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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:& M/ {/ `/ _8 ~: d( x# e8 r
General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
* G) R( _2 ^2 T% k" C' \$ a, ?See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html. v4 |1 ]% y& |3 J
2. See the article:! T2 s5 s2 v) H( W9 H" d
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION
' B+ B3 ~3 r( Q- V$ N' oBy Jay Chauhan- H5 O5 H, Y' P/ T1 }3 @ o2 ~
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
' [1 }" |7 M. @) @) A1 k9 y: dThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole( d5 c# m" j: \1 U
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
! ^' v+ {- V* l4 eusing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
4 l0 v- b; A2 }more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
$ A4 Z& x( j' _partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
$ E: c' Z' S9 `+ g- O) e N; plaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.8 v% x: B; z; T. @" j4 i# D% l; g
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
) o: p' n) w/ Z& ~1 f5 _/ [8 XIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the2 g# y/ R/ E+ Y6 s/ u
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it+ h* V8 q* t) Q% X, S% L( J
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the9 J; _9 ^) W6 `/ _" b0 x
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a9 A/ \( K3 ^( j/ L% v
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
% B. |. n; B# A7 yIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
9 s6 E% |; w1 L( E3 j" v" Lfact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as# k: b3 y, j8 \- C
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
$ c' n9 p7 }: g. T3 Xthe sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
/ p9 W7 Y) ~4 W- j2 C; vPARTNERSHIP
2 c! X T7 k D9 p" TWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
- f. N' W; ]3 ]2 N" Q. R! Y" aLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
$ {, S8 E' r2 X }& v3 Eare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
2 a) u; F/ R$ D* m) B3 L0 [each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word' w, R; w: a' z7 M; j
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
4 w1 o# J, @% X3 ?2 qEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner7 I( a' b+ X; V2 O @6 y3 p
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against a/ f: f" r" s7 K8 H+ Z
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who+ \: [9 O* S7 v( [
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
5 [0 Y% z: P ]: Q7 x3 u, ?6 N6 SEach partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
, ?* H: u! E1 C9 @) fliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
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/ @% u' B- t. a V; ^# AIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
" P# `7 ?3 }4 B) Qterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
9 g/ w6 c! h% Jloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the' n! M7 W% J$ o4 r, O8 e
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
, {; ?7 T7 O/ I% f. C; Y1 }what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the/ v; ]$ {& Q; H9 _1 ~
Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on" F6 r' P( x& ?+ n- a( j
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
$ Y5 X$ s; f, _9 i5 z0 u4 Y$ ]6 k" uupon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is9 @% z& i7 \, q! d
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
: ?5 D8 X; y' R9 E& Rpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.( v. y2 E* D7 z. ~9 `3 h$ S
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the6 B U6 C5 D% k5 B. j8 V
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
0 X/ q' e6 C( h" h2 CINCORPORATION7 e# H( L: F: I/ a# T z
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a2 F" Z5 H1 t, C1 A2 W
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
\$ v# t( u' t8 kthat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated"," D9 U" T; M k; T
or "corporation"." l: Y: F2 l& S2 Q2 Q2 q
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is2 r. \+ B V+ [7 z U5 g9 }9 ^: m8 c
formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the$ x* Y% O; K! ~! T2 B1 f) v
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
) T. }. F4 \. c# k' ein the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
9 D7 a6 r" s5 `1 _2 T0 P& t( vagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and' J ]& @; r- e4 Z7 \, Q
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as" T9 C" L. ]5 r) Z% T9 J
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.8 m1 s2 R' w* N7 q( J- y
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
6 @" ?9 \( ?% Y' W9 kpossibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
) h+ C. E, b7 z! |9 T: e2 y' RUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to4 S4 J0 q. I8 b6 J. A
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the3 b3 T" F0 h' v5 b( k
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the k, k, @1 |8 u8 A4 m: a
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.5 R4 f6 z: J: q; D# z5 U
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
: p. L( r5 X4 T* ochildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
6 P' h! I" S8 o Wchildren without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.! n0 T* t' W4 I1 {, K6 ]. r. j
A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the2 z2 E: J- L4 G& |" C0 f# O [
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
3 T% T+ ~" R) U+ I- i, tcompany is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A+ j& J6 Q+ ?6 o
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It' {7 R6 @3 a- g: E2 B
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the7 h# q" E* p6 R, V+ E8 w
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such5 R9 `9 ~) M" l2 g7 ]! w
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
% _8 j8 S7 p2 R6 A: _6 b3 Bprovinces, except Quebec.
! D7 M* r# S, b3
/ E- [4 U+ z& i% UIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
+ c3 e6 a3 N; E. i% }2 oalso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult8 @: J! V5 o! ?
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%+ S6 g3 o1 d/ L' D
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
6 g1 P9 a+ `$ h: i, Uaccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
$ V+ m2 a3 `, j% p! XThe directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual I- ^5 G/ G' j! u. b
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the9 s- N7 @8 A$ a
same persons as the directors.
) d5 S; B" T" tWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some3 I2 I) I2 }" L4 F9 j
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can; z. O0 A/ D5 k
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.. s( \: u' o! L; m/ A1 m9 i* Z
This agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
" k3 y- r7 `* r5 ~ k; M; s$ Wtoo late.
& N, n- N, X. t3 U5 D# TCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
B9 L- d6 P8 b" pthe registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
; _+ a8 ]& d5 \1 D: s0 J4 e4 bChauhan & Associates
, v, g! w& @( x; @ BBarristers and Solicitors5 z' b% W2 c: t9 }7 H
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
6 L5 W: \; X- y# a- F u8 gRichmond Hill, Ontario
; q; p2 L+ N7 H% R2 |+ G, ~L4B 3P8
+ l4 |0 p, b. VTel. (905) 771-12353 |0 q9 Y& H# l, L7 L! |# X/ t" ~
Fax (905) 771-1237
) U$ ^% ^0 ^) y9 NEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com* w) F# G* I z9 O6 R4 z# M
4
' ^4 @ \# t( wPARTNERSHIP MEMO# T/ E. j' d0 q. g* e
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. K& n$ g, C6 `9 Z' f9 D- n
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a9 @: e, @' R- F) l
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
& N) U( p9 ~) m6 u1 Dbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.- q. D( c8 r, q# m3 V
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by
2 n/ K/ R: e+ l) \( ?! V% l) Xthe partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
. G% g) s) ] J5 z% a( O( PIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
' W9 s5 R0 x/ G/ ^( ^ ]me know.: v' m; X' w h3 V1 H" `% o. c
LIABILITY1 {# i) I4 ?/ m/ S* L/ v* B, `+ c) p
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
. n" z! F! I: s3 P9 qpartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced5 F6 v- X D- D
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
6 Z* U+ J+ Z: l, }" Rwho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
. R& b1 O9 E1 ^4 A" ^Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
1 J. @( U9 `0 NTAX
/ B& w, C0 {7 b$ B, A( A9 J$ Z6 xEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
! i" S* G% d. {& e1 ~5 i; Tfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.7 {3 _& Q2 U1 S' ^: `, m
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
( ], `5 r: C" XAGREEMENT) i9 f9 i& w, |2 D; J
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
`3 [ A0 c4 x) C. r2 othe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,3 P# K1 ^: b2 c' E
profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,! T3 p% C) @( l |
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed, f; t7 k+ M- d5 x8 u s% R
full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
5 I+ i2 D+ z5 P5 e2 Z: kof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the" i$ k& g% q: ], ?8 a [/ o" z
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
$ [ r' Z7 m1 K* x8 Pthe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
, c3 Y7 g6 t5 k" sprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the6 p; c1 D/ q, e2 c/ R/ @ t2 \
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
! c0 V0 `7 X" `/ M& B; H9 U2 QINCORPORATION
4 D# p0 x" K! t# t o. ?, x0 uIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is( Q: o9 |8 c( l- @; [
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
* {3 Y" ~! R0 `( umay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".* S8 {: Z5 C0 S% h5 o/ D P
5; c! h2 C+ n4 l; O, A
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
9 }$ m4 w- |- N! P6 |% c( {* QUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
$ J5 U1 u/ O% dthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the% ]- w" I- _' Y
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only# \1 J- |" q- S% G$ T0 K& J7 Q
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and5 u% k8 U! w" O
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.; ]) o2 `# _. ~9 Y; u
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the9 N& Q# k. f! ~' n Z: B
risks of the business.% Q# P) U% T/ w
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole+ r* J U6 z3 y2 m
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
! K! h3 _0 y, ^; A4 N1 P) k3 O; dA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
/ p0 e- A: o2 _3 xJay Chauhan
/ c' j) J( d V3 L% a& ~Barrister and Solicitor* C, l# [+ y+ _' Q, N
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
. `$ J- X" @ ~Richmond Hill, Ontario
- F: \: s6 h0 i2 D; h( ?- nL4B 3P88 h( ^: z O1 m
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
$ `6 `* U, Z/ `6 e5 h+ s# @Fax: (905) 771-1237
/ L$ A5 x; N& z0 y+ [ nEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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