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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:' |, N8 I0 q% M
General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership2 z! t6 a) S0 V
See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
1 G, n7 g& ]: s {# ^. u2 o3 a2. See the article:7 q" s) n+ Y1 v9 X) A& r
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION- T5 b2 S% P. h9 V5 ?
By Jay Chauhan* A6 K1 p3 {6 o1 Y7 x2 [: U
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS# A1 S1 I4 Q6 X9 P
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole: i3 y4 @) A& L9 F; a U
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
: [" w7 ?* W- Z) V& M- L' U/ musing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
5 ?* @4 Y% }: M5 j$ ~- j! P( H; Vmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a B/ a, c! y4 f# j( ~
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by: l( E l' f* x# `. P
law and can be used by a single person or more persons together.4 d r- f1 @/ U# w! n3 a3 C
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
' z5 C# ?' L' v0 p/ w6 n$ u, Q: lIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the+ \! x) C) Z0 Y2 o7 G6 G( n
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it1 D; x1 M' o# [9 Q1 Y: y1 X
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
& T/ H% s6 v) ^2 Pindividual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
7 e: w& s4 y, E7 N z6 r+ ijudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.# S' d5 {" q W9 B
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The3 E! e$ ~8 k$ A3 y! ?2 N
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as- z/ Y! r1 M0 [3 C9 b
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
; @6 ]' d# p4 s* w% L% pthe sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.. f1 }" b5 F/ m7 H9 P" y2 [$ w! }
PARTNERSHIP
/ T% X+ V4 i( k4 ^7 G; \% kWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
. q6 \" n9 H" D) o. VLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
B$ I* z5 x/ g( k' O, j7 yare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and! Q7 ?3 q2 @, q$ ~8 j& R
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word- s7 k6 f+ u# n; W8 }# |4 a" i2 X# \
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
7 y$ f. o- S+ c* SEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
' ?8 @* ~5 ?6 g9 B8 \incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against
/ s( {; G5 H. K7 {) r- }each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who1 H/ V1 J2 @+ Q
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.0 c# M6 z: p3 [6 D& @, |9 n! X
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
3 T% S& S0 r, {7 W# Dliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
* F3 k5 B& j+ v6 N( W1 w* `% i2, O" O- @3 e3 c; I6 v& x
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic! o8 T; R7 p) Z/ v4 w- }
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
3 |9 V% ?9 C1 ]4 F$ Uloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the1 b! t; f7 _9 `0 U0 B
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
0 y7 O7 o: g, r# [* I! b% b ^what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
; v2 W q1 ~( S B; F2 u. n4 dPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on' l' o Y' h* g. ?; T
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
; t+ R. X& k+ H8 g7 ~# s& @upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
% q ^) b, j: r5 Vprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
Y [2 @ C: c2 ~6 Z e$ bpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
- l! e t6 j U& E; s" c! g( pIn case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the$ ^) j9 m. \ S9 S( ~3 o3 K
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
" F! {# {2 q. M" X' XINCORPORATION1 g: D" W/ ? I; e- N2 [( |
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a: o; C3 J; i/ }/ m- p
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed" @! {4 z; X- J% w q4 x
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",1 F; n. D% K) O
or "corporation".% S( t$ U4 C3 G' p* w
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
. @( _( V+ G! i) s' z K0 {7 Sformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the$ r# @% I: O+ y# j4 S E$ N
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
: [/ u2 V! b7 z* c- C* f7 l' e$ W9 uin the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only5 \* z8 n+ b: c& ?; ]; B; U. b( V2 Q& l
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
4 d3 w, y# ~' N. f7 U/ Y( w- zhis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
4 @9 k" l/ Y, h5 e" I# I: j; Cmost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.2 e' ]3 K* f; h* O$ F
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the! m( s& Z; d, p
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife." W% m& P# L$ h& q7 B' M
Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
) L3 D% Y$ f% X7 vbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the$ T, g6 ~. Y+ @2 A5 R. D* V
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
, j( P! L/ {* Iwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.
7 \/ H7 @. n4 g0 v9 C9 d! b1 {/ _( D6 lA corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to: K+ X% ]: ^8 c) J" f/ q! q5 o
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the9 D0 c( a$ F1 o- P- |
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.6 ~' s5 [) M! k: k! |3 @
A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the6 K" e" }9 P2 k. g' z" M! u- G
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal: x: n2 o; }% ?
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
$ u' a; v! ^9 x5 [federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It. H2 a/ m. w3 i0 ?3 Y) j
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the6 f6 p3 a; r3 e! B, \6 N
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such9 i# k* P* R& p+ u% P" v( R
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other! y" W' H! k2 T' l# [
provinces, except Quebec.1 K, n0 I9 `& u. F
3
; W3 ~# M0 g5 b) r7 FIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
$ @8 N4 Y3 ]- e9 palso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
7 I' E; I- x/ B0 L; P N/ Tdecision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%; f6 c% m$ [' Q) `& `8 J
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and5 n0 W7 ]7 v& n- ~
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.% F% X5 O1 w2 o; J: R' u
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual' M/ W$ `1 \) z+ _6 U' |; }
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the5 b" h" ~) J/ d y& u
same persons as the directors.0 N9 B7 C' T5 @7 @6 w8 k b7 h
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
: O) A1 h( e. j+ V; pshareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
' i$ L% T6 q: uwithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.0 g4 E4 `* v; L9 x# q
This agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
/ a" A4 |! X. J/ ktoo late.
" v/ d+ y; S( W+ K% sCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as* d' Z+ T- J& g, a% L
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
: Q, E8 {% u, ?, ]# ?% ZChauhan & Associates
& u. n8 @: k/ ]+ _6 Y3 P1 M7 BBarristers and Solicitors+ m! d% |- f: L2 F# m( d& ?7 h
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
0 o' v: N+ A: bRichmond Hill, Ontario
: q* B' J$ X4 ?L4B 3P8
1 E) U) E) y6 D' z2 m. `' LTel. (905) 771-1235
4 Y+ D$ e6 C' e! \Fax (905) 771-12374 p4 c& K, ]2 T8 I& H9 k* q: K
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com4 a# V+ C; [' G! K" n! Q; u
4. [/ m- l$ `6 y% {3 ~( g
PARTNERSHIP MEMO G& u) e/ K! ]% d
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
* I8 @& N3 I1 a' xWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a0 \1 a, u" L% {1 s9 _% c
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
. w1 ^( ?* R7 wbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.9 T2 G0 O, @9 r8 x. f
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by H( M5 }. `) a, A5 W
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
9 P+ W6 y& O% B" X' pIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
Q1 f2 l( I! x) \me know.% s$ G( W1 G$ d+ W# t. h8 f& f
LIABILITY
8 e+ d0 f. q G, y, A6 d! gEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which7 I3 f2 U5 d# U7 F
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced. t' V; w# \6 }8 d
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
; O) b$ X% U! t9 Y _ x7 ]" Cwho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
% O; v2 [; b1 j1 t( _4 dUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.% h8 w& s" F% S/ T3 ]& o! ^% G8 w u7 P
TAX
8 @8 I4 u; f. W' J0 I" bEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
d" e# f- B0 e2 qfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.0 G b: T2 {- _" H
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
8 q, [. u: O' a2 b6 j8 O NAGREEMENT4 r# v' l, H6 M, z: c& }/ W
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out9 F$ q* `( u1 n& Z& S7 e
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,, `' z& i7 G! Y, I
profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,
( p" H2 O+ u5 I# b* s" Wwhere the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
' b- }0 y2 c& g7 Q0 f4 E3 g, B+ N& Bfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
& L' T) U6 p5 X) rof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the) k4 X* U6 L% {- D( l1 J0 d
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
( }" E. p, u, y; T0 j c& Ythe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is: p7 }5 o+ w/ u# q
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
8 I2 h! ]7 l8 M2 a- kpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.6 N9 w0 o- ~! s, o
INCORPORATION8 G" h. q" k6 b3 }+ e' N
Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
! W, U6 R: X7 L8 l! c7 r0 L4 Y) Oformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
' _4 w3 e/ e: g9 k2 Smay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".; y6 y; z: i1 w- v" a
5: V) [. x8 D, ]
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
3 W* M; {" H, l5 cUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
; q) U6 B d) j4 C) B5 Y& x2 Rthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the0 r* c \4 O. G( e1 I# {
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only5 l! W3 \7 M/ H7 W5 e
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and6 S, `! W$ ~4 j T/ O
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
3 L6 N9 c, P, [# N& x1 aThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the, o( |2 H0 E+ N) P. w; `& o* Z
risks of the business.0 ]8 O1 q. h* p. h* T8 X$ ~
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole9 _$ o! p3 C1 }0 _9 f' m! A
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
# ?! L" @7 a( k) {) tA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.9 y) [$ \: K+ }& R$ M7 K
Jay Chauhan
9 ~0 n* x9 _+ x% T) G6 T5 _Barrister and Solicitor/ \5 c4 ]2 X. @+ v) V/ i0 K- K" K* D
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
' `# z# E' Q T0 w! T3 V# V' H% ORichmond Hill, Ontario
$ Y3 g% D0 g* S4 H* ]5 P# VL4B 3P80 j0 Q1 u$ T! S6 e" M+ n* V
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
, p: a1 l$ Z3 l# |8 |) x" d! jFax: (905) 771-1237
( A9 S1 U" h2 N$ D5 d- vEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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