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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
3 ?1 c; Z* v& Z) |- B; fGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
" {/ C, a6 m; E2 r, q; e' aSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html F) u! r) d$ i; I7 E. F
2. See the article:$ s; p5 _' q0 j9 n5 ^
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION# b0 I9 Y/ x/ f9 M' y* F
By Jay Chauhan
* m- m& c5 h, |' Q# q% ?7 H9 ^& ILEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
0 u5 u9 A% F( M" d$ t" \( C; GThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole& c0 c" L x3 Q: g
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
9 p/ A# g& a, u/ D5 Ausing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
) i+ e3 W; Q/ |7 c/ hmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
% e" v/ p, H; p2 v) v ?+ S2 H: Spartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
! ~# A/ l% k/ B1 C jlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.! Z8 e+ e, N3 O+ j8 C" _5 a& f
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
B2 F7 W) \* U# A# M8 F' b) GIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
* K# _, O/ Q& `1 U# v2 yPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it1 b( r6 ?8 w& ]2 Q. ^$ [
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
# ^* o5 @) e9 uindividual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a# g' n, n1 E6 X7 l8 @ T5 N
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.5 K9 |0 M. t7 F& F/ v3 R0 s
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The3 W; {% j* A/ e U
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
( m+ D" S7 k# mincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,8 w1 Y) B, h* }+ f
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.4 D. j8 s; i+ r A( W0 [
PARTNERSHIP
A2 M- M; K% i3 ^/ KWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.3 `* `% y7 Z8 M1 O, {7 G1 l# {- n0 I
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own/ O/ b* `+ x" L: d
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and, i6 x V3 \! D: d; y0 x# f, C( V- f, k$ e
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word) G& v) V1 w. J, S/ x+ L9 }1 q
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.. e! _/ k; v$ ~2 T2 r u# r6 O+ o
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner6 G' Q7 i+ D+ H! D# `& m
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against
; ^& W: |/ ?& N9 ?9 [each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who/ _$ D8 ?. A4 H
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.+ ^0 p6 q& ?6 L+ Q# i2 b
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the: @1 B7 _' E) Z3 \6 F: H
liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
$ x& L5 X; }6 B2
2 M4 H% l6 Q" z% I! v2 T eIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic8 N4 w4 a7 ~& R% X3 _7 }/ h: B" x
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and- v4 n" ]4 Z' f* j" P0 u
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
% i, Q% a# V* y }/ D& Waccount of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
, r- z% N: {! h9 ywhat salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the0 I' `9 s! k+ A0 K9 O7 n7 V
Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on4 \# ^: G7 W4 O+ Y# n
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
: T( [2 S. b) G" X+ H& Jupon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
! w) D; s$ G: q* Bprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
7 B% [" H, d( S$ `partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement., l) P G g% S; A2 G0 ?4 y1 F
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the' \7 z. |5 ^. s3 t2 w Q
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.! p1 G) e: Q& [4 k
INCORPORATION
! y4 D/ h/ i, k; P/ }$ Y" P' xIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
/ s4 S0 M1 q# h7 a8 Nseparate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
% F! e8 s w0 G( X- n. ythat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
2 `- F+ W, G, R/ v% Nor "corporation".
) V! n9 F( ^. s- @. q% K0 GThe word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
3 L8 b/ x0 a* j" y) C# oformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the
2 o4 G- u" q, _/ Y% {' M* k4 Bindividual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,/ M* U) c, K" D G, R) `! j0 U
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only, a* \' P$ p p$ q* ^! h
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and, I: ?- P2 W/ s
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as, h: W. V& Q u. X( H
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
3 N% K5 @ { b( ?A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the- x2 l1 Q A6 \
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
! \( { R/ d: x* c1 x2 W; \0 f# jUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
- W8 E$ J9 N# V6 F! Q3 S9 w$ T& kbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the; B' Q6 l3 l. O$ I/ K: b+ V* U5 Z
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
. l7 o1 g' t! U6 D7 o. H/ Swife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.0 F4 _4 v$ S5 |0 t3 t Z
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
+ W4 H* W, G; W7 o& ichildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
, d( e) t! N$ T7 _children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
" M) f5 ]# J( C$ h2 C, |A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the8 R% z4 p) F2 Q
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal& m9 C& U" f* ?; c- Y8 E4 f n, c
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A/ \% Y" X3 v* ~. a. I
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
; c; v4 v/ p, xdoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the! K/ x7 Y' V3 s! N. w
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such
) S& b9 Z3 b. A0 B! elicense to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other4 y6 S2 R5 M0 Z. }$ f8 a
provinces, except Quebec.% z2 a2 M# Q. {. l- \
3
2 P. _4 v0 V) u2 \It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director! z' x% z: M5 d, w
also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult! L3 ~8 w" I, x/ i
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
$ A* s* B; o# w+ O% Fcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
B, `& o" e* T9 Xaccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
0 v, t% ?7 G7 [) ^The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
& x) x' H/ T* ]7 \. qgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the' V+ X# r6 W3 \/ `
same persons as the directors./ s* G! w x5 w+ b9 P
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some6 s D# V- |) }# e& N& W
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
3 d: w) w8 `( P' c; { lwithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
* c$ w4 w* b% g6 WThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
3 l) G. }7 {) M- h& U- P& @; \( [2 N @too late.
( Q& X) `+ Y/ j% }0 \Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as' t; a' j2 k2 B) T6 `
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.% I. A" l% ~: F9 K* o- P
Chauhan & Associates& o* O D E A, {) [; `
Barristers and Solicitors
" B) [( M1 h) U8 ?& @, N330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309; y/ S% ]& S/ f. M8 y
Richmond Hill, Ontario+ [0 X) R: N5 _0 a1 Q
L4B 3P8
+ k0 S% `. b+ `' H2 ]/ CTel. (905) 771-1235
2 @% G9 H# x! \% d9 C- Y5 _- }' O2 jFax (905) 771-1237
0 X; Z% c0 q v# O* H# c2 eEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com/ J+ q3 _2 t. Q6 E0 G! v" |
46 P9 W, `: `4 x( ^# I! m) }' e
PARTNERSHIP MEMO: s: C- l. `( t9 `3 _4 `
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
x2 O0 }. X; J. @Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
. y& z) A& G5 b! b \partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
4 U4 P: Y: c4 ]' ibeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
6 s: C& [& ?" w: k0 o, GRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by
, L! Y' g# d' N+ z; a; X# V9 hthe partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
- W( z" _$ X$ T# }If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
2 K. f( a- l, \! j9 P3 ~me know.; K. a( w' _, n0 g
LIABILITY5 q- _% u2 M3 g- e0 A, _+ o8 F! l
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which/ ]* d c: M# `% `. g! c
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
2 ?! W0 D8 r8 P- m; }against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
. M5 U+ r ]( K! ~7 z7 p3 T; K/ C6 Ywho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.: h6 q; \2 ]) L, `3 ]& w W
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.. ~# j+ p$ u; m/ X; V1 K& G& h! c: r
TAX
7 A* N4 ?) l! w. `9 K6 [/ gEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted/ W) `1 `- R( R6 ]; V
from the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.2 y* L' q( O3 U3 A5 n3 Y
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.; K) Z2 K9 R; L% ^7 w8 r: o
AGREEMENT
& f$ G+ J9 g8 `1 A" Q. }/ f8 k0 RIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
, Y1 P% |, h0 b ?% {* H) P1 R+ }4 Cthe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
% m# ?- B0 c1 K4 Y: u, F3 U# kprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,4 @. V# t8 h+ {/ x
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
- K- i* N: }+ Z, X$ e1 ^. O$ O9 ~full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions$ b6 A: g; w0 [
of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the7 F- A; U* ]4 q6 }, t
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in) R# H* b, J3 `7 h0 E k
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
' w) y. W. r. u7 F! }provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the, l/ Z O7 M9 D% N) z
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
9 w" b9 _* G! y3 j/ i9 t/ pINCORPORATION
. k- O; R) S* }Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is+ F& M! H. T5 y+ e+ q
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation, l+ y5 \3 L6 q8 }2 R# o" C
may be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".
; `0 V% n* D/ }1 P2 Y+ `9 q5
' `: H; l% `. f( YThe word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.$ p# B- g* D: L* [9 z) u
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
( g! P) j( }1 |the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the# y/ G) u- W" i) i
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only3 F3 Q& p: d5 p, o3 G5 }& X( Y3 T8 G
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and$ [ |: B8 F' n7 R
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.1 |& P) v L; D2 i
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the1 f. M0 g0 S4 P: r% m
risks of the business.
! | G: e' c g" `It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
% J0 x" g+ m+ h- b9 q+ f+ R$ pdirector and also the sole shareholder in that company.
6 s. W$ t: Y) G" C2 z. S V1 \A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.8 G, j1 A3 K1 s" L+ ~
Jay Chauhan- U; Y2 S+ @ d; C: i' C8 u
Barrister and Solicitor
2 {: o, _( X1 q, ^8 W3 E2 Z330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
" [- Z6 a* r8 O9 x+ n& \Richmond Hill, Ontario* h/ d4 y: i9 Z# a" N2 N# w
L4B 3P81 h; p v8 Y% z4 v2 ?3 W$ Z. [8 C
Tel.: (905) 771-1235: w1 s0 G }5 `, |9 F( Z
Fax: (905) 771-1237
# ^( h! a# b1 m( R0 vEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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