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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:# D7 r$ @- r& v
General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership5 }5 v9 b* C [1 J4 s
See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
7 x, E: G: l( P1 r5 f3 G2. See the article:! c+ g" b+ o; i' u) t% x# i
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION( g9 ~- y! ]" A$ G
By Jay Chauhan
2 U1 S2 {6 g8 p( i7 _LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS. X% M& {* q; u
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
- m2 X% `2 X- iproprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person: S* r& A5 X; m' e/ v& \" i
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
* a& s5 {) j2 v/ ~more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
7 O* `8 ^& o, z% n a7 o# R/ H+ t, Ypartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by. n3 L& x* W1 h$ I
law and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
: u8 \" _( K8 n1 ]7 DSOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
; D2 Z$ l% ^" X, a/ iIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the/ _, Q; G9 W. @( a/ k' [/ a v
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
: w* W c6 o" Fcan be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the* t4 P( D4 j( F: O8 t) ?
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
5 c8 d7 V! Z0 E% i, Qjudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
, m* P" t; s5 A% E' z$ M$ m& DIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
8 p6 \' v8 R) E7 kfact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
9 r# g. C+ Q- x! }7 i5 Z0 ?0 i' k* Kincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,6 B5 H$ b+ n) e* t: ~, R0 t
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
S% B/ O5 c' C: L P% J. u* u$ rPARTNERSHIP- H; F7 B8 A+ Q. m
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.: \! z. o5 E% ^8 i7 Z' v( C
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
6 @$ I) ^) p8 ^; s7 D8 Vare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and p% d! ?/ k- O. ]# D
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
: P7 A% h3 U+ p5 j! A6 C* R"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.4 e% z9 Q1 V5 w5 v/ [8 b. x; A# R
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner, y* K$ m c2 k3 U, i2 ~( C- p8 }0 z
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against
+ ?, \, }" B# z, |8 Eeach and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who% t8 M# W |4 Y+ X0 D; f: ~! c U
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.# q; F+ S- Q: B; H7 X
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
. z y L/ A2 T v. `liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
$ K! ] C% D8 U: A- d2
% h7 }6 D/ z1 R/ Y& ?* AIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic$ j, C* o- j, O+ P
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
' @- H+ N/ n' Gloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the3 s6 V# _4 g, H( Z* N% t+ Q
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
! x8 C% U# A- Z9 @what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
& w. V5 u, K$ L% A- EPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on3 b8 [" B8 }) ~3 A- B' G
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which- b* P6 D7 w" G# ~" V$ q2 q L
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is' ?- C! B9 W9 P' O8 [) b$ j; E) z
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the7 E* N7 g: p2 a1 r9 E/ s. r
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.1 g s, Y2 x, Z! L9 N
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the3 `7 P9 X+ H M6 ~/ z/ u8 n
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
: T% s* J# P, {6 G6 H: @. m" E: ]INCORPORATION1 w- r8 Q @& L0 L" o
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
' i6 {/ f$ H$ L6 {- G9 L* Oseparate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed1 C2 d/ J: g. `& F, o. s) O; M) i
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
_ q8 k6 A: T$ xor "corporation".
2 r2 S" |/ K6 c6 A" n- ?+ FThe word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
! C: B( N- x% ~, z: W& z8 v2 a8 j% O2 nformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the
, P# Z2 j$ p3 z4 Z" R. R1 y; `individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,4 A3 p% c: T9 c, ~+ l9 H
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
# H7 I) l# i0 G& O# o1 q% r% c$ h0 y6 Ragainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
, X0 q" l# e- J0 \ B2 rhis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as4 u% ?+ L {) i& ?3 J3 c
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business. Y) f1 q! A4 C' Z# n
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
# O6 G: I6 n# kpossibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.0 P1 M' O+ y8 S' ]& Y1 h: z6 F9 J
Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
( u: P0 g/ [. p k1 z5 S b; dbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
: i: T+ S3 e8 ]0 z+ @corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
# G4 i$ t' \/ bwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.3 ]. J5 a& C8 N( `( b& I/ E
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to; _, R. j1 X4 V* B/ [) e; p2 T
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the- Z( u5 F: d8 K. t0 p1 p1 ?4 k# `
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.. |. u7 k" P5 z
A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
/ {& w0 \1 Q. U" X. q# HProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal, A$ s, P2 S( d* `5 ^/ W
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
; P' g2 Q; Y0 d; R2 q8 x4 Yfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It% W3 m' ~' C+ c/ r) j& e; J: t# Z/ b
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the! e- g) q0 g" \$ K2 Q8 p0 r' E
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such) |* x3 \8 x/ M# T3 N8 S
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
3 k$ r8 i8 R0 ]4 a0 _- j% cprovinces, except Quebec.
9 t- q& g: ]# S3) k+ o* ^& Q; J& y
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director' W3 W( w$ _, y% \/ L0 G: f3 F7 D
also the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult4 |, }4 o3 q0 o/ `9 ^
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
2 `, _) Z# p9 T2 x5 l. c6 p, C$ Acontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
7 E6 `3 e( z* ^* C- V) U! q) F; s$ [accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.- {% N+ {# c I' C5 T% e
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
4 `- e3 K: A) Q, J6 Y8 kgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
3 R5 M$ m. `' F( R7 f: J% Lsame persons as the directors.4 c% J# n" @" I! e
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some. _( w- d) v' j
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
" y0 Y5 [, Z4 l7 c1 G6 A+ I$ j& ewithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
. I9 d) ^& d2 h6 uThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
& p4 I+ P+ P# Z6 O5 n4 Otoo late.& Y7 P- R- { ~" z* k8 T# V
Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
: f' ^. F7 P+ f( I( B1 {the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
: o- T6 b- \; P' z6 O! F8 zChauhan & Associates
" V ~; q7 N" `- t% X: f% G$ TBarristers and Solicitors" X4 `: @# e/ r* p% B; B1 V- T
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309; A! s2 z. t( ?
Richmond Hill, Ontario
8 D! {9 Q. Y! r% |! Z! EL4B 3P8, q7 a8 G% S; g; R
Tel. (905) 771-12356 N9 K& v1 B; u
Fax (905) 771-1237
+ o0 e: r. u! c% e7 IEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com5 K8 q% e! J/ L0 @4 @
4
3 J7 R+ b% k& [% VPARTNERSHIP MEMO# T6 w0 D: d5 F" L- {' G1 d: j) Q
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
- Z# Z- y: C5 V, u9 M+ R1 |Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
: B5 V' T( D, M' {& m$ Vpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are$ U X, V5 i5 P! @1 Y
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
( O0 Z; n2 t: g2 s3 ^4 NRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by( W( r3 r8 G- {7 S6 D! i7 i3 R4 \
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
5 J0 u5 s6 m7 Y) A& a7 @If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let9 t4 b! O. p8 a5 ~
me know.
2 \! }) E5 Y; p9 cLIABILITY
' t, r! N- M5 M# t" v) w" y" zEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which% [' _4 O) H' [+ p' E# A. v
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
$ D: ]! {. U5 ?. magainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner# o7 x: |$ f: q6 c+ s
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.& ^, V" \9 [6 K) n( `
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.; Y3 u6 k; g/ W2 y. i0 E0 J
TAX5 f, }- e- [' `6 z: Z' Z7 m
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
C1 W# E' S5 o7 G" wfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return., p- {) o+ U. C% Y5 n
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.; e. l& E+ R8 E2 t6 Y
AGREEMENT
4 H% r# \' ?- y7 OIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
6 w' P2 L0 D/ o/ e2 Z! g5 Z2 T2 ithe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
# `7 z; p! Y4 A" I+ h' S V) S3 vprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,
$ p8 e/ u( i1 I, \: T5 T0 _where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
# R! Q, Z& }5 |full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions; S6 W7 d% k* N/ s, t
of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
" k! w% g: |2 n) N. e+ Rdeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in+ l1 B4 W4 L7 H% u1 G% q( z
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
% S/ _; Z' E+ X8 M9 Q& Rprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
9 t$ `9 F) a u. zpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
5 i. b& I9 m3 k' HINCORPORATION
1 X6 L8 N. g* E) UIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
( C' D w8 M5 f, Q) s& yformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
% Q# N2 r3 |2 {. e3 pmay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".( }/ n+ m8 T- P' g3 P
5
* B! T& w- n9 `The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.9 O5 M7 v, [5 _
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
4 s0 f% U- ~/ Y8 cthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
, c7 Q; |- \" Q( m+ u8 G$ w# @Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
' Z( m4 \% G1 V3 D+ |" D2 y) _against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and: b5 H" c. G3 P1 b, j
his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.- u9 v+ `) Y& R/ l. m
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the; q( W& w; n1 _3 m9 C( V, X
risks of the business.
" F) A% h3 S2 tIt is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
- }. ]; {# D2 u( _* m O% i6 hdirector and also the sole shareholder in that company.. z0 x I+ k1 E# y+ }* T7 v; z2 Q
A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.7 G3 Q" X: {1 B% }+ R
Jay Chauhan9 c4 n1 W) K4 c6 ?- Q' p
Barrister and Solicitor. y" l i: w" c: O$ h6 C
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
3 T0 \$ D& F7 [' Y* W+ C3 g4 s& ]Richmond Hill, Ontario! F. c% h2 f0 n2 |+ l7 h
L4B 3P8
/ T+ @6 D' S% H6 XTel.: (905) 771-1235
8 _. u, }( U2 S& j8 I* g8 lFax: (905) 771-1237
+ O, ]7 v/ H B7 [" V: D! X# YEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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