Advantages And Disadvantages Of Sole Trader

| A sole proprietorship is easy to create; there is minimal creation cost and time.The single owner has autonomy in decision making; sole owner makes all decisions related to the business and has complete ownership of business’s finances.

As a hybrid of partnerships and corporations, LLC’s provide limited liability for debts and flexibility to be taxed as a partnership or corporation (Staring and Naming a Business Presentation, 2012, Slide 5). Some specific advantages include being empowered authorities in the management of the business, diversity of members, limited liability, pass-through taxation, and less paperwork (appreciated by many). A drawback of this business structure is the need for a tailored operating agreement that specifies the specific needs of the

Failure to handle these situations properly can lead to huge product liability suits and even bankruptcy.

Sole trader is where a business is run as an individual; so that all profits are their own after tax has been paid on them. Within a sole trader organisation it is possible to employ staff, as the sole trader only means that you own the business personally and do not actually have to work by yourself.

Many believe that liability is a biggest issue in a general partnership than in a sole proprietorship. The owners of the company are still fully liable for any debts the company may accrue as well as the liability for any lawsuits that may be brought against the company. However, the bigger issue in a partnership is that now each partner can be liable for the other partner’s actions. If one partner is sued for malpractice, the other partner may suffer because of it.

Because the general partner holds majority of the interest and the limited partners are prohibited for participating in the control of the business.

Liability All liabilities are the responsibility of each partner. In the event of litigation, any creditors can go after the personal assets of each partner to recover any debt owed. But since liability is spread out between the owners, one may feel less risk is being taken. 2. Income Taxes General partnership may also benefit from pass-through taxation, meaning the partners are taxed like sole proprietors. Business income is reported on the personal tax filing while business losses can be deducted to reduce personal tax liability. The partnership itself is not subject to federal income tax. However the partnership needs to file an information return utilizing the IRS Form 1065. 3. Longevity or continuity of the organization Once the partnership agreement is fulfilled, the general partnership may dissolve. A buy/sell agreement may be included in the articles of the partnership to allow the

Convenience/Burden- Like a general partnership a limited partnership is easily formed and can enjoy pass through-taxation. It can also be easier to get financing with a limited partnership. A downfall of the limited partnership is that the death of a general partner can dissolve the partnership unless a prior agreement has been established.

A limited liability company protects each partner from personal liability for certain obligations of the company. An important difference from other partnerships is that each partner is liable for the debts and obligations of the partners. With limited liability Company, each state has its own laws governing partners for these vessels. Some states allow only certain professions, such as lawyers and accountants to form LLP. Some states only provide protection from liability for negligence claims, leaving personally responsible for other types of requests partner. For tax purposes, profits are divided equally between the partners and the partnership is not taxed separately.

Location- Similar to the General Partnership, the Limited Partnership may be moved to another state easily. A new DBA filing must be made in the

3    • Control – A major disadvantage of the limited partnership becomes obvious when discussing the actual management of the general partnership. Limited partners have no control of the day-to-day operations of the general partnership. Profit Retention – The limited partner receives an agreed portion of the profits that typically reflects the percentage of the amount that has been invested into the general partnership.   Location – If the general partners expand or move into another state, the burden of regulatory requirements is solely on the general partners and not the limited partners. If the partners plan to move or expand into another state, they simply need to file a new DBA in that state. Convenience / Burden – A

A Limited Liability Partnership Alternative Security Provision transmittal form must be filed as well. Once these documents are approved, the Secretary of State will return stamped copies of the forms as well as a Certificate of Registration to the partnership.

All you need is money and a realistic vision. 4) Another advantage of a sole proprietorship is that you pay lower taxes. This happens because as you own your own business, the earnings are considered as the owner’s personal income. Because of this, the sole proprietor may be subject to lower taxes than other forms of businesses, such as a partnership or corporation. 5) In addition to all the other advantages listed, another advantage of owning your own business is that you, the owner determines how much you want your firm or company to grow. You decide if you want to stay a small business or expand, whether it be locally or nationally. This can be advantageous because the owner can determine whether it’s better to stay small or grow. If you’re business is successful, you may want to expand to reach more and more clients, helping you make more money and to establish your firm as a successful one. Or you might think that it might be better to stay small and local, because you might not want to take a chance because you might not want to mess with a good thing. Whatever the situation, the owner decides what suites the company.

One major disadvantage of the partnership is taxation, partners will pay the tax same way as a sole trader. Therefore they will pay the corporation tax in addition to this they will have to pay income tax. Another disadvantage is liability partners are still subject to unlimited liability same with a sole trader if the business can’t pay its

The advantages to a LLC are: 1) Reduction of personal liability. A sole proprietor has unlimited liability, which can include the potential loss of all personal assets. 2) Taxes. Forming an LLC may mean that more expenses can be considered business expenses and be deducted from the company’s income. 3) Improved credibility. The business may have increased credibility in the business world compared to a sole proprietorship. 4) Ability to attract investment. Corporations, even LLCs, can raise capital through the sale of equity. 5) Continuous life. Sole proprietorships have a limited life,