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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
# T9 T8 ]. K- g0 z$ r( z' FGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
+ Q- R( D$ ?/ VSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
, C+ ]6 v! c# T! h. t6 l5 Y' L6 ~2. See the article:
: W4 m1 g" i1 S! D, |PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION
8 m/ X8 J5 Q- ]4 ]7 dBy Jay Chauhan3 S3 p K; A# v; K6 u0 _
LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
& z" b+ ?* B- {$ H$ }) KThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole# R) B4 x2 m% u: N
proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person
' o. q q( k1 s ?, {using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or: ]! d" d3 {, e( f% o! \
more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a: c8 u5 S3 h+ K, K: |
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
0 Y5 e% T: _2 U. k( A2 E/ B& ylaw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
# t6 l. X% c0 ASOLE PROPRIETORSHIP( X3 ]" D' ^( P- a/ p2 d+ j
If a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
" }" q, z) J& X0 x4 C1 @Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it% s! K0 Z5 W0 i" R3 G/ P
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the& Z4 j: m3 s) J3 B
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
( E( S% u! }% ^judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry. `" `) [3 B$ L# E4 g/ Q
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
0 F( N1 v: ], C3 @( ]8 Qfact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as$ }- O/ r# Z, r/ O2 t
incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,
1 Y7 z7 T7 X4 K3 e2 N7 h2 v; othe sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.# Z& }$ R0 o- b `
PARTNERSHIP3 F5 ?4 c3 ?! O
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
( Y* U _0 k7 z2 C, d; yLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own( }& k2 H% h# H; e2 i( C
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
4 F: s8 a& {- j5 n7 yeach partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
4 x$ ]4 a6 p4 |% q7 e: s"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
4 b: c. Q. ?3 }% b+ O$ H1 ]Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
@0 d3 P. l+ o A0 Y% _incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against8 R8 j, [& V5 {8 K% s
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who. q1 f y; }, B m
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.) M. b) ?' O; j D$ q$ j% H& b* R4 a' I
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the3 \7 W# u3 H+ {' _' h
liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.8 a; _! ?" r7 z: I K- n! R
23 K0 {( |) }! j! Q
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic$ |) q& x& t7 X# P
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and3 h3 _% r) N3 I& Q7 L% V r$ Z1 z
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
. V" m& e) i! A. Y) B, Aaccount of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,0 V, _9 I( [9 Q5 f8 v: ]: \
what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
# u/ i( a( G0 [4 G: B! oPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on! R$ z! H+ [4 ^8 L4 H# |
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which8 u, O# Y$ c+ [9 M; M
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is# \$ t9 X. Z* v
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the) q. m4 N" `* ?5 z4 a
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.7 k1 J% h2 p1 k& Z* l
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the& ~2 R) P; L+ I, A! X4 v. g1 j0 R
partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
7 D# x" u+ @# i+ LINCORPORATION. ]4 Z: _" a7 F+ N
Incorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
' C3 J! {9 m/ q* {separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed" d; U N& z m e8 o& K% }
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",
! R8 a7 a$ b+ z5 X5 C/ x( z) eor "corporation".: Y c+ M8 g; J# d+ r
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
6 O! T$ B2 y( Y5 ~$ r0 qformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the2 z6 Z9 F5 I) U( Y8 {4 H3 q
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them, x$ o2 X6 a% V
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only" s0 K7 ^, G- d, |' p/ z. Y: B
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and' `# b1 }, Q+ _( ^8 n
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as: |$ |: s2 X& s/ u; \& C- V
most people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.1 b, U+ X3 }5 V: T) w
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
* T* b# @% Q- M: w( U& ~possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
2 G* @7 ` R+ C5 }/ D8 U" rUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to4 c2 c3 {4 _. K. B3 W3 [& y
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the. N0 w4 t7 v/ a0 M/ u* t ]/ L
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
' w1 D, y/ d" A2 {* |1 j$ Rwife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.
. g( c' f6 y5 P4 |; A% d4 jA corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to! X, x7 N" y2 a( Y' n" c% @
children in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
$ b8 n+ W( b% H* h! A u! dchildren without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
# Y5 {# p) _% N1 |+ @( NA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
; L1 M0 D# r, @2 N3 Q0 ]Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
/ [% g! S% Z% z3 [company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A
5 |9 }+ v) x" E0 ofederal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It/ _9 E+ V O2 \
does require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the: j) g4 U8 k0 ~' a# C. b
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such
! a A. ^* X& T0 \9 i* R: s& ilicense to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other" x( R' |2 x0 d* i2 N/ f
provinces, except Quebec.- f" R0 U$ n/ M0 q8 i) U
3
9 v( o0 i* _4 m8 R$ Y9 N& lIt is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
) W" `2 r0 G! W0 r) f2 walso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
z0 P8 j1 |0 L2 a3 u% w6 Xdecision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%
# s: l; `3 E% M) {. p1 Wcontrol usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and
) o; L" \& A5 v: J4 L5 ~ ^+ Saccordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.: P+ q b: N* b$ z/ S+ `
The directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
/ p9 b/ y4 T ? k$ p/ Y2 xgeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the( F: y1 v0 f" w, {3 A* b' n
same persons as the directors.9 n2 V# J5 ]; c! a, s
Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some( `( K' @' Z" D
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can [ m8 X( Q+ E6 W! j
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
; Y D- P. I2 gThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
3 \) E, K% D: ]* O7 ^too late.
/ Q' D$ \' V( [( q5 ]" e3 WCompetent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
$ E' B; b4 p5 w Q% vthe registration of partnership or proprietorship is.9 j) C @) ?9 C x+ L1 d( f
Chauhan & Associates# d) f* n- Z# f+ b1 @3 q/ u
Barristers and Solicitors6 n% X' ^5 _) `" A
330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309" i) g" P% O- w/ t2 C6 Y8 `1 V
Richmond Hill, Ontario
) L9 O5 z b% o1 M! BL4B 3P8
% [; ^* C% x6 z& ?0 sTel. (905) 771-1235
* \) T" K5 L: l; _! F4 IFax (905) 771-1237; H2 V# C0 B- y& b- d
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
& ]7 U4 C% k) y2 o7 M4 \45 c- g, _9 ]- ]; h
PARTNERSHIP MEMO
! \1 q5 W! }' ~; F$ aREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS9 P- s3 o8 z* A" j0 h" l4 @
Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
; m/ {7 ^$ f5 U, i& H0 D0 ppartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
& m* B1 x. X7 k) `9 [being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form." K8 `: R8 s3 J l% M
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by! b) {) ~3 Z; A: |7 y# f
the partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
( x5 m- j# b2 v/ DIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let3 V! e: z/ D% X3 ^, w
me know.
$ @1 J0 K( }% z3 x% P, YLIABILITY Z& ~$ v9 m* [+ `. }
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which$ H7 Q) N* u2 x" t8 j6 G3 d
partner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced
, z; O1 ` j% d, r4 Zagainst each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner" @ q5 J/ r5 \
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.% N7 v! k& F B4 c2 v7 M% A
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.
. |2 o7 g. [0 o9 ?3 X6 zTAX
( ^/ k$ s: p% [2 W h% V" ?Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
# s- B" }6 Z4 G5 t# T" M6 Efrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
3 u) o' L" P9 Z( e8 m* ~" X& [: oPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
1 G7 C' U* _$ ?# C# _, W. m2 S: [) xAGREEMENT# F& I O( M+ \" C# @
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out o5 t" y; k0 l
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
2 _2 c" E/ S2 O; s! N3 Gprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,2 ~& j) _% k+ R( U
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed p D3 I% w9 D# y* n
full-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions% g9 n3 B9 M! Y3 K5 |! S
of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
( N0 K6 F" t0 C$ Ddeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
# T. d" H6 U& x% ?the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is
5 [) [& M% B2 Y: V/ Iprovided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the; c' A+ n) {' _: B7 P- J% x& I
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement./ o) r; s/ `, \- A: _3 E
INCORPORATION
' u& `' h1 X. x% E/ i5 z7 YIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is0 a) o6 p# g- Q* T4 Q
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
) x D9 t) ]( p! k! W# }9 J: c1 w9 ?may be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation"." S" ?! N6 o) \' W( Q
55 ~: W+ B* U/ F. @+ _
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
! i$ J; z0 e$ K2 vUnlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or
- E7 B! q! Y2 F2 G) G- gthe persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the6 {% r# W9 z7 Q* `* ?
Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only/ S3 ?. p# i; f9 f9 g9 x7 C, t0 t, G
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
, U7 l+ q$ y& s1 K6 W% P( dhis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.
) o& L; I0 d, P7 i. I& E9 a; K$ y/ iThe most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the
5 t. B, S, e: a, trisks of the business." @& f+ _4 I& {. F7 a, w5 M
It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
4 C$ P4 I) g% [) b0 _# \director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
, B4 Z/ e0 r6 \& ]& n/ TA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.
2 a, x5 {* O+ i% r8 c5 TJay Chauhan1 }9 [, a4 p' _9 d$ N% F- W
Barrister and Solicitor* i* W! I. b5 z( [! D: {. t
330 Highway 7 East, Suite 3099 Z f; s M0 U1 s- W% g# p
Richmond Hill, Ontario1 s- [/ t3 u0 f2 ]2 J; n) t; h
L4B 3P8
$ m9 J# c ?) U4 ~' uTel.: (905) 771-1235
" r7 S8 z2 k( t3 ]+ wFax: (905) 771-1237$ u) p: y" G- q; [) `* @ S
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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