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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
0 m7 b' U: A, G& Y/ Q9 {- lGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
* p# y2 j8 I. h1 T/ TSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html I" g' r0 d% \7 T$ N. f
2. See the article:7 i0 }4 ^0 _$ y' f# ~
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION7 g$ J% Q) T0 v$ I4 R% N+ F
By Jay Chauhan3 ^) Z0 i7 S" y2 T0 Y
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS. ?9 Y% K$ _ }) H: v
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
- a8 ~: a9 p Q6 @3 Vproprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person4 M, _ |4 o/ y+ C. \2 ~6 s
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
5 G; U; N1 G4 `more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
( ?0 H* e, _& g% d3 @partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
9 @. Y" H" `, r7 D2 A" p; Plaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.& T: P* z+ L( X* ^% K5 D. o& a
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
! ?3 B- B# c$ R, a/ L/ lIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the3 [7 p0 n6 B2 W: y- k3 n: E6 `
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
& b: l, [% L" m9 y3 [can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
+ U: o$ f, S9 D% Y; \/ ^individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a' z0 Z0 F# p1 t7 S' ~6 |' C
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.! ]" p; U+ A4 @! I
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The& w: p( c. W G! S$ @+ E$ _
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
; s* S2 [/ q/ bincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,& a! C2 M/ f- Y' `+ y
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.* @! s5 m0 n7 A' d
PARTNERSHIP' M9 B0 Z: a/ Y. _+ z
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.; [7 {3 K% N) e" W H# k) [4 w5 t) [
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
5 V0 N3 m1 o+ A9 S' Q5 e+ T7 Uare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and% w& A, k: C6 `/ o1 D1 w
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
: L/ W$ j- ~$ x/ z5 O* v"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.# m$ p) @$ w( l0 w- Y9 S, w
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
) y2 H; K ?+ U" s. G0 A# iincurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against
; |# M; E) X; G+ G& Oeach and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who5 j1 b+ }* ~" ~# I h/ ?
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.& r, a/ i: d2 a3 _
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
' ?( J6 Y' F0 t; u' c0 y6 w/ Wliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.. p- B- k' Q; a
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7 b5 k1 @* q6 ]; DIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
' C3 w2 G( h. L! _2 J8 T u: Iterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
$ M6 E: | Q% V! I# x* j6 Bloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the2 k7 p: c8 b7 ?/ J
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
0 i' V1 l0 [8 ~0 Awhat salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
% L' G0 J! a/ _! z9 {Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
3 j v% i6 ~/ r- O8 R1 c" C- }the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
9 X7 v0 l' x' ?# I' jupon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is- X8 ~2 P6 b# ?, G; t
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the# g8 l' i# R2 s, n+ G/ c
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
+ ^4 {$ E: C1 J- ~2 t. B( RIn case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
% s( U; C5 y0 g' t8 t. L5 p2 |partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
2 P0 P7 ~4 m9 V' Y1 mINCORPORATION. o9 e+ _. m5 M
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a; `6 m% `6 {$ }8 Y5 A3 g* Z
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed9 C! p' r, m/ ^7 a' p$ i3 H
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
}: I( {1 C! \% T7 l+ _* z6 e/ hor "corporation".. p) c: w* k& ~9 N% J
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
7 o w0 l0 A$ r8 o; gformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the; S* e& F j( q3 }
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
! C& G, j P$ V9 Ein the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only/ [9 e' Q3 q0 L' g
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and) C: l6 |$ p2 o+ r
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as U3 E5 M0 K% V* o2 B' N0 g
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
" E% X# R3 ?/ N2 ]) g. iA corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
. t0 E; g$ n+ [0 j3 b8 [possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
7 \7 P* D5 u* p# b5 |* C, K5 GUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to r( s( N0 O7 v6 p0 r
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
- k8 {3 u y& Q1 n# ]corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the4 F; P; `$ b4 ~
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.! Y/ o1 A7 `7 H* C, ^
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to, L3 f8 B7 `% o& M
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the0 D) i6 y: u6 d6 b
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
% F, V# v( G2 G8 y; KA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
" R. {1 ^4 l5 o0 wProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
6 V8 v0 X/ q8 g" S; E. {company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
: c' U, {7 [% Mfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
* h! u `& N9 vdoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
7 c! c7 K* A0 l3 n; Z9 {! b9 Dcompany owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such7 o, W, h" n$ V
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other! L( a+ z0 \. R6 ~
provinces, except Quebec.+ o7 a$ K$ c6 d, Y# }) g. V
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: l( w3 H* ^$ h: aIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
5 ~5 z- K1 ~. Y9 P$ walso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
# `5 A+ L( V& p7 g8 B: Q+ a3 `decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%, R9 Y4 O+ S+ }% [
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
4 J _( z' W8 ^9 H& z/ I6 p# _accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.& W; u$ ~3 z9 A+ c) n' T: W" p
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual* B8 A+ [% H. f3 c+ q A
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
! t: ^* [% E% J/ A( Osame persons as the directors.
f7 k2 H2 t. R6 S) mWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
" H" Z. @& ~! W4 Fshareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
1 D/ K( U6 I" m1 ?% ?* D' ]withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
0 F7 F' H8 c+ \7 GThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
1 i+ _4 m X& d3 D! [too late.
+ `0 u% \) O/ P1 VCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as/ [; c* b7 x$ n4 g* ]1 A2 U; \1 \
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
4 D @; i1 x; l3 QChauhan & Associates8 e) b' {& s: R6 W2 @/ p7 Q
Barristers and Solicitors; z7 ~1 D4 K3 h0 y* @- T
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
4 @- `) i+ }1 C: wRichmond Hill, Ontario
8 L% o% {+ E/ ^' L8 i% D5 P5 KL4B 3P8
$ I2 U0 x: p9 MTel. (905) 771-12355 K/ y2 j1 t) h/ n6 p5 w; b2 P
Fax (905) 771-1237# p* v t) J6 |
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com6 x9 i( \; m9 f' x# J7 @& h% s
4& l$ q! H" e: s" w& e' `/ D
PARTNERSHIP MEMO
# v$ t6 D, x% t) F2 X1 ?. Y7 GREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
5 y: [8 _1 o0 y" j) @2 iWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
* y; R7 L. m" W+ G! O7 Hpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
" `* @7 E) N/ m4 cbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
& G5 ?: t5 ?3 h8 ^Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by' Z4 W9 k( R6 a3 ?4 ~
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.9 {( Y- X4 _5 a+ m* q/ V
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
) K( u0 Y/ `) y* y) V9 ome know.+ y2 e- B7 z) {; J* c
LIABILITY! K" b4 [" O" p/ E$ T) _2 o" p) Q
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
% b5 V5 B/ A9 W, d& l0 ]) |partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
: a! c4 N( l" W- b1 ]' ragainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner- c1 N, {5 J" x! ^# z3 t
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.: F1 t, p! e+ x
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
) E1 R( Y& B% W( a* q+ ETAX8 n# J, Q3 i/ V) j
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
. O4 ?8 h5 j! h4 D0 Qfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.0 a2 m: V* B! z, I' o6 K
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.1 F, Y+ | K6 D% Q- s* C" b
AGREEMENT4 v2 h* l$ N1 }6 k8 W
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out9 m& i* K# T) z/ @* S8 @5 V: F& N
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,7 u1 |: _$ n% N, C
profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,+ G; o; n2 t: O( w1 M! `9 d
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed' V# k0 D( R& e% }" a
full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
$ C& T: c& Y; L1 |) s9 d9 oof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the. E& M1 R5 W( g6 x& k
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in. G% [) H) t" F
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
8 b( e/ ^( F$ Jprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the4 M3 K! T, l! k' p
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
7 d" z& N7 [0 v3 R7 bINCORPORATION
D2 E7 E! ?& J# ^8 \Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
$ X2 Z* ]$ F3 n$ Z: R0 h; b* {formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
5 W$ v; C( h: j! v; Mmay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".
3 ^5 j* r4 W5 `( M5
3 M1 R- a, s1 b& i Y) F8 AThe word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
0 a) y' B0 u0 D- J& | y' iUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
6 J- E2 J% L6 b# w3 |2 N& nthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the+ i3 a! S1 |9 M! Z
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only$ [% N6 D9 x7 `7 Q- Y U
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
+ w5 X5 }( K3 Jhis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.' W+ [5 N6 c& t0 V6 T) Q. @; m i
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the9 c/ _! e' M, I: [1 B: X8 u
risks of the business.6 o+ I; B! P; |) V3 X/ v, |
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole% l+ v' Q2 y8 ~! v% V- Q2 o0 V5 g
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.& `, O/ _2 y4 k3 |% r) n
A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
8 g6 o& H( r3 A6 D* vJay Chauhan
7 b0 ]& n9 E. A/ U0 W/ _* ABarrister and Solicitor( Z; T7 z2 X7 F% t
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
4 S8 h8 |3 j. D& |Richmond Hill, Ontario8 h4 M L$ f4 ?5 e2 l$ J
L4B 3P8/ n2 I5 J! m3 }% _, @) p
Tel.: (905) 771-12353 s+ d' F' m+ d3 F2 \2 m
Fax: (905) 771-1237+ t1 _6 W6 s( t9 A8 I$ E. X
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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