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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
% ~+ `/ u8 }1 j/ s) m' K. oGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership, u% v% z8 y7 s* O' l$ c
See details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
) \2 J' t6 G7 [$ j5 @# L' V2. See the article:( D) m7 ?; I. v5 Q
PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION/ g5 F# Y1 u, d7 n" S/ ^
By Jay Chauhan
6 f9 q0 V4 ^( zLEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS4 ]3 p; K/ f# I0 r6 Z% B
There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole1 V% k, _5 f. O$ v
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
" \# T; O: c6 ]( Nusing his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
" x7 ^, i4 S! o% P0 K* U4 lmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
3 c- {. B9 Q, }- \0 T. w( x0 upartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
. X8 \+ A2 x A( c& E Wlaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
7 Y; u' h1 C8 B; q1 bSOLE PROPRIETORSHIP' J9 D e5 R8 E+ U7 n0 j
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
, p- ~( ^8 s: P! X [0 N+ Y8 JPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it
" f2 t7 C' E6 E! |9 X/ C5 a/ jcan be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the& ]) |, r- t/ E, V
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a" V1 ]# M" S$ _8 d% e+ [
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.
; T/ ~9 n, c, v: m+ lIt is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
! H% u4 m4 {3 k; u) c( c1 rfact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
2 y* O- \+ [: ?4 ^: }8 @ nincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
; D: h9 u0 _" Z) e- E. p) H" nthe sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
f) g& q& B: O" O$ B& wPARTNERSHIP
/ \4 k# e9 `* }1 hWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
4 @: t5 F) j; ~0 t. H/ h0 ALike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own$ B8 ^: X6 G) W1 V$ I% g: k
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and* F( M3 _6 a$ n- Y( j& J
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word! [) _) ^8 k; U! z9 Z$ }. ]) j
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
' F+ g9 E+ D$ r; u3 JEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
2 }. w e) `3 ~3 mincurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against! K- J, D, e& k/ t# L4 a- V
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who
d- N8 Z2 d% \' V- V7 qhas the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.
/ v. \* W( R7 e5 G7 g5 ]! D% v% MEach partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
9 ?* W9 {" x$ _5 o \0 T- p; A3 qliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
# m* A8 O6 \ U; C* n4 t) o2# G2 F+ F7 a8 N% O; z& t8 N
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic3 |/ R5 y$ X5 A8 R+ E
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and
) O, D: Z3 @- ^( p/ {2 Gloss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the) M5 I8 Q& i7 p. I1 U# q7 K
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
% E A* g/ x8 O! w: _% ~what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
2 z, S& b* S$ U$ ]: \! dPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on& t$ I5 v. D' u0 P& V( q& k
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which! m/ @+ V9 ]5 n, p/ p0 Y" c( l
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is2 L5 W4 Y: d& J( E+ ^
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
( r2 n( I4 c) n' D+ Z# d+ Lpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.' c* o; q; N7 z* G: m
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
/ M# o: |) U/ D+ npartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
( ]+ L& C1 F* G- J# {INCORPORATION
3 j5 T( @. `+ N# [5 B' z2 iIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a, P& K5 ]7 \7 a
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed/ V# m0 J/ d7 L
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
7 C! N& g" P" @1 i4 Zor "corporation".
/ l" j! F; q5 g0 @" i0 N: M& {% BThe word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
& W1 C% k$ S* X3 Y7 ]formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the
" k6 y4 ?! [ W% findividual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
: L7 c6 Y. }7 Y' Ein the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only. V7 P* `$ _- o; P5 X. j
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
( ?$ e7 Q5 R4 B' Z9 A7 khis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
) p3 h4 E: s$ L1 R' i7 amost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.: O8 X# f& A" s" U
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the+ o3 w }2 b8 {' \$ I) B2 J
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
3 U& d% y* g* AUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to" W+ ?' p2 }" a
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the! |+ E# @9 L3 ]' @. f3 A
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
5 E8 L1 {; k4 ~- n- Gwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.6 v+ h4 R. R0 S3 N3 Z" y
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to3 G# L& J0 Y3 u% a7 @! ~3 w
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the {7 E# p+ @. y9 t& Y! O
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
+ {% z0 R; K& y9 W% b& rA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the7 s- ]' x% d4 K1 L$ e! ^( w6 Q
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
& j8 ?. l" n. h; o5 s# T7 vcompany is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A" A- e) u# k6 ]4 c$ F' Q0 Y6 W2 X
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
0 M. i7 o0 B+ ]1 s$ x% f" Jdoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the! l- m. X8 e0 b% j8 w* K7 _+ a) n ]5 r
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such
3 ^' r! O/ _3 `: Blicense to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
' |* r) v, S) a$ @; Z0 `provinces, except Quebec.
8 K B6 Y; s1 s! C3& q- Z% O4 N6 i+ |! f* [( E) L
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
1 m. K) r, c# |* { @ ?# P7 Ralso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult1 B& s( E/ y% R2 c# P
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
+ P5 N0 Z6 a' g' U" x5 kcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and3 L, M7 J# L) L
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.& J" S9 T/ o2 P5 |
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
+ v4 m$ n' X; E/ cgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
) S3 H( F$ d" V. csame persons as the directors.
, h" t, O8 M. n1 p1 S3 RWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
( w3 @& l6 e3 O, } n1 @shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
. c( g0 C4 Z( u; Nwithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
0 B: M8 ]2 I r4 wThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually' b2 g) F0 _4 m/ {" s( ?/ u0 R
too late.
& R( W' |" I y% M$ E0 @0 m4 dCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as3 z9 o- \, r, t- S. L6 f
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
: R7 W4 I" c! M5 Y. YChauhan & Associates1 ^; `4 a5 W! i" B
Barristers and Solicitors
+ q; Q$ W$ \2 e, r. V330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
' x5 u6 ?: G4 c8 X& _Richmond Hill, Ontario7 [( x1 U% G: A( ^$ Z1 V; T( P
L4B 3P82 W8 X* W9 |- m, u
Tel. (905) 771-1235) O) h5 |% q# [3 I# Y, f) e
Fax (905) 771-1237
6 i9 L/ v4 e* m! F1 _9 ?Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
3 z- t2 M/ F# p+ {0 m( O4
5 D9 J4 s3 r7 ?9 ]% g+ I; cPARTNERSHIP MEMO
3 M+ S# X5 }" j8 f4 @- o, o" {6 qREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS* y, X% e/ {7 M7 [# S4 x
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
" W( @' R2 y/ G: k/ Cpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are1 E1 N2 s5 _' L- z" q- c" ], c
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
P; r" R' X* URegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by5 n9 z1 Y$ e) F* F0 q
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
7 I- i R7 J2 X. D2 T- _0 fIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let
0 Z, e {, [7 s) _: ^# h5 U5 eme know.
( A4 L1 E) U1 X; Q3 `8 Y3 K% bLIABILITY' ^8 m% |6 Q* \, ]" w
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which; x. I3 M. y: `+ I ]6 F
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced( D7 {2 ?3 x: \- F) R% W7 x
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
- P, F u$ S2 Jwho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
& R/ }2 _0 T, r4 m$ i0 F) g& P( QUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
6 Q7 g/ n% I: ?TAX
- E7 X; O9 @' }. L. d* zEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
5 h0 l/ Q% ~, B% V) Xfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
' n$ Q3 J( x& h) aPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.+ N9 F4 z& ^6 m6 i: e& L4 r
AGREEMENT$ [( ?9 Z' m$ J3 T
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
W& p2 D4 E7 b9 f' Y" rthe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,4 d0 Z" X v+ b! J" _* V
profit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,5 T( I: l& _7 G. f4 u
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
% m& w1 D+ h$ D/ e; m$ kfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
5 C* x& \$ B; Q2 C; Rof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
+ r* X! n5 s( C4 s6 qdeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
" b! r4 H+ H u2 q+ @- vthe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is. m; R @. k% A
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
( P z4 f2 N. ?partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.2 F3 o {4 }+ i* b. y3 m
INCORPORATION
8 e0 f" E; q' t6 A+ N' e5 c: WIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is) {# m7 t d( k4 M8 L1 |5 M
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
% p" J3 r5 R: gmay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".. H- H/ C- C; G& @- u( ~7 U q- U* B
5# ?6 ~( `" Q" }, n) n
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.7 ^1 V, N) r+ w: c3 N
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
" s9 Z9 z& f$ X: Q) @the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
& o2 { g8 n b" y' j( O, V9 WCorporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only9 _" O" e5 F" K, L
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
: A5 Q) C$ S& h0 S1 shis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
0 g+ e! K, j7 v) A$ rThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
$ B# k2 D1 u8 U0 k, O3 Q) I6 i) qrisks of the business.; O1 t6 j' N9 |. Y) ?7 Y2 ^- S
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole9 o1 }5 h+ v1 o/ p, \8 N
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.( W# C0 v* O, F% B2 v
A corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.4 D. I$ F0 \! G% L5 ]
Jay Chauhan8 r- E0 p' L7 B+ p0 B
Barrister and Solicitor7 e: o% ?% n& N6 i' a
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309/ [: c, m& t. M9 ]
Richmond Hill, Ontario
2 y9 @: Y" a2 ~5 b4 a9 i4 S- s. lL4B 3P8+ D6 u- B+ G8 L; C
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
6 \. U7 x9 u J% `8 Z: @Fax: (905) 771-1237
2 Q$ y- @, e: K/ h }Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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