f( V9 y& Q/ b+ S7 lUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or' Z w, z& X7 a2 W: p
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
$ ?! E+ e' |" y/ u* \6 M0 _Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
6 R/ u4 F: X8 N0 bagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and! E$ y% [, ]6 Z. d0 n" Y- `
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.6 i% I* Y3 \5 y; _
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
# I/ ~0 x- T1 e8 d1 M- jrisks of the business.- P4 Y5 S7 k/ U6 d
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
5 S9 w. X c* w" M9 [' Sdirector and also the sole shareholder in that company.
U; W( v- D' PA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
+ V. [5 B* a* ~6 p5 r6 uJay Chauhan
, j; }" ^; ^" T, O2 Z c* y, G8 MBarrister and Solicitor
- \ Y A# x# P' s" p; _330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
[% ]6 ?+ G6 b! VRichmond Hill, Ontario
: j6 ]+ F$ s! M1 Z4 y3 AL4B 3P8
% L Y! W j! o+ ]9 P% ]Tel.: (905) 771-1235, F( t8 F) r! @" ^
Fax: (905) 771-1237, W) M/ Z! D6 W/ E* N `; I! O
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
|