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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
3 J6 T" p1 B7 _3 b" `General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
6 q `* ]; W7 j% dSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
# H* X% f+ n* h3 g: ]8 f# b2. See the article:& G0 Q; b: ^' X* H; q
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION, ^; a: e9 k* |" ]9 H
By Jay Chauhan1 c. [+ v2 `) ~, z2 M* o& g W7 @
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS6 x) E3 B" J0 Y% t# O: D- H
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole/ B. ~1 {- u" j2 N' e& T
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
\ }: `0 m/ x; d5 d; _8 Gusing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
3 f8 u7 c& Q z% y- O: ymore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a; h& k! {* I. V# W5 }
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
8 i* x P9 ]' H8 T$ F( mlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.& ^& ?# ?( m0 }+ `8 J( u. x/ ~
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP. A+ W: z! J# _3 | ~$ |
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
8 p7 Z/ K; z) V. gPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
2 v! E9 H' i Q$ |, u0 R1 ~4 W7 Gcan be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the
# B( P8 Y. w! Sindividual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
9 [% _7 \3 A' y c* ? Vjudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.& ~. L$ ]5 g) ]5 g9 m2 }% d
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
! p0 }* }" W$ M0 C- y; zfact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
- o* `: Z+ l" T% eincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,; w! |% B4 {0 f7 k) s
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
' p/ `' |7 q/ r- S! V, Q; VPARTNERSHIP
x: F* I+ B# }8 B9 n: ZWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.; |0 K; c: v" a" N
Like a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own
3 q& B2 J/ ?! K# s' t4 d' x2 Yare being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
% l* A, _/ v% A n" B1 Z- S' L+ g; p* `each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
7 q3 p6 d3 m6 S: h( Q" @# Y"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
0 c+ }5 [" D; m# VEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner d2 C- b* F& J. E; B
incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against l5 k+ \0 s5 D
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
) f( b8 R, j+ Dhas the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
8 w+ C7 ` i0 kEach partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the2 s- ~3 V* G0 Z* r4 f! I" U/ S
liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
" {- i! A$ {5 t* U5 k6 z2
5 T7 g( ~; [( S3 T7 @It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic
5 s1 ?3 G9 p; a+ H5 X! f0 T( bterms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
. c5 ~+ ]7 S5 u6 d! m1 M+ a* }loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the R8 F% ^9 W5 K) Y4 p4 G6 |" V
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,/ y: j l$ t9 M6 P. c4 s
what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the. I$ P1 a! W$ k/ Z* x/ o
Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
9 M* b, y9 m% ]0 J2 H! n2 @+ T) o Ythe death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which% w, d% J# [+ G6 Y( D a
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
8 Y2 k$ `7 c1 w: i- ~provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
. `: k+ O3 u! i1 Y5 opartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
6 Y" X- r) K: R, O5 kIn case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the9 x4 R9 }, ]& U) E# `
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them./ z( F) W7 e" f- Y4 N
INCORPORATION
! g& K( g' K/ e( `Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
# ^# P1 u+ a. Y+ p8 Vseparate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed7 S4 `7 T/ p+ C; I( _; A, {/ C
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
- r) n: [, f# T/ qor "corporation".
& P/ w8 g {( k; S7 i; WThe word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
6 O5 A7 D0 Q- sformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the) y# Q4 V! y, j0 A3 N
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
% v# ^0 L6 u: o" H- a) D( u* Fin the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only& m- S2 e5 f# v6 d$ G& T
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and8 C8 c8 ~9 ^; Z
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as& b& O0 ^6 r& j! E8 U. G0 d4 C
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
; J% K4 W( x {& O. N- z& kA corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
: `& U1 @2 o* Tpossibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.& W$ @- J6 }$ Y3 W# X' C5 ~, x: ~
Under the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
9 J9 l* Y! v1 r% s, _; |be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
- [) T6 Q% D: O' U( h9 zcorporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the4 R! N W0 r- G5 U$ y
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.% ~+ ?; V3 E' } P$ j7 m
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
~+ K- h# U! _. U( Pchildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
& M D1 D, g% uchildren without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.5 P' {7 g+ _0 q! Y1 }+ m
A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
' Q3 n1 b+ I. n9 u1 P$ OProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal$ \2 U5 i7 l$ i/ t) Y" ]. x
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
1 o$ E9 w, u% U! jfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
& `4 W) G0 K- V4 F' W. n$ Rdoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the3 t T$ `2 v8 y/ a
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such4 c9 G! i/ L( s+ T
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
% f! s" U3 `4 ?# p$ qprovinces, except Quebec.
/ a8 M1 M9 C2 u0 G" I, b5 z3- n( G; P$ Q# u$ P6 M: v
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
5 W- u! C# s7 Z0 Dalso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
0 ?. y4 s' D! M+ h& Ndecision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%0 ~3 |+ y6 B) I u& f- k* Z
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
, K' r( S; j$ `4 Z8 faccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
5 P1 M& d2 B. Z( P% ~The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual& q5 I9 c1 q3 N0 n! [7 e
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the- r% e1 m8 ^0 T! x. O* |2 v
same persons as the directors.( e0 t. ?/ g& A9 q: ?
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some6 H6 j3 O* C: r- A: @; `8 ~7 b
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can( M) j7 O1 O. k5 p4 C6 r
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.4 I6 s4 O+ O4 y; m1 ]4 [
This agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually: {( w% @8 f: `( {+ ~
too late.
- J, S2 h( F% {Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as6 t9 F# O! K, G0 I' t
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.; ]4 O- [& F6 E0 M* Z1 u
Chauhan & Associates9 P, n1 A2 v5 `# C) {
Barristers and Solicitors6 V y7 R/ L3 _% m6 [
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 3090 m+ r$ F$ L$ _ r! {1 H6 H
Richmond Hill, Ontario; X6 Q+ o1 m. Z, T
L4B 3P8
8 \: n; O4 K0 bTel. (905) 771-1235
$ s5 z- A( q- Q: X2 Q! tFax (905) 771-1237
* k5 i6 o8 y' R5 VEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
% \- R) b. f5 d+ k0 M1 g4
; P5 r; Q' [! j( d9 a0 u! CPARTNERSHIP MEMO% ]6 L2 p5 I+ D* S" Z# e: n/ D
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
5 o1 k$ ?8 K7 T+ C' n! eWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
. y2 Q) v/ F1 u! a/ z2 |6 ?8 ~1 N: N+ [5 Apartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
2 l4 V2 `+ L2 x& w" s) cbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
3 S4 `# I, I6 Y% U% L. h1 KRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by
7 U3 T2 T) E& D3 i# ]the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.9 D8 x5 W' \! x/ g
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
* v! {0 D2 y5 _me know.
, b) }% r) z" [, A# o1 XLIABILITY% `/ i, W" a! d0 F* k
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
* Q, U3 a4 K& K, Epartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced5 A( r# z1 f% g- d, }$ T6 i5 S, l
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
) _. j) f- @8 w( N: \( _' }who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.: ~% f: I) n$ ?/ n
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
) }0 D8 i4 n! _& D: n4 Y; tTAX* |# M1 b) `# B, r: `! ~
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted `( z) J8 R A* W
from the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
% k6 K# {* _) J5 {. p) OPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.) K/ B" q& Y& E* f. n1 f
AGREEMENT
4 `5 T1 f m" c6 mIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out3 \3 F& J( D! `$ q" @
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
' a N" ~* f3 uprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,, T/ b5 F; r0 A# ^# U0 ~/ c
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed# w! s; {( {# x
full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
) b3 R, H2 c0 B* c1 W+ C+ `# E( Pof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
( E) _$ A$ @8 Z8 A% kdeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
) G8 g8 x) |0 M% ythe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is; B& k# P3 L9 z$ |- w
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the3 S% B6 M. p/ P! M# v
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
" K: R( A& M$ K9 s& e0 n H! GINCORPORATION# Y, Q3 {+ u. m$ V; |$ M. _
Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is
; o6 g8 e4 r- pformed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
9 H1 y4 e- q/ t( {! umay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".6 f: D9 p) b0 Q+ p& W" C1 a. u
5% S. r* {: N& E0 `* E$ M
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
( j$ ]% f0 \* e( L1 z% ZUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or0 K" l/ `! Q9 m4 L/ c
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
+ d9 i+ H: Q/ d g5 m& b( wCorporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only9 v: n: P8 L: C- U" I
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
3 M, ^, ?' d% b0 W9 z" {his home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.1 P7 ]* i3 s* c U& K" a. r
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
$ c @. Z2 U; k: U0 b7 g hrisks of the business.6 W! F8 J9 X x0 U+ e* E3 }' i
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
( W" u+ X/ [/ s' S! Sdirector and also the sole shareholder in that company.- G ^2 j2 B m- W+ m8 s
A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.9 ^/ _% f6 b: x/ K- o. O' N
Jay Chauhan
6 v7 L0 W$ ?# `Barrister and Solicitor
4 u5 ^# e; z9 o/ g/ o330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309( n: g& q4 q8 `4 c" B V1 X9 [- r
Richmond Hill, Ontario
& y6 {0 z$ U3 E; L) E ]9 V! w: NL4B 3P8
5 y" W' `/ o' t4 Q# }0 NTel.: (905) 771-12351 v- c( k3 L* _3 d$ D
Fax: (905) 771-1237/ s3 H# E, X: Q H, I C7 h
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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