 鲜花( 25)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
' y9 h1 N; e9 F1 f$ tGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
% X- Q9 i3 L% ^See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
+ C( F( K! _& T9 q/ q; H2. See the article:
7 ~8 i' i5 n3 q5 @+ Q* jPROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION* ~; r% n- F! c# M+ R+ p
By Jay Chauhan0 H9 z) m) }8 K9 @
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
; I/ L8 }; N0 mThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
# m& g( ]/ l; I6 \proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
" P. ?. j' m* c8 `5 iusing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
b5 Q4 E( I+ \& Vmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
! O' {- z: z$ ~8 z. W Upartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
, }9 y ?; `. j, v2 Wlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
2 E6 R B8 J6 ]6 n* Q5 F) fSOLE PROPRIETORSHIP& F; k, d6 w7 m$ }& p4 @, [% X
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
6 F9 o7 P7 Y+ b' M: E( dPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it( U1 n+ l/ ], ]7 E
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the9 @% r) }% ^) Q6 L: n$ p$ Z
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a/ \4 P, O0 D$ M8 }
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
4 f; U$ k/ b) x& r- K& sIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The6 `) I: a. s/ ~! L) J& g
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as& T! Z5 k1 n3 Q1 S
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,0 k1 z1 V7 T& U( a, v: C+ C, H0 I
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
5 a$ S. K0 I3 v0 }( V! I# D8 UPARTNERSHIP
7 D+ z- K6 ^, T& |" d5 sWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
# m. v8 P, l: x; [* N* O; H3 PLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own& G+ }2 ^% i6 d' S, L. }
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and I }7 y! K+ t# T F
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
9 h f! I3 q+ T"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.# P I: L) a! r( i
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner# i$ ^/ W8 g2 `' d9 F4 f: l
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against4 W! [6 a# Q7 Q" n3 T3 k
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who( H S: d( R. B* h+ S: Q
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
* x' H9 n+ U) ?. e( V- P, nEach partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
; u+ F* K; S' r' ]! ]3 g' Sliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest. t% a; L: v; {' W8 I
2
2 M6 n4 \0 K7 o& w5 J5 q1 jIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
# ]4 e, Y* V* D% t8 o4 X0 jterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
+ t0 B; c4 o; H0 y7 Y; q8 x/ `; vloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
. l/ g: h5 i+ p% e2 A! y+ @- Qaccount of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,$ H+ |0 t" c# T- L% ^8 j+ J
what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
2 O% m. q9 G6 U( m4 WPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on2 S# P) y- Z; w' x# u o
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which, d) k: u) c8 y, q+ v0 _' N
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is* c, l, b" V4 F7 ^1 m7 ^
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the) D6 S$ A; g" [. n- y- H
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement./ {& ~. U: i+ d! _6 \. u! P
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the) s9 Y. A7 B7 y- g; p
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.% z2 s; e& Z9 `
INCORPORATION
, {% j) s& C: S. `& xIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a( b l' H& e0 A) u
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
; B2 g$ }: |9 e- d2 j& l6 dthat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",( I% Z, O& G! @$ V m
or "corporation".
, b9 f1 m9 X+ X: N2 X: {& N1 X& [The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is+ _1 n. v3 O1 p
formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the0 F- a5 C1 [$ Q* P; s7 {
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
9 d& u" _: e' T. u$ G4 a, X) q, Cin the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only" j* Q( T8 I6 s
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
( ?% E$ O J$ T0 t4 X4 M4 N. y" ^. Chis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as6 R0 m V6 {: W
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
\. }& y6 q2 h1 WA corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the! |7 R2 j1 T( j Y" ` Z
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
% s& l; D: c! h K7 x9 X/ K, K) aUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
8 N# d- m0 }" @" q J4 K Q& F3 i8 f; \) Fbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the6 T+ t7 C9 j, J2 K7 ]& V
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
: l a2 d% ]7 b; rwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.' `+ _& P" S6 {/ r
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
C& B/ N, V0 S; E5 V; |children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the- h" I( G. y; Q0 S: w5 l# j m
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
" z( W' [* @& { T, iA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the+ ^ q* v& r3 M, }# U0 ?
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal/ K d4 k9 O1 I' \% s
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A% \2 H" K+ K1 U$ F
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It6 z& ^" M; H+ v; S5 d( s( [
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
. ?4 @$ A% E E# zcompany owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such) ? G2 ]5 C0 m/ j
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other( e( T+ ^1 O9 o1 `$ U* _1 d
provinces, except Quebec.
, c: i; H" G& e3, Q' n; p9 X; O3 A7 x
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director- e0 ~0 i$ y, d% i7 h+ Q |$ V- X# K
also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult9 v3 x3 ?) ]. J/ f( _
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
8 Y2 t" @5 T6 m3 w E; G3 Zcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and8 `6 t; w$ \6 t. u
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.7 [- }) n( B/ _' {# I9 m
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
* i! z$ a6 ~: F& I9 b& K6 U9 J. Lgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
% @* a! W( [3 j* I; u" L. N2 isame persons as the directors. a7 c# ]3 e& X {
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
2 l; J1 c h: Bshareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can3 s1 |- _, m4 B, C0 N5 N# N
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.3 v9 ?# \, A% O' Z0 \9 A( R# E
This agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually) L& s- U/ I; x- R! a' e' i3 j
too late.
' g! d7 q! N# t* |/ r; m+ TCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as5 U7 m) X7 |; ~- ], l& m
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
/ n& e' i' K* x) KChauhan & Associates: u8 T* T5 j) _# l% e
Barristers and Solicitors! F/ E" N e) }6 \; v
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309: U, t! q: W2 s W% R' X6 E3 ?
Richmond Hill, Ontario5 N: |2 K* P4 P" ]
L4B 3P83 \. @9 C* Q* R. v5 Z2 v6 M
Tel. (905) 771-1235
4 e6 v9 v% u8 g7 n! MFax (905) 771-1237
7 v. j3 O, p! ?7 L9 R4 d8 ]6 G' @# pEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com' J _( j! _ O% l8 S/ R
4) K! v" K+ A4 f7 g+ k4 t2 r
PARTNERSHIP MEMO7 ^7 ~6 T* \ a, Q2 B/ c
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
4 [4 i' d' s5 e! S, H c' aWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
* V& k9 K2 p# fpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
, p: b, X' @- i* Cbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
: e3 ~; ~2 y9 yRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by
3 L5 k7 \% Q$ Z# |; e* Kthe partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
& ]; F; `; n. D) C; R5 A1 @; }7 f, bIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
7 B1 A( N" J- A0 t# T; i% Gme know.
3 R4 x$ [8 i2 y( M0 t: eLIABILITY
6 P) }8 U" Z0 ~& N" U0 u( hEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
. {7 B H' U: C8 V% Epartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
+ {2 q2 S: W6 |% P6 v/ |% C$ {4 ?against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
1 h u& R! R7 n3 ~who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
. O8 F$ z6 D T3 DUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
8 A0 p+ { _# r9 vTAX) w* w& u0 ]. p
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
7 s/ a8 H! Y1 p6 M/ c* Yfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.3 m# y: T+ t: C" J
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
4 v4 w8 g* ` h) I& EAGREEMENT+ M3 d3 X9 ]6 \7 z
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out- R" z9 o4 G. |/ k
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,, j3 | V! B7 n7 u
profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,
9 R) S) W) ]( j+ u7 _( P3 n* Jwhere the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
8 w, E2 ^! Q" t2 y# p9 P. Rfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions* g1 K% b' r: G. M; B/ }3 o5 _- A% E
of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the6 S! X( I9 U; O K) v
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
# d0 ]5 ?1 z9 i2 d/ Rthe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
4 f* p! k- R/ `4 e! lprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
* J1 a' a8 ^% d- ]8 P, upartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
3 K& s% O6 {% w" I/ xINCORPORATION, s- {4 n' k8 l
Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is( q `4 U' h- \6 B4 a H
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation& M0 ?( m" D6 S
may be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".9 `9 p6 e* h7 w+ `2 S7 V& K7 P9 b
5
2 G- E2 S( j7 j1 |" I) XThe word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
* L) L9 [& r& Q3 }8 L1 y( @3 o& aUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
/ G- x- J1 H1 Mthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the/ }9 \$ R% Y3 Y. ]; ^0 ?- J
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
3 d# \) V: P3 }# Nagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and8 w3 ^/ S# D7 ?, _
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
& N. Y3 b0 n& h4 P; DThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
8 ]0 w# ~. o* m# p& q) ^3 erisks of the business.6 x4 m: a$ _2 s+ i) I" [
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
' ]; ^6 e; V% Y+ B/ e2 ?director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
- M1 o% C' V/ C, m' W3 ^A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.0 ?3 G6 b4 J z) l0 ?7 d1 F" v7 k
Jay Chauhan- V ^% e2 Y. H! L
Barrister and Solicitor
4 _# l9 c7 g" @) E/ b330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
; x, Z0 A4 W, H+ z$ K$ P' N6 ]3 fRichmond Hill, Ontario
5 z. s6 Z+ @2 G! ?' r3 `" ]% JL4B 3P8& e9 w5 m4 n- t. }' k
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
& L1 `1 C# @6 @6 p, s3 i. uFax: (905) 771-12376 b) W/ f* K6 ?, X D* X
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
|