Explain the Pros and Cons of Sole Proprietorships

441 Words2 Pages
Explain the pros and cons of sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies (LLC). For each entity include the tort and contract liability of the owners. Also, make sure to explain the taxation of each entity. A sole proprietorship (1) Forming a sole proprietorship is easy and does not cost a lot (2) a sole proprietor has the right to make all management decisions concerning the business, including those involving hiring and firing employees, (3) a sole proprietor owns all of the business and has the right to receive all of the business’s profits, and (4) a sole proprietorship can be easily transferred or sold if and when the owner desires to do so; no other approval (such as from partners or shareholders) is necessary. There are important disadvantages to this business form, too. For example, a sole proprietor is legally responsible for the business’s contracts and the torts he or she or any of his or her employees commit in the course of employment. In addition, a sole proprietor’s access to the business’s capital is limited to personal funds plus any loans he or she can obtain A sole proprietor bears the risk of loss of the business; that is, the owner will lose his or her entire capital contribution if the business fails. In addition, a sole proprietor has unlimited personal liability (Cheeseman, 251, 2012). General partnership, or ordinary partnership, A general partnership, or partnership, is a voluntary association of two or more persons for carrying on a business as co-owners for profit. The formation of a partnership creates certain rights and duties among partners and with third parties. These rights and duties are established in the partnership agreement and by law. General partners, or partners, are personally liable for the debts and obligations of the partnership
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