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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
+ p$ \4 ^9 N( U# }4 @General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership7 Y! g: _3 B& d, h
See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
. b' A( z0 x; O. q. Y9 |2. See the article: k# f2 `% } Z
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION
) o! p0 ?' B7 m! L) DBy Jay Chauhan
$ e, a! u4 o* RLEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
* f% M4 C) }, R; f1 KThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole3 S8 I/ I/ a% z- ^ T3 ^4 ?
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
5 E4 w0 X# e0 |7 A$ Zusing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
$ r- g- ~& i0 z7 x6 w, e9 Xmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a) M7 t1 g8 n* d& i
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by+ s) Q4 P( p% Y! W0 ]
law and can be used by a single person or more persons together.2 s- g/ U' W# ^! p G
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
# b Q$ c+ g6 e$ N8 cIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
3 d" G. G' T4 M% U* R4 G: wPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
! j2 Y" p4 N( K' [3 Fcan be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the O- }" y% j+ W% |0 Y
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
0 @/ R! {4 F9 F% a8 t7 [2 Qjudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.- j. x+ V2 j$ d9 D/ Z0 m- O
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The/ y8 T& S5 \/ ]2 o/ W: T2 o" a8 }! N
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as E* L% F$ \8 x, @6 Y2 J; Y
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,/ N c3 a+ E& D, G4 [8 M/ P6 y
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
5 Z' r/ C$ `% u+ X$ v$ q7 NPARTNERSHIP
2 K$ i1 C/ i+ b1 D) H! G6 jWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
3 k9 y/ o7 Q! e; m) } kLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
' S& a8 O. M5 ?9 [% H6 Sare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
* l+ e2 m6 F# \2 X% ~each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
8 M8 B/ t1 V3 O& j* a"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.# J1 B: ]/ r9 a8 T. }; W; d* ?
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
0 j2 e3 y, W4 W/ s4 @4 @incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against% n7 {& L2 f( \4 N& L$ Y# [5 D3 o
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who) s H, B/ K1 P8 c6 k- p
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
8 w# j/ [3 }2 ^- r' k1 H6 J$ c( ~Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
9 h4 c, d* P" F6 s7 I6 H) [+ x" Iliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
" w) _& v/ S, p$ o2
" ]% D) L! _% _- }It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
0 _7 m# Y/ o4 M% K O/ z) fterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and8 k" s' h; e, ~* J# U
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the0 G: x+ k5 h1 S* l; _# f$ }
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,/ n! n% i5 }1 w. `2 K
what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the! R K+ l+ G a+ k- y2 R# K
Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on3 b9 ~5 Q/ C; [# a& D n
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which; n, q1 `* p5 W3 e9 A5 s( g3 G
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
+ I# @) Q. i, P" y9 z; uprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the5 c! i" ^& z) M% i2 j) t( i' y1 T
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
+ v$ j# R. ] u8 i- v/ QIn case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
+ o6 b8 Z' e6 e3 Y- Npartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
6 e, c3 m. }9 J) @1 nINCORPORATION
, G2 }: i' E( S+ k3 VIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a2 ^' r3 e8 Q k! @% I2 U
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
2 M: B& q! B7 \4 Y& vthat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
( g. M% \7 c" y0 E6 y: por "corporation".; k, @' }* D( z
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is* T; y+ s1 s& c$ I4 s
formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the2 Z2 U0 Z5 L" n7 }1 ?5 I7 d0 ~7 G
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,3 _6 H; ~0 q- k2 V" e8 e
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only! z* @# Z" Q: F* c$ I
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
' H+ i6 W" {1 W7 \5 _his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
2 p: y* g! o% V; pmost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
+ I) ]! @: d# Y& rA corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the! n. V+ n W# Z6 @
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife./ X- \8 f- b- ?3 G ~) l
Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to0 { x* P+ S# b
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
# c9 N) O- h* v) H* J9 V) F9 Bcorporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the: X% l/ U( T' y5 E' M% a1 f4 H0 Z
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.* H8 x" Y, d! N9 E% X, h
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to% `+ X( Z6 u1 N& C- ?
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the- G0 ?6 F/ n' W3 P9 ^
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
- j6 W" @3 }" L6 L9 t$ uA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the' D( H/ T P, p
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal; h( ]& X7 K: R3 r; W
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
5 D1 D3 B! @1 `' jfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It0 C. ^3 ]8 q' G; @
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
$ @; h4 p2 `# z8 gcompany owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such F4 J1 q- b- U2 e
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
- f# T+ J' u/ Q8 N6 vprovinces, except Quebec.
" S# W5 W& D, U y3
5 M w7 H8 i6 W5 E* vIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director% ?! V+ T$ y3 d
also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
$ S% N# }" B) G9 Y1 D3 U' [7 Jdecision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%: U' f4 ~( j' r& q4 M+ ~
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and: W0 }, F4 F p5 K
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.: [" w# c$ @' U! }; Y$ Y
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
J+ Q- @8 @; b5 J' G8 egeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
) H) }8 V/ T, y' j" w( gsame persons as the directors.
5 Q( t: u% h% C8 L- [- XWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some2 N) F$ N/ D% H2 H9 V
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
" G- i' P, N7 T _* Jwithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
- q' _1 T/ G2 ~/ I9 c3 l) e i1 CThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
& q+ z# J6 |% j( e: g( U! @8 Rtoo late.
/ u: F& D Y) g9 j$ D& mCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as6 i7 t, G+ r6 p" Z% s9 a7 E
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
% c, J( ?0 ^ f0 |Chauhan & Associates
! h. G& p( P" s2 Q @Barristers and Solicitors
/ E# ~! k& G }1 {330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309& `# l) S* q) Y" Q% f
Richmond Hill, Ontario
! K8 \" y" Q9 ]; I) YL4B 3P8
* V+ q! f1 p3 H- N( HTel. (905) 771-1235- v7 c! X7 ~( M" P1 ~9 Q* |
Fax (905) 771-1237* U/ y* y% {/ e" t4 K# w) @
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com" y+ ~; q2 @* U5 v
4
+ R. i5 b7 Y: zPARTNERSHIP MEMO
; P. a7 C8 q6 g% vREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS* l( o" a. Q' i; L0 ? f/ ]) h
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a N8 ], l; E4 |# f8 ]- o& s/ W, r) S
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are2 |6 j! W f1 }$ K
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
. s F9 ~2 x( x! V( l- c; RRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by# e7 N, C) l* u" ^9 K
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
) Z2 K% A z1 t P+ A) ^$ O# L YIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let* R1 G: {+ N; l) m, o9 `
me know.; s5 f* B# N8 b* ~
LIABILITY, g9 W/ W: n0 ?) l
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
1 i) w7 C f) }* \! ~& @% x6 b0 Upartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
- Q& v# b' w9 ?/ I. w7 vagainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner8 }7 D) I3 D( g
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.6 z# G' I, Q1 \+ s1 T
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
( V1 v* l, V% ?9 P7 z, LTAX& F! \3 {2 B# U5 h& y/ \9 P! o
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted* `3 e. y% K; m( q) T
from the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
" S: H2 N2 v9 X# A* HPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year. ~% N( s" Y. q' f/ h7 V4 t9 I
AGREEMENT1 _. v' { g# x
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out) B1 _8 x) ~2 Q% S. s$ U
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
4 f. m5 ^% @* L$ U/ Q* P' rprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,
, [5 }& o1 j7 |: ]where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
& f- k, @$ ]& s1 u* Nfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
7 Q1 \7 y/ a! a$ i) v ~of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the6 F5 F8 A( ?, C
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in$ e3 v) [9 { l0 c8 m1 U) a+ j
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is: `& q& F( y% v0 n* g
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
5 q# ]! u4 V& V" b5 ], H Fpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
* T& r# n& T/ X2 _( xINCORPORATION+ o4 {9 b% R( M3 E7 T
Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
; c1 R, K) O& D0 Uformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
9 c* S" C x: q4 p0 imay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".
# ]6 S k! x0 `# k5 R) T5
& E9 j0 P7 h! M+ s6 VThe word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.- x( O2 K0 U4 K( L' p1 u6 b0 G
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or- Z3 Z+ }4 E, J5 x- _1 M
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the- Z u3 H! H" ~+ z* M4 ]- Y0 I- J
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only2 u. \# B( q q! Q3 j! _
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and# S/ u, y3 i) I( I8 }' G+ z+ r8 x
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
: b- j* ?5 F; H8 x$ a+ Q; DThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
) c4 Q; a" v: F0 D1 Y8 M9 {risks of the business.9 a$ Y4 H1 L1 d" E S& h1 h4 S
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole6 r/ _- z2 P, ?
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
5 ?4 M7 [: |: X) n; wA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
$ {6 C4 u. ?- S0 s) x( }Jay Chauhan
/ I6 Y- B2 o8 T% P, z+ @) E' PBarrister and Solicitor" r( N) }# [: R' }+ S3 o: S
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 3094 I1 v3 Z' T; i5 E+ g0 q4 s7 S' U
Richmond Hill, Ontario
$ A" D }( M0 pL4B 3P8! }* G- U. P" B' h- j% [ `
Tel.: (905) 771-1235. O6 ]5 t8 l( r- J& x* w* i
Fax: (905) 771-1237! k" E. a% }) g% g
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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