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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
% Y3 r1 l6 i* ?6 k7 ZGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
% ~( H3 p( a+ y: p7 ^, M: L& Q+ GSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html& m2 w! G( ?- \3 }4 A" U
2. See the article:, P, T8 v9 v: @9 T8 V5 L8 Q% |
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION8 I6 Y! Z: `9 s0 Q
By Jay Chauhan* `- p; `; J/ ]
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
# u+ a" j5 w/ C8 MThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
* m* }0 [( p7 l" s% Sproprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person+ |/ M# l- K& n9 k
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
+ l5 m( o/ [# r! c& i, omore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a! k& a* W8 g6 ?7 R* d3 ~
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
4 H' S/ j. }0 N$ Klaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
# N. y4 Y0 a9 e- O/ qSOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
4 O8 y" u9 M( ^If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
, a; W0 x$ s% p; h$ g/ \: M OPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
' s5 ^3 K$ X9 ~8 d. N, U$ Ican be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the# o4 {& K; U4 c7 H/ A
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
: R0 m+ e6 X; h) p' U' M$ sjudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
5 p/ ?0 ?( e$ H2 R( J1 N/ o9 t" Z& zIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The1 M, J& \ ^3 ?$ V
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as, U9 A% i l( H5 F% E8 \" ^$ k
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,) D; E, ^9 q( n. o t% P
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
& A F9 B9 C/ a& t3 TPARTNERSHIP
% h: Y3 _' z$ P- e7 V+ |Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
2 A9 o3 l5 H+ F$ m4 l0 lLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own" D0 T5 @6 t* N4 e5 h
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and! n% [/ g- F& `/ t4 D9 [
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
1 S- f1 z* k8 _1 J! E"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.! w; Q: L9 x' Z# f% w4 {
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
! u# a1 ~) Q! G( Iincurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against4 [9 B; k( B' M) {" B# `6 _' U
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
8 z! A* l2 `. s( [- M9 Ahas the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
8 O: y( y/ i! T3 X ^, j: MEach partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the( W8 ?; ~/ F+ R8 L! n
liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
9 \- z( p8 o& T9 A4 Z23 W8 {" X5 a4 |
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic5 i* V. W- T; q' c. n7 T
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and8 [' E3 P# Q, J3 o2 X( d
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the) i$ f# i+ i* m
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,0 W/ Q' ]5 V! T% E5 C/ @1 Z
what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
1 G& o9 Q6 K. I8 APartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on
7 R/ N) Q( P, N8 v# `8 |the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which
I9 n( v9 |2 S0 G: v( x' vupon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is" U7 T- I" A% _+ `( Z' }
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the- |# E* j( e" H' [( |. r
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.( P. ^2 ]% l8 J5 e
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
2 x. ^7 n4 I. t' Ppartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
5 k1 M# n7 g( o1 O! S5 y$ d, B' dINCORPORATION# ?8 f* P% b7 b* o* x
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a* r. N' D9 l* K) b8 w) q% H
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
4 w8 x9 W/ t3 n! ~* ithat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",! {; Z6 l7 s! [; K
or "corporation".
9 V0 \! O% E, u/ \: F/ oThe word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
$ F) R; l( K: z1 K8 U- O5 W8 aformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the. S, l0 Z X- Q- s- v) w8 a; o: [) a
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,+ x0 n" @- p* E; V6 x/ l
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
# ^4 M' q( n4 e" x% g! R: K& qagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
- h( g; ]& b; f8 i3 ahis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
) d) d7 ^( P* h4 |most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.
0 V3 y i* N9 F) ] [! ]A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the0 ]4 ~/ j% ?( d) h
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
' H( Y( _( k `; k- q$ O nUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
3 F) _+ z' F mbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
$ w% w) d W6 h7 N* A/ Fcorporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
2 g( U( G4 L, zwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.7 ~! D ]% C: G$ V2 p9 `# N
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
- |) Q8 y9 o8 k. f- V! tchildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
) e' m2 L6 N$ [% tchildren without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
- Z8 [( D0 h9 Z% h1 }A corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
6 L% V$ e5 _) O; SProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
( L+ h) r& X" U; e% Scompany is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
. N3 ^( ^+ S( l- }9 }- Pfederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
5 G" }1 G8 ~, P5 \2 H" K4 Q2 x) z4 c8 ^does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the: @! Z: _3 N W* u# C0 m& b
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such
0 |7 \' m- Y) B- |license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
) ]/ Y. B' H9 z! Q! e: {6 F$ @provinces, except Quebec.. J d! B' p! D5 w
3
$ x$ t1 d! a- F4 PIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
- |+ s, x) C y; a" walso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult! {2 H/ Q5 G6 y) O* k
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
# e- F# t7 L9 [& L/ j5 u: V, zcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
/ d" }& T7 k# S" laccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
1 r z) s: }; s9 @, g {9 |The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
( i z7 W" N: i Q$ g; D1 ?. X+ [1 G K4 [general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
1 f! ]- j/ n: M& R% `same persons as the directors./ A/ [/ g( P+ U
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some5 g9 R# v g9 j1 J1 x. N
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can# w) F+ M) K/ {. ~; T8 b/ }
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
; N4 G7 Y; e1 g+ E& F9 zThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually) O4 i2 `1 ?3 ` C, K
too late.5 b) T- K6 u5 B/ T
Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as- F" t& e, C9 Z2 Q/ ^% W& t
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.) q7 }5 F9 c, \/ P( I0 A. Q: K) J/ f
Chauhan & Associates
8 d; ^! z! R; z5 K& \Barristers and Solicitors
& T% d- ^9 a1 r. G& n* D3 T330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
G5 p1 ?! Y8 \. H, ?% rRichmond Hill, Ontario. Y$ N( r7 b2 A, X* [- ]# p; d
L4B 3P86 j8 g0 s6 e* d2 m
Tel. (905) 771-1235
$ I7 z' ?1 Q+ D# [' i9 h9 sFax (905) 771-1237# c9 W3 E8 x7 n+ m
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
9 \ P3 _1 e, K6 i) J7 J0 b; B6 z y( Q4
, s6 \: a: x ]' @) @7 l8 s& ePARTNERSHIP MEMO
. P8 ]% g4 l- \" @9 MREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. p6 t8 r$ A) p- m% H, ^& Z0 O
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a( Z6 B8 |% \" g" C
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
2 o9 u' x8 r& Wbeing used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
# r- l% L' ?) w% ]Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by: w; c4 }. {/ T. P0 m' d1 o
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
) U4 k# w* n$ |. aIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
; M- M" c# [, K! e* U3 e' xme know.
6 R6 X8 [1 d5 t1 _$ d. g& r' d/ _ ^LIABILITY! M$ d- H5 i" N% R3 c; D
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which; \& a9 ?# A2 B3 t: A
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced' X. Z+ w+ R$ V* g4 H
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
" `. r* t% m6 I$ [9 i7 ewho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.0 l/ Z9 L- T- S# M
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
% F. G1 }( J: zTAX/ D! H* g8 n* l% P* {$ a
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
3 |$ V. F+ T* D9 Zfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
3 r5 i& v! S1 SPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
+ Q+ Y4 L. d* [" A0 MAGREEMENT# ]8 n% \! e" ~4 c. q) e5 h2 _ J
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out, L; q$ R, Q3 _4 q3 B
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
8 u" c/ o7 \" l$ t5 J2 z1 [profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,( H! P8 @+ G B/ Q/ V% I3 R F2 D
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
! l8 G( s8 |' Kfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
9 B2 z3 w) Q+ ]7 m! X& s4 Eof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the3 Y' k( l7 d1 O% G
death of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
1 j# p7 d7 ~0 t6 Athe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is. Q6 i* c8 m: t9 @
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
0 L6 M, r+ T/ `) tpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.; I# l7 b6 Q7 w6 |" N1 T
INCORPORATION$ R K% g Y7 h3 H) Q+ m
Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is1 a( D8 e7 P! ]5 W- i$ _+ ~
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
- a& }0 K/ O8 W) Q: J/ gmay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".
, A% Q6 ~5 t0 h1 S4 W. d& `4 I( e52 E8 Y6 ^3 T4 r2 L
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
! O5 p- c0 x1 n; A8 V( Q. {) ]: cUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or( j& n% [, {' }* ?. r: K- d4 ]- A
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the6 f( x3 P) { y5 O5 M5 S
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only+ w: Z# d5 a/ s/ J% n
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
0 n3 n# i0 E' Khis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.- S/ j+ H$ u9 u8 s \* ~9 `- N
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the, e9 b2 j1 @- c
risks of the business.. b U7 f- [3 n% g3 s0 ^6 M* X3 m
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
) k. d3 J; q8 v3 {+ K. bdirector and also the sole shareholder in that company.
4 H8 p0 P" f% e; u; N; QA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.! j, p7 _4 n) u! @! h
Jay Chauhan: Q# D+ r+ S2 b# o6 Y- x
Barrister and Solicitor
, f4 B: `/ H; ^, K# i+ O, @0 s( w330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309# D) `$ ?/ @1 a
Richmond Hill, Ontario# h% m: f! ]6 \/ a+ n- H
L4B 3P8( h$ _3 j6 B" k/ t) ]
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
' W- d& v" H& c# R& J4 ?, [5 b4 DFax: (905) 771-1237
1 F9 F. u+ |3 w, R4 NEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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