Small Business Entity Types

Form a corporation, LLC, or nonprofit in any state, as well as perform other business filing related activities cost-effectively and conveniently online.
|
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP |
GENERAL PARTNERSHIPS |
LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP |
Formation |
no statutory requirements
trade name application
EIN (if you have employees)
|
no direct statutory rqmts
trade name application
EIN (if you have employees)
partnership agreement
|
file registration with Secretary of State for a fee
EIN
partnership agreement
|
Management and Control |
proprietor has sole management authority
|
shared by partners
|
shared by partners
|
Liability of Owner(s) |
unlimited
|
joint and several
insurance
contract
|
limited on tort claims; joint and several for contract claims
|
Ability to Raise Capital |
limited to wealth and borrowing capacity of proprietor
|
limited by collective wealth and contributions of partners and overall value of business
|
limited by collective wealth and contributions of partners and overall value of business
|
Federal Taxation of Entity |
taxed at individual level
|
pass through
|
pass through
|
Transferability of Ownership Interest |
no equity interests to transfer or sell
|
transfer causes technical dissolution
|
transfer causes technical dissolution
|
Fringe Benefits |
must be included in income; up to 40% deductible for health insurance with % increasing
|
must be included in partner's taxable income; up to 40% deductible; percent of deductibility increasing
|
must be included in partner's taxable income; up to 40% deductible; percent of deductibility increasing
|
Deductibility of Losses |
deductibility aginst income, subject to at-risk rules, PAL's basis
|
deductibility against income, subject to at-risk rules; PAL's and basis; basis inceases for loans to entity
|
deductibility against income, subject to at-risk rules; PAL's and basis; basis inceases for loans to entity
|
Availability of Special Allocations |
N/A
|
available
|
available
|
Basis Adjustments at Death |
step up
|
inside and outside basis increases - See § IRC 754
|
inside and outside basis increases - See § IRC 754
|
Eligibility to be an Equity Holder |
N/A
|
no limitations
|
no limitations
|
|
LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS |
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES |
CORPORATIONS |
Formation |
file registration with Secretary of State for a fee
EIN
partnership agreement
there is an application fee for certificate
|
file registration with Secretary of State for a fee
securities form
EIN
operating and management agreement
annual report fee
|
file registration with Secretary of State for a fee
securities form
EIN
S election (for S Corporations)
bylaws/shareholders agreements
annual report fee
|
Management and Control |
general partners
|
may be delegated to manager or retained by members
|
board of directors or shareholders
|
Liability of Owner(s) |
general partners
joint and several limited partners
limited to investment
|
limited to investment
|
limited to investment
|
Ability to Raise Capital |
limited by collective wealth and contributions of partners and overall value of business
securities laws apply to sales of securities
|
limited by wealth of participating members and overall value of business
securities laws apply to sales of securities
|
limited by wealth of participating shareholders and overall value of business
securities laws apply to sales of securities
|
Federal Taxation of Entity |
pass through
|
pass through
|
C Corporation - double taxation
S Corporation - pass through
|
Transferability of Ownership Interest |
limited partners can transfer, subject to securities laws issues and partnership restrictions
general partner transfer causes technical dissolution unless limited partners agree to continuation
|
freely transferable interests, subject to restrictions in agreement
|
shares freely transferable subject to shareholder agreement and securities law concerns
|
Fringe Benefits |
must be included in partner's taxable income; up to 40% deductible; percent of deductibility increasing
|
must be included in partner's taxable income; up to 40% deductible; percent of deductibility increasing
|
C Corporation - deductible to corporation; excluded from employee's gross income
S Corporation - for 2% or greater shareholder (same as partnership)
|
Deductibility of Losses |
deductibility against income, subject to at-risk rules; PAL's and basis; basis inceases for loans to entity
|
deductibility against income, subject to at-risk rules; PAL's and basis; basis inceases for loans to entity
|
C Corporation - no shareholder deductions; loss carries forward
S Corporation - deductions available subject to at-risk rules, PAL's and basis. Loans to entity do not affect basis.
|
Availability of Special Allocations |
available
|
available
|
not available
|
Basis Adjustments at Death |
inside and outside basis increases - See § IRC 754
|
inside and outside basis increases - See § IRC 754
|
basis in shares step up but not inside basis of asset
|
Eligibility to be an Equity Holder |
no limitations
|
no limitations
|
C Corporation - no limitations
S Corporation - significant limitations; i.e., maximum of 75 shareholders
|
Note: This information has been compiled by the
Knowledge Institute for Small Business Development (KISBD) for educational purposes only in order to convey a general overview of the options and related services available to small businesses in the subject areas introduced. Content is provided on an "as is" basis and is not intended to be an exhaustive representation, nor does it provide advice or create a customer relationship between KISBD and its sponsors, buzgate.org, its affiliates and any other organization named herein, and any reader.