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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
- {$ I9 ?5 F# fGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
4 G2 i1 a) A( n6 j/ e% mSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html; _2 M! }; a/ W1 G# F
2. See the article:
+ o9 P% J8 ]: ]' dPROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION/ n5 C6 }( Z+ e5 q0 u; D
By Jay Chauhan
" l: [' _2 ?+ V; E3 K: d! \; KLEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS4 Y/ r! `/ x& H; }
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole3 s- y: N$ a& @" q. H
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person" p( ^4 E6 ?1 k+ C* ~/ [5 p; A
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
# `3 }7 D7 ^" G" o5 w" w7 H# ^more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a/ g4 N' m$ A+ {, y% j4 s) |
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by4 F P0 \' _* _ W
law and can be used by a single person or more persons together.' c8 v6 P! ~3 V4 X! M
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP+ _9 V0 I0 A# {! a3 X/ S. }
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the! Y4 e( Y2 s2 e7 @$ k
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
* X1 k+ Y; W# f( Z5 Ican be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
8 o3 P" f% m% G) ?* S3 k. xindividual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a3 N1 u6 r$ S0 _8 ` C. V
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
+ _( F' ~% s. j3 ~6 L; DIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The* j0 ^$ b2 R l) |
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
. q7 A! l B+ l1 i6 Z. wincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
L8 _7 P$ T+ \the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
/ ?" o5 \+ T: {; D* C' |4 APARTNERSHIP* A0 O: G2 S1 u% M0 \! v& s# h2 \
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.- S8 N0 T# P$ R
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
9 N) G! g$ \& m+ I9 @; G, Bare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and: \8 b _; Z- Z$ o3 a7 R( H- n. ]
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
3 X! ?! [3 Q2 W' m5 F }"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
0 e) N( D5 z9 K# oEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner: z# d9 Y3 t1 D c9 W S/ V% F8 f
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against
' A/ v' J& {$ ?3 i1 ?each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
0 s" U$ X) `- H3 Hhas the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
a0 y8 W, u! |" Y6 v1 ~Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the0 `& N" D2 y0 R. }- M" g+ I
liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
9 U8 G! d# @! v5 q) h7 s+ y( i2' [4 |) ?0 G# m
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
/ j8 I* B+ D1 g- Cterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
1 D$ a1 `+ [( n3 closs sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the7 ~4 v4 A% X) a$ F) ^
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
0 z. |5 L' M2 d; \( {: L$ f8 nwhat salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
; Z' Y# P) H) |& \. s4 {4 e) qPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
1 h1 K0 o9 z5 F: Qthe death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
! r# j- t7 D" T! E3 H0 [upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
2 N5 C( R- R4 `" T% vprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
, z _* N. F: w& e/ r' w- ?+ Zpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
- r( Z+ m" l. a7 O1 ]$ u; [$ _In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the, D ]' n. R9 ^ [! a
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
8 \# a. c( w$ p+ T: ?% nINCORPORATION
' K6 @" S, K) f* M/ FIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
4 j# l: _$ L, a. F( @# ?separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed: B8 [$ `5 \0 q' ]6 F( B; w
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
2 z! S3 k9 M* U7 W# Bor "corporation".
8 c3 _8 [* D6 ?8 r3 ]The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is4 A$ @/ C( \/ U# c
formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the
5 z v0 V& h3 Q% Jindividual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
! \' B- X: `: Q a. Z: E Vin the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
7 e! H; f- _+ ~, q, uagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and# V4 U$ h7 J) ]" i7 l ?) W5 G
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
7 x2 }: i9 E& Y' Y- ?0 [most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
- B7 h0 z0 A0 P4 M: `4 RA corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
( W4 A5 C) v. \" s+ ]: a6 npossibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.) R) z( q9 V+ m4 D& p9 w
Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
$ m1 I, w, {3 Tbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
' K( n2 e/ W( q+ I* |corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the( I- q1 f2 u; `; q% ]7 M9 n3 M
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.! ], v& w: z, K$ X
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to" C, ~. N0 m# Z* J
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the$ i* P' _$ {5 e# ~5 A* [2 }
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.5 G6 S, }! A' M7 I- D- F5 |+ M
A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
2 R+ N# `2 y& `. H' F( F8 l/ \Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal1 w& N- V! V( y
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
$ o$ P* \# q8 m" e2 kfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It$ w5 C* w2 \, E+ H% l
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the
9 ^( P6 t- {5 D# @: K! C; Y4 Bcompany owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such/ V! q- o# f4 N3 G& A
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
! \2 \+ O& ~ y4 m7 W% s: Hprovinces, except Quebec.
. T$ Q; G- b5 y# Z# H1 A( B6 \! A8 d3" b- R! h8 B! F0 a# |, a
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
% B# P: r1 L2 ~also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult8 ?5 u2 j1 m4 E- y' v! c
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
1 G& V- C0 T+ fcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
' K3 u* R6 ?* c: l7 E2 g0 v8 u5 F1 Iaccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.: I- L8 F& I1 t9 o" F" L2 Z
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
+ z6 |# `0 p4 ^general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the2 V/ E2 ]1 {! k8 Y2 d# K7 F' E& I
same persons as the directors.' |7 s; {# R3 A" p
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
1 V! \" a* V; ^+ \shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can5 S& D9 }8 ] _9 x: w. Z) j W- N
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.1 T/ [+ h$ U' ]$ H
This agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
/ X" u/ v( m& J: B2 `too late.
- Y0 O1 Z8 l* ^% g/ c0 SCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
4 s* V# O I/ g$ c- T3 v& `the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
( A. S, ]! L5 o) R( Q Y( F3 PChauhan & Associates
: o2 r1 s9 N% M1 Q" l3 A NBarristers and Solicitors
6 x2 Z2 R `, Y+ X1 v: T330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
8 ^' v% l" v2 G! b( a& Y# q6 pRichmond Hill, Ontario
5 {" H V- U Y9 W5 M% r% K; s/ U2 t8 f( VL4B 3P8$ c4 f+ f3 T2 q2 P# \, S
Tel. (905) 771-1235
- M6 r$ P- m) x/ l" _3 oFax (905) 771-1237: j" G" R! d" N
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
, u& i8 s: a8 O- k( i2 v3 r4
7 W2 X, L# k9 P- w9 D% TPARTNERSHIP MEMO
1 N& I3 H- Z( W% ^% CREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
) K5 Z# z1 ?" E; F% I, p! eWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
5 ` k3 P2 ]! h3 K Ipartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are4 L- k7 s% H) ]
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
4 y. w* a# i! H. d7 l8 v. IRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by) {; g m2 f& M G: @2 z$ ^
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.3 i7 u, g7 A6 @5 ]5 H0 ^( O f. M
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
1 }0 s8 g' f) r1 P6 z) |me know.+ }( o% M' _. Y1 G+ ?$ ?! ^& c; L
LIABILITY* q! M# b6 v+ S% }1 I& g
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
) K* B# _( g" p/ Fpartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced3 Z4 v; @" }& E i1 N7 _* l
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
; J* ~& X+ a k, H/ ^9 Wwho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
2 T# D0 R s# \( qUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.; N. w c0 a5 Y7 c% k" F
TAX
0 q, X# b! Q2 `$ CEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
* _0 b% W1 W! l9 Q5 rfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
) W$ U$ x) l% F' w) n2 BPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.7 X0 Q$ l: h" q2 _6 a" U0 Z9 p! X8 J
AGREEMENT
0 p) S6 [! }' @, j5 ?4 f jIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out W- o" Y5 ^/ |5 c5 y C- U" k/ Q' F
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,: D6 s& P( q+ c5 u( V( `, \
profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,5 }. [( d) S0 N* l- X/ v" `1 p- @
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
2 {) V$ S+ L2 }9 ~2 G- u6 Tfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
1 U6 n0 h! e% E/ G. M F {( X# [0 `* qof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
6 X+ I) n% Q5 Z5 j# k5 xdeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in7 Y0 A+ V3 A) g. n( S8 |% Y+ a3 B. h
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is+ S3 s/ M Z% i' t
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the2 d: l5 B$ g% a; g( C. b. Q( T
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.0 h8 r, L# [- }1 h9 k r0 p
INCORPORATION
/ q+ X0 F [# A( _) aIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is/ W& m, v5 m g1 L
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation1 t* P6 Z! O2 F& i3 ] p& B
may be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".+ R- X* O7 y5 N4 P u
5, u8 V+ W+ b4 m3 _
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
" ~( N; i6 g1 d) @( z! x4 }Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
9 v8 F6 W7 S$ x$ y* c! Ythe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
- E& @" H0 Y8 p/ |' z+ A' BCorporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only* ?* S+ A; M/ @1 o$ L5 ?7 w p* ^" a/ V
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and4 U3 p r! ^1 G% f: \0 p6 M
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
3 f% R% Q- N# p4 I! GThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
n& V! d# W) w r& ~risks of the business.
% O2 Y3 E* w% cIt is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
0 t1 l' Z3 `# K" i+ xdirector and also the sole shareholder in that company.
. A3 d0 |$ c. FA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
. p# C; s4 e7 \- mJay Chauhan
) R* {1 Z7 ~: j6 M* [% zBarrister and Solicitor
9 G, L( v% z R+ @& L9 a9 i4 i8 b330 Highway 7 East, Suite 3096 z0 n7 d3 T- W( C
Richmond Hill, Ontario5 D4 M8 {$ Q/ o8 _" w
L4B 3P8% s. A/ ~# ` b/ V) y: R
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
% h. e' i( j$ ?; u7 ^/ N# y( b- BFax: (905) 771-12376 f4 S0 D& F6 \0 ?$ X: L
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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