Small-Business Idea Paper
University of Phoenix
ACC 561
Small-Business Idea Paper There are numerous factors affecting the type of business organizations that an owner should form, so that it is most beneficial for him and the product or services provided. In this paper, the four business structures are evaluated and the association of the legal, tax and accounting implications with the different structures are also discussed. Suppose that the government has released funds to set up small businesses, I would set up a language services company. The services will include translation, transcription, interpretation, copywriting and proofreading. Most companies nowadays provide services internationally. It is, therefore, important to be
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It is, therefore, subjected to “double taxation”, which means that profits are taxed and shareholders are taxed on the dividends that are paid on the stock they own and any profits they receive on shares of stock that they sell (Tiwary, 2008).
The ownership claim in corporations is defined by the amount of shares owned and can be easily transferred by selling off the shares. Because individual share can be easily bought, raising capital is easier for a corporation than the other business structures, particularly in “S” corporations. In corporations, the stockholders are protected from the liabilities and debts of the company, although they pay higher taxes on the dividends received from the company. A corporation also ensures the continuity of life if one owner dies. A corporation has more legal issues to handle than the other business structures because it is large and publicly traded. Everything needs to be documented and filed and general meetings must be held at least per annum. All actions affecting the operations of the company, such as mergers and establishing new business ventures, must be discussed, recorded and filed. This also means that because corporations trade publicly, they are required to provide extensive financial statements such as the balance sheets, income statement, cash flow statement and retained earnings statement. They need these statements to attract more investors and increase capital. Corporations are also liable to the SOX
• LIABILITY – Stockholders personal assets are not subject to claims of creditors. The corporation itself is responsible for its actions and liabilities. • INCOME TAXES – Shareholders in a corporation are subject to “double taxation” as in first the corporation is subject to corporate taxation, then money is paid out in dividends. Which then is taxed again as personal income tax. • LONGEVITY - The life of a corporation is limitless as
* Corporations incur taxes at the corporate level at marginal rates; while, distributions to shareholders are taxed at dividend rate
Also be obliged to pay taxes and dealt with civil and little acts of criminal penalties perform through agents. “The corporation is governed primarily by the statutory guidelines of the state statute that provides for its creation. The requirements for the creation and management of a corporation vary somewhat between the states, but as is usually the case, there are common threads that can be found in the corporate statutes of all states.” (Rogers,
Double taxation: A corporation must pay income taxes on its profits, and then shareholders must also pay personal taxes on the dividends they receive from the corporation.
John, when starting a business one has several options in the type of business structure to use. The different types of business structures are the sole proprietorship structure, the partnership structure, the corporation structure, the S corporation structure, and the limited liability company structure. Each structure has advantages and disadvantages and possible tax consequences.
Enclosed is the Justification Report covering information related to different types of entities that could be chosen to establish a business. Furthermore, the report explains in full details the advantages and disadvantages of each business entity, and how those factors could fulfill the needs of each particular individual.
There are four main forms of business structures. The structures of business differentiate based on liability, tax implications, and what type of business is being evaluated when determining what structure to use. This paper will cover the advantages and disadvantages within the four types of business structures; Limited Liability Corporations, Corporations, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships.
1. An analysis of the outcomes of your primary and secondary research (include data and findings as Appendix 1)
There are three types of business structures sole proprietorship, partnership, and general. Each business structure has its advantages as well as disadvantages; the key is determining which business structure will be most suitable for your business venture. Not everyone is looking to run a small business so a sole proprietorship may not be the answer, it could be that you are looking to start small and have your company grow into a corporation but not quite function exactly like a huge corporation. Whatever the case one must determine which business structure best suits their needs and this paper will
Choosing a Corporation/Company Structure - the business structure of a company/ corporation is highly recommended, it has the flexibility to gain more capital, or credit capability and assets used as security. Based on the Corporation Act 2001 (Cth) AC 22, a corporation is another legal entity with their own legal rights, duties and responsibilities separate to the individual or owner of the company (Harris, Hargovan & Adams, 2013, pp 229). The risk and consequences are one of the principal considerations of choosing a company structure (Harris, Hargovan & Adams, pp 50). Based on the “Corporate Veil” Liability is owned by a separate legal entity and not to the extent of the owner, for instance, the debt of the company is not a personal liability, but the company. This is further explained in the case below.
The concept of a company being a separate legal entity is the most striking illustration in separating the company from its owners. A paramount principle of corporate law is that no shareholder or member of a company is made liable for the obligations incurred by such incorporations A company is different from its members in the eyes of law. In continuations to this the opposite also holds true in the sense that neither can the company be held liable for the acts of its members. It is a fundamental distinction that a company is distinct from its members.
Corporations are a different type of business. They are more complex to start because more paperwork is involved and the corporation generally has to be registered at the state level. An ordinary corporation is formed through the articles of incorporation. These corporations are legal entities, and therefore bear legal responsibility. The shareholders of the corporation do not bear legal liability. In addition, corporate income is taxed differently it does not flow through to the owner's personal income tax statements. The
Corporate governance can be defined as the process, customs, laws by which the affairs of a company are managed and controlled it also
Corporation origin from the Latin word Corpus which means body. It is formed by a group of people and has separate rights and liability from those individual. In any means, corporation exists independently from its owner and this principle is called the doctrine of separate personality. Doctrine of separate personality is the basic and fundamental principle in a Company Law. This principle outline the legal relationship between company and its members. Company’s assets belong to the company not the shareholders as assets are the equity for creditors. Company must use up all its assets to pay off the creditors if it became insolvent. The same applies to the corporation’s debts. For limited liabilities company, the shareholder liability is limited which means that the shareholder is restricted to the number of shares they paid and not personally liable for the corporation’s debts. If the company does not have enough equity to pay off debts, the creditors cannot come after the shareholders. However, limited liability company can be very powerful when in hands who do fraud and on defeating creditors’ claims. Courts then can ignore the doctrine for exception cases and lifting the corporate veil. Lifting the corporate veil is a situation where courts put aside limited liability and hold a corporation’s shareholders or directors personally liable for the corporation’s debts.
Corporate Governance refers to the way a corporation is governed. It is the technique by which companies are directed and managed. It means carrying the business as per the stakeholders’ desires. It is actually conducted by the board of Directors and the concerned committees for the company’s stakeholder’s benefit. It is all about balancing individual and societal goals, as well as, economic and social goals. Corporate Governance is the interaction between various participants (shareholders, board of directors, and company’s management) in shaping corporation’s performance and the way it is proceeding towards. The relationship between the owners and the managers in an organization must be healthy and there should be no conflict between the