3. Sole Proprietorship
The default option is to be a sole proprietor. With this
option there are fewer forms to file than with other
business organizations. The business is structured in such
a manner that legal documents are not required to
determine how profit-sharing from business operations
will be allocated.
This structure is acceptable if you are the business's sole
owner and you do not need to distinguish the business
from yourself. Being a sole proprietor does not preclude
you from using a business name that is different from your
own name, however. In a sole proprietorship all profits,
losses, assets and liabilities are the direct and sole
responsibility of the owner. Also, the sole proprietor will
pay self- employment tax on his or her income.
4. A partnership is a business owned by two or
more persons who contribute resources into
the entity. The partners divide the profits of
the business among themselves.
In general partnerships, all partners have
unlimited liability. In limited partnerships,
creditors cannot go after the personal assets
of the limited partners.
5. A corporation is a business organization that
has a separate legal personality from its
owners. Ownership in a stock corporation is
represented by shares of stock.
The owners (stockholders) enjoy limited
liability but have limited involvement in the
company's operations. The board of
directors, an elected group from the
stockholders, controls the activities of the
corporation.