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1. there are three kinds of partnerships:) G @& {. j; V. i f- I. U2 I9 n" {
General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Public-Private Partnership
- ^- |# v! a/ c/ G. F: q0 M; tSee details on http://www.alberta-canada.com/investlocate/1012.html
3 ?/ e0 Q* M _; P, B8 O2. See the article:
- ~0 `: i! g# w" b7 J. NPROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND INCORPORATION/ x4 h* G- l9 _1 p4 \& x `
By Jay Chauhan
" m( O; R h, m g% ~LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
[! U/ n# G* l( e5 fThere are three basic ways in which a business organization can exist, namely a sole
( L& t. R' X5 P P* X8 xproprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. A sole proprietorship is where one person4 m9 [' A }* x! F% q+ e9 k8 }
using his own name or any other name, conducts business. In a partnership, there are two or
( C0 ^4 Z. O4 h' Z bmore persons carrying on a business activity under their own names or the name of a
# v5 G. `* i% _& c6 Spartnership. Incorporations are for legal purposes and entirely separate, legal entity created by
- n4 X# V7 p4 W* |) Claw and can be used by a single person or more persons together.
& v' Z3 b6 v- [SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
( s! Q: d) `* D: fIf a one-man operation uses a name different that his own, he must register this name under the
/ y5 e( F0 b" Y& \# xPartnerships Registration Act at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto. The form is relatively simple, and it6 D7 v& f2 X0 q/ ?0 m2 T
can be done by the individual at a minimal cost of $10.00. In case of financial difficulties, the& g7 W6 O; J2 N; [
individual remains personally liable and his home and personal assets can be used to satisfy a* K6 |$ K! j5 j& u5 d1 m9 U% x
judgement. The registration lasts for five years, and must be renewed at expiry.- ~) Y) k" e" P6 P: J/ K3 M( J
It is possible for a sole proprietor to call his business by a name such as "ABC Company". The( V5 t- \7 ]4 R& S8 C2 p# m
fact that the word "company" is used does not provide any extra legal protection as
) B: K2 p" b" b" g. Y7 Yincorporation does, and this is commonly misunderstood by many. For tax and legal purposes,* Z0 {) S7 Z* ]* p
the sole proprietor is the same as the individual, even if he uses a different name.
5 D; _5 P7 U; Q, _8 U; ZPARTNERSHIP
7 s# a5 H1 P: D; @. w6 ?* |Where two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a partnership.
; w& y7 m* X2 o# t& ?, G5 vLike a sole proprietorship, they must register the business name if names other than their own2 M, p( a+ }% E8 Q) a
are being used to conduct the business activity. The same provisions of registration apply and
) N4 J. p9 _, F6 ?- qeach partner must sign this form and such declaration lasts five years. Here again, if the word
/ R: l# V& {1 ]# ^* q! k& _"company" is used at the end of the name, it provides no extra protection, like incorporation.& G7 W' t6 @3 [2 t2 F/ _2 G
Each partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which partner
^- a; H$ U/ I8 l: \incurred the liability. In case of financial difficulties, the judgement can be enforced against/ ~$ A! Q" S+ v' W$ g
each and every partner and if any one partner does not have any monies, the other partner who, u& F8 T- P' G m8 m
has the property and personal belongings and a house, he would have to meet the liability.& b% O3 s3 T0 F3 U2 L$ a
Each partner is liable too pay tax on his share of the profit made. For legal purposes, the3 D5 z& U* J M5 \* K' [8 ]
liability is full, despite the percentage of partnership interest.
+ P! ?: s2 H9 s: k3 G+ e24 `1 D, _# e, D% @- q: `% R
It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement, which sets out the basic6 K5 N e5 B! `$ S/ t& A/ X. H
terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted, profit and. I7 J+ c: [# Y$ R+ r( `- R
loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue the death of a party, where the
9 J6 F* N" _$ c! Iaccount of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed full-time,
/ S7 N" A$ K% N h2 W/ _% Bwhat salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions of the
6 O7 Q+ k- [3 j E: |% A. T( j! uPartnership Act will apply, and in such events, the partnership will dissolve, for example, on; J# B6 J" C' C- q$ L: `: e9 n
the death of a partner. The partnership agreement also would provide for a formula by which& R) T* F! q; l' _. N& h0 f
upon disagreement, a party could withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is. @" A [3 P" b: O/ n
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the
' l/ F; _# V% rpartnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.( q( }8 t0 Y5 o% w" N" j2 h% h. d
In case of failure of a partnership to register a business name, no action can be brought by the
* _3 j; e) G0 [6 Q$ z: apartnership to sue a defendant, who fails to pay them.
6 \7 S- s4 e: DINCORPORATION
5 B8 y5 E; S) r# C6 v% I' D' fIncorporation is often called a limited company. When a corporate body is formed, it creates a
' L6 ?4 }) n3 I' w. _; A( Eseparate legal person, and has a different legal existence than the person or persons who formed) L f2 l# q# }
that legal entity. A corporation may be identified by using the words "limited", "incorporated",3 i- {9 J, T1 v' i1 |% L. ]
or "corporation".* x* ], F# d7 ~) e2 J# S5 q) b
The word "limited" correctly describes the idea of limited liability, when a corporation is
4 y8 {1 D* b4 ]formed. Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the v+ E* p, g' w% M" [% k3 Q6 E
individual or the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them,
: s8 `7 \3 H! `+ Y l8 V/ _in the corporation. In case of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
6 q6 c4 R6 x' F m& f. n9 ~against the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
, t/ K% }5 y6 u3 f" ]! Yhis home cannot be touched. This is the most important reason for forming a corporation, as
5 L7 z+ T$ d" R' T, g4 V6 O& tmost people wish to protect their personal assets against the risks of the business.: h8 Z2 R3 A2 v) G0 ?+ U
A corporation offers a variety of tax planning benefits. The most common benefit derived is the' g- e4 i& @0 h% K; a1 `
possibility in a small company, of splitting the income between the husband and the wife.
/ C6 ]% {. ^4 x5 A# ^9 w6 uUnder the attribution rules of the Income Tax Act, the income derived by the wife is deemed to/ x0 e+ s6 U8 b& m+ @2 X9 A% y
be that of the husband, but where a corporation is formed, and the wife works for the' ?$ _& C- _7 f% x
corporation, it is legally possible for the husband to divert a certain amount of income to the
! U7 u$ ]; c7 Owife, provided that she is doing some work in the company.
( N6 M$ t5 L; @' PA corporation is also in effect, an estate-planning vehicle. By issuing common shares to
' j3 p& R5 g {% p0 m: Qchildren in trust, the growth value of the shares of the corporation can be transferred to the
5 {) E F" w0 X0 n( k$ v& |' e, G- cchildren without incurring inheritance taxes under Succession Duty Act, and Income Tax Act.
+ O b6 T: W- H. zA corporation can be formed either under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the8 a$ J2 N; M0 @9 U9 i
Provincial Legislation, and in Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act. A federal8 S. F! o; t5 V% T* D/ i
company is desirable where it may, in the future, have head offices in various provinces. A# n3 v% f4 p; H% d! q$ W7 B" W
federal company does not require extra-provincial licenses to operate in different provinces. It
0 t# y+ R# M) {1 b6 A0 m5 v. z- Cdoes require, however in Ontario, a Licence In Mortmain. This license is required when the+ v4 s; Z; O! {4 P* N2 u
company owns or rents property in Ontario. The Ontario corporation does not require such! L7 d0 b' b7 i0 E6 j$ J' h
license to operate within Ontario, but may require extra-provincial license to operate in other
% f9 |" }- u3 J9 |provinces, except Quebec.
+ P% O) I" Z8 W- }8 j! |* k: _' q3
5 r0 o2 O! M. H( t- @It is now possible for a one-man person to form incorporation and he may be the sole director
2 a: D+ }3 N* {, Y) ralso the sole shareholder in that company. Where there are more shareholders, a difficult3 V V3 s" v4 o4 @" V
decision to make is the proportion of shares owned by each shareholder in the company. A 51%* j6 M$ u5 R+ l& E
control usually gives the right to such shareholders to elect the board of directors and' L9 K1 ]9 ], ]- h) N3 h; e
accordingly, exercise effective control of the operations of the business.
- {$ U2 B( g6 ~) [1 D" Z" NThe directors of a company are responsible to the shareholders and must hold an annual
3 R4 P$ z8 Z! s) o6 l' Ggeneral meeting each year, even if there are only one or two shareholders, who might be the8 p$ Q5 t' s# T
same persons as the directors.
! x. k1 {; y* D1 ^, ~4 \Where there are two or more shareholders in a company, a buy-sell agreement or some ~ f# x y" J: Q
shareholders agreement is very desirable. Such agreement can set out how a party can/ k3 c4 i9 s, j8 ~
withdraw as a shareholder, or how the shares will be disposed of upon death or disagreement.
8 Y* Y; f) D) u2 ^$ z, D9 q3 {/ H- PThis agreement is commonly ignored by shareholders until a dispute arises, when it is usually
* Z- _- p f- z7 M# Ltoo late.7 U! z5 e$ E9 y0 o8 s! c! B
Competent, legal advice is desirable in forming a company, as the procedure is not simple as
* h! I' E# b; H- g8 i6 \6 ^3 Vthe registration of partnership or proprietorship is.
' E+ @. x1 F& @& u. ~Chauhan & Associates
5 h2 O( m7 h% cBarristers and Solicitors
- _% W# F/ |5 T$ {5 q( j330 Hwy. No. 7 East, Suite 309
2 J/ q w6 Z) T4 P: jRichmond Hill, Ontario
6 B% J$ s. x$ @$ U3 s, x2 s1 w+ ML4B 3P8! G4 ~! `3 |! ~+ x: A# d- w
Tel. (905) 771-1235
# q$ j! {+ k( G+ {Fax (905) 771-1237! t9 z! y- Z$ ^% S9 [/ r& }
Email: globalmigrations@hotmail.com
. A- p7 m5 Z) o/ O& L5 v: P4- u; G7 i p* R5 `. t A
PARTNERSHIP MEMO
* D0 I$ M: N" ^" p" V3 @REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
( V" r. i! q" x+ a7 e$ l7 R% J$ XWhere two or more persons are engaged in a business activity, it is known as a
* |" G: l7 c8 y* Kpartnership. They must register the business name if names other than their own names are
- u# A3 f N- Q- G; W# s/ J1 \being used to conduct the business activity. Partners must sign the declaration form.
- k: l9 \$ A; R. pRegistration is valid for 5 years. If the partnership is not registered no action can be brought by
! p/ C3 k. F- Lthe partnership against a debtor for recovery of money until the partnership is registered.
5 O/ k; O5 |: L8 x' EIf you want me to assist you in the preparation or registration or partnership please let: m2 \+ E6 X5 \/ y. q0 W1 {
me know.
0 w9 {5 n$ N' w' v# f! sLIABILITY
1 [0 ^8 c& o+ r" l7 q( TEach partner remains fully liable for the debts of the partnership, regardless of which
a2 O9 ?" e$ zpartner incurred the liability. In the event of financial difficulties, a judgment can be enforced4 g7 _* t7 o2 \- w# Y; v6 T/ ~
against each and every partner. If any one partner does not have nay money, the other partner' @- C8 d [' P+ I4 S) Z( U
who has the property and personal belongings and a house would have to meet the liability.. r8 s2 s. C- c% r1 |
Using the name company for a partnership does not eliminate personal liability., ?% h" m# g& a8 @; L, X6 R
TAX$ i( J) {9 s1 }/ j! H
Each partner is liable to pay tax on his share of the profit made. Expenses are deducted
2 S( S$ l9 q, O, j/ _' xfrom the profit and the share of net income of each partner is declared on his tax return./ K2 g# b9 \& G* R: f5 v
Partnership can have a different fiscal year than the calendar year.: G8 d# C/ }8 x, \' n5 @
AGREEMENT
4 U! T ~5 ~! ~$ U* W) ]It is very desirable for the partners to have a partnership agreement. It should set out# g5 i; o! Q& n$ e2 r1 o' z4 K) H
the basic terms of the partnership arrangement, including what business will be conducted,
t5 I$ G& x2 x5 C7 Q9 A. A" L6 Fprofit and loss sharing formula, whether the partnership will continue on the death of a party,
" P. ~, s! c) ^/ P2 `where the account of the partnership will be maintained, and if any partner is to be employed
* k9 o+ K( _6 ^% I2 Wfull-time, what salary he may expect. If a partnership agreement is not provided, the provisions
* B, t+ H4 E& ^ c# T, V, lof the Partnership act will apply. Without an agreement the partnership would dissolve on the
9 Q- v' l/ S1 D9 o* `* D, g1 tdeath of a partner. The partnership agreement should also provide for a formula by which in: F% u0 {, s5 s: o' u
the event of disagreement a party can withdraw from the partnership. Where no agreement is4 E8 s( t1 }4 h3 F4 ^
provided, any partner could simply register dissolution of partnership and terminate the" |4 z& d2 Y& K. ~; V- f7 V& _
partnership arrangement. Legal advice is desirable in drafting a partnership agreement.
1 i% q+ n. V. R+ |INCORPORATION
! {8 s, v% c1 X# p+ d' P5 WIncorporation is often referred to as a limited company. When a limited company is4 ~+ }2 ^# R0 Z2 |
formed, it creates a separate legal person, and has a different legal existence. A corporation
3 E r9 c0 N( L0 ?) amay be identified by the use of the words "limited", "incorporated", or "corporation".4 A& L0 o9 z4 I5 b* e
5' G, \4 g$ D- V) q# ^3 z \
The word "limited" correctly describes the concept of limited liability of a corporation.- L9 n% J: ?* M' P3 E. i( [( F
Unlike the sole proprietorship and partnership when a corporation is formed, the individual or# u' w" m1 [6 e( F% W( S$ W% B; K
the persons forming it are only liable for the amount of investment made by them in the
0 I4 }% c7 v! ^1 F* s- s- l5 NCorporation. In the event of financial problems arising, the judgment can be enforced only
+ w# u" M/ l: w9 ~* @7 N0 ?2 Eagainst the assets and property owned by the corporation, and the assets of the individual and
! x+ {* w4 M: Z. Qhis home cannot be touched. To ensure this, personal guarantees should be avoided, if possible.9 \6 x! _! t9 J8 O3 T. k6 \
The most important reason for forming a corporation is to protect personal assets against the1 ~8 e, D6 R, n5 ^5 z* h
risks of the business.
& y k; {: E* ]It is now possible for a one-man person to form a corporation and he can be the sole
. o9 {' s q) b3 M6 |director and also the sole shareholder in that company.
! G8 ]+ g& J* ?% i* lA corporation is more expensive but desirable for the protection of personal liability.9 h5 H+ c% d A& G
Jay Chauhan, @4 F- s6 f. v6 k) F3 o5 \
Barrister and Solicitor
: G _* `1 R* e9 w330 Highway 7 East, Suite 3098 w9 u( r) H% j: x# v7 m2 u& p% D
Richmond Hill, Ontario9 _$ I# l8 V8 j' T1 n2 O
L4B 3P83 Z- z8 P5 d$ ^! x
Tel.: (905) 771-1235
" `4 `, k" ]' K. }7 U# vFax: (905) 771-1237
% a6 H" q7 v5 B2 e y' z: @ H* eEmail: globalmigrations@hotmail.com |
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