Available Business Structures
Sole Proprietorship
A sole proprietorship is the simplest form of business, in which a sole owner
and his or her business are not legally distinct entities, and the owner is
personally liable for business debts.
General Partnership
A general partnership is a partnership in which there are no limited partners,
and each partner has both managerial power and unlimited liability for
partnership debts.
Limited Partnership
A limited partnership is a partnership that has both limited and general
partners. The general partners manage the business and are individually liable
for the debts of the partnership. Each limited partners liability is limited to
the amount of money that he or she has invested in the company.
S Corporation
An S corporation is an eligible corporation that elects to be taxed under
Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code. An S corporation is generally exempt
from most federal income tax; instead, the corporations shareholders pay tax on
the corporation's income by reporting their pro rata shares of pass-through
items on their own individual income tax returns.
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C Corporation
A C corporation is an organization authorized by state law to act as a legal
entity distinct from its owners. A corporation has its own name and powers to
achieve legal purposes, and therefore is a separate legal entity.
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Limited Liability Company (LLC)
The LLC is a hybrid between a corporation and a limited partnership. LLCs
provide protection from personal liability, just as corporations do, yet LLCs
receive the tax treatment of limited partnerships, or a C corporation, whichever
the members of the LLC desire.
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