3 basic legal structures: - Answers 1. sole proprietorship
2. partnership
3. corporation
sole proprietoship - Answers a business owned by one person who has unlimited liability and unlimited
rights to profits
Advantages of Sole Proprietorship - Answers - easy to start
- doesn't require as much paperwork
- fewer regulations
- ability to make quick decisions
- entitled to all profits
Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorship - Answers - difficult to raise money
- long hours
- personally liable
- no encouragement or feedback
- taxed personally
steps to registering - Answers 1. choose name
2. registration forms
3. name search
4. pay a fee
5. notary
partnership - Answers A business with two or more owners that make decisions for the business
together and share to profits, losses, assets, and liabilities
limited partnership - Answers business partnership owned by a general partner with unlimited liability
and one or more limited partners with no official input in daily operations and limited liability
corporation - Answers a legal entity composed of stockholders under a common name
corporate legal structure offer 3 key advantages: - Answers 1. issue stock to raise money
, 2. limited personal liability
3. can exist indefinitely
C Corporation - Answers most companies
sell ownership as shares of stock
Subchapter S Corporation - Answers limit of 100 stockholders
only taxed once, as the personal income of the owners
Professional corporation - Answers for particular professions such as medical practices or accounting
firms
nonprofit corporation - Answers specific mission to improve society
tax-exempt
public benefit corporation (B-corporation) - Answers civic or environmental benefit
Limited Liability Company - Answers personal assets are protected
flexible
Series Limited Liability Company - Answers liability protection across multiple series
contract - Answers an agreement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law
building blocks of business
work and payment
boilerplate language - Answers a standard format for a specific type of legal agreement
a successful contract should achieve the four A's: - Answers 1. Avoid misunderstanding
2. Assure work