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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:
^3 P; J' J1 R* pGeneral Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
! m9 P4 E& W4 w6 I% P- p8 nSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
" y1 j0 |1 b- |) U: ~, `0 B2. See the article:
; Z1 v# k5 u. |( A7 yPROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION) Z, A* d4 f* q: s
By Jay Chauhan
+ {# @- t$ g# u; N7 E9 P7 R7 `1 gLEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
0 U/ N! l4 B) n% R3 d( [There are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
! J1 Q' ^7 e- u5 D$ `proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person: A$ I5 v' I6 ^2 p4 x$ A7 D% l
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or. }" J0 G! ~& A4 B% U
more persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a! ~- I6 w" Z _' P- a3 N
partnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by& u$ u- S/ f2 A0 N7 @ [$ W6 J
law and can be used by a single person or more persons together.( s2 ^ R$ L: W4 s# n o6 S; G
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
% F3 ]. d% S! c4 k' jIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the9 q) I) p4 C1 M; f* n% R. ?
Partnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it4 q: c' }$ D1 r5 b' E8 K
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the% ~1 I4 I# d3 M' V6 a$ |0 C
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a
) v2 \ d; S0 `1 q) f+ M& Hjudgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.: c5 g4 _1 n- ~! W8 R X
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The
/ A! o; N$ j+ K$ Q. v- v% }fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
' A: K9 S; Z# \incorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes," p5 ?5 d$ _+ V
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.* W+ n9 D1 m$ c9 [1 C! `
PARTNERSHIP
( Y7 \7 _" A5 N" I2 tWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
/ T) ~. o* C" w4 {% [% R# L) qLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own; o* [6 C7 |$ M: M( a( i" O
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and! |) C) i4 a) B( _7 v; B( w: S0 S8 n
each partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word/ j8 J! y. L0 J+ I$ x9 f' u8 j
"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.
! Z* j8 M" Q2 k6 p/ C8 s* @3 |Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
8 ~' a/ m3 o: [* ]% n% }1 t1 k/ G1 sincurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against( C/ {1 Q& {! X# x0 Y
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who6 V( N' v$ P: o+ D2 V. @9 v
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.2 ?% ~: }& i8 a% s
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the
; ^% N& U, Z6 z# B& @( uliability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
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; `. o! S( o( H% o2 T* j; sIt is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic& T7 @* D" v0 s9 e% ~- Z4 C3 [# T7 s
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and+ l6 ]5 P( O6 \) w; x3 U S
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the' b7 v/ p: I ]4 K
account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
, s, g; R$ H6 b$ G' v; V! {" ^what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
, S% A& k) X1 m# [$ s( ?( b& ~Partnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on) n1 F; h' ~/ `, i
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which6 n4 p& X+ j* B# m
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is4 X" e0 e! X, F
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
$ A7 U9 Z: _" v7 ipartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement. T* J w3 Z7 o& v/ o
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
: u! H; K! s7 }partnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them." T# k: Y) ?, ?* e: S, n' @
INCORPORATION
& j8 @ e9 ]4 k% u9 fIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a. u6 b' _; ]9 _3 G
separate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed
/ d1 U- j: E' p4 Tthat legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",% P& M0 X w! t+ p, I) z
or "corporation".9 Q, u m# M- u; E7 Z% z
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
, ?6 A7 Q. V0 i) Dformed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the- B1 h, y3 `! s6 ]. M% V
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,# p5 H7 V, K/ g* u& N
in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
+ ~- t$ N" }1 y) g: J2 L7 b% ]against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and; w Q6 u7 i8 c3 R6 w @, [6 u
his home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
% b5 }7 ?( m0 T% l* fmost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.6 W, a8 a6 ]; J
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the
. n$ ]9 ~! F, g# |possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
; z X# r/ a9 q9 M- o/ m- X, uUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to
0 Y& G- H7 Q6 fbe that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the
. n( a; X% K. @9 Y8 t: L2 tcorporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the. O0 Y+ h" P4 p5 L
wife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.$ V6 w% u! o, {! h7 |% @: I. b% s
A corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
8 c' o4 m p) {% ?/ Dchildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the, B3 r, x: Y( Y8 t
children without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
+ ]8 [+ A% s8 J* l" O5 c9 lA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the
/ S0 B' L7 E( r7 p+ ]3 xProvincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal
3 [4 ~0 n- I8 b3 _company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A( X% k* X6 p" @9 u# I
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
9 a6 Q! K7 t6 gdoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the. B( `0 R; G& G
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such* E" s3 R% j9 ?' Z) G% G& C# s
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other. z8 q* N. N: b
provinces, except Quebec.& [! x: k9 n/ b, ~# z" J
35 z' n3 Z# j3 c4 i0 E0 _
It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
& h8 R& |, g& B0 ualso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult
3 r( q. S) w( v' K! Y% Xdecision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%; x! _9 t& j" ?3 Z
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and, u. `* a+ P: P. j) A+ O: P1 u
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
7 O x2 C5 e: u& DThe directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual2 A2 O& ?3 D& H+ p
general meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the
' v+ e& d) s& I0 ]$ \" `- Esame persons as the directors.
% z# G0 }+ Y/ x, A2 QWhere there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some
. G* }. D" s; b. \5 Oshareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can
$ _, ~5 L9 P6 `, n2 f6 H# Nwithdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
+ p7 F3 H; N+ j$ d4 KThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
& T7 R% F; Z0 n% U) X2 ^3 j0 ?too late.) p5 T) z$ S4 h( Z5 o
Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as& c$ S, K; l( u- L* P. K
the registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
, d( Q+ q8 a1 X3 I. A8 ?7 Y mChauhan & Associates' h% I( C/ ]3 i% X
Barristers and Solicitors
) n: b% _ ^* U4 J330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
) S; K: l1 I1 Z# YRichmond Hill, Ontario
( {9 g! B) y$ IL4B 3P8
/ A( d% S* s J( G* h$ X' oTel. (905) 771-1235% n3 Z6 \4 r2 L9 l& h
Fax (905) 771-1237
, Y& g* A, K, A) J( l- q' jEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com1 x: @+ K3 M6 `, W
4
8 T# }9 D0 ^( j8 [' W2 G6 oPARTNERSHIP MEMO
: v9 g) q" T. K- e9 Z% T/ @ `REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
7 u3 W, S: w0 H5 ~( \Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a* M5 z+ g: Y7 c, P
partnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are# ]& W. M, ~, I, y3 a) W% E. J- a
being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form./ k+ }8 h; k& i' e" k
Registration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by
& `+ |2 I' Z8 s2 D8 fthe partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.. v% Q! g, }4 V4 C4 [8 S
If you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let/ c) s' I) i* G& Z9 F* R- h, X
me know.% j4 r$ Y$ n1 f, X$ d# Q, Z
LIABILITY; u7 X6 J$ d3 j4 c4 ~
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
$ q% B: w+ H# c" p) f+ Ypartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced, ?+ t* z) T1 W) v0 p! N
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner
5 r! x& ^& J8 P5 h' a2 ywho has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.
" \" P C/ i* [0 o' bUsing the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability.$ y" A) R# S/ i7 @
TAX
, q6 W! f7 e5 {0 U: `! n- x4 I- mEach partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
6 z3 z- |4 p5 B1 S; Ffrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return.
! k: ~) L- t6 Z1 j" {" V0 ^2 CPartnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.
9 L, p, W2 j3 Q( |8 vAGREEMENT2 p. B; a4 p9 q$ i. L
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out
- B" D G# _. ]0 J- Fthe basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
3 Y! V% u4 }; S: h) \! fprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,! e- ~& _9 y% e; J
where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
& _# }, a; V( j2 f0 xfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions% f, [" c4 Z/ f& } I7 V
of the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
\5 m B4 ]+ z- [* vdeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in
) g- O; Z- { A+ q* Y j8 V# |: n6 vthe event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is& b6 \" M, r& g* @) y9 T( T' C1 Y
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the- j' u: ~- \& R- a. h1 L
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.7 q. ~% F. s L/ c6 s
INCORPORATION/ @8 z) c0 H% V
Incorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is( Q. c: ]: A- M. s: v: y
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
0 E2 A2 j( p" Ymay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation"., s4 g; x" A. |0 ]+ K
5
. h! ]- _% h& c3 |2 H# N' QThe word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.
; x; c. Q1 |6 W- F* @Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or" m. P( B0 j1 d& W
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
: p5 b4 D* R6 J: j8 ?Corporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only) ?, D" P, k c" Q. h; K3 l1 H
against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
& H4 S5 v/ d2 A, C+ Hhis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.& y, F' c) s) O, E, m8 ?; a
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the7 f5 f( \* i6 p; ?) }- [9 B
risks of the business.
1 r6 [$ D. Z: X4 b0 o5 NIt is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole. p# D. z7 O$ M+ w% c+ b2 A& u
director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
& ]0 e% U9 M$ V2 GA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability. k7 |2 l0 F" Y5 J
Jay Chauhan3 P6 R( j# c" z" i8 F2 w
Barrister and Solicitor
' j/ q1 p7 i. u5 D! {) y5 S330 Highway 7 East, Suite 309
" H3 k* m/ H' Z9 FRichmond Hill, Ontario# V$ v/ y6 Z4 U5 l* v
L4B 3P8
2 {2 v0 c/ G, N7 _) v5 `Tel.: (905) 771-1235
% v" I5 I5 C+ W! @* v" y0 w O2 pFax: (905) 771-1237
. `5 [, ^7 o* N, [8 ~Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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