When launching a new business, every entrepreneur has to make an estimate on its potential size. It will determine a lot of future tasks and obligations that the business owners will have on their back. This decision will depend on the previous experiences of every businessperson, as well. Here are the pros and cons for the most popular business structures.
Ask the Others
Even if you are an experienced business player, it is still wise to see how other fellows behave in the business field. Learning from their mistakes will spare you unnecessary troubles. Also, try to establish a two-way relation with your colleagues from other businesses by connecting them on Facebook or blogging and sharing your successful stories with them. You give some to gain some; that’s how it works.
Working on Your Own
Many small entrepreneurs like working on their own. As their business grows, they sell it and start another one. Of course, some others keep developing the old one; it all depends on your preferences and the number of original ideas you come up with. So, the easiest and simplest step is forming a sole trade business. Here the business owner is usually the only employee, as well. There might be a few workers, but that is all. The advantage is that you are a small entity, able to quickly adapt to the market. The disadvantage is that taxes cover both the business revenue and your personal assets, as well.
Establish a Partnership
People who think that a sole proprietorship will be too small for their business aspirations join forces with a partner and form a business partnership. It is a practical option when you and a colleague of yours work in the same niche and who is better at what. By founding such a business relation you split the tasks to have more productive business operability. Also, a partnership is not taxed, but its owners are.
The bad side of a partnership is that when one partner becomes incapable of paying tax obligations, the IRA can get their share from the other partner.
Limit your Responsibility
When forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company), every shareholder is equally protected from business hazards that a corporation brings, but there are also some downsides of such a structure, as well. You might want to hear tips from a business advisory before you decide to form such a company.
The positive aspect of an LLC is that the number of shareholders is not restricted and it allows this type of business to develop or shrink in an easy way. Also, it is much more affordable to set up.
On the other side, an LLC can choose to be taxed as a corporation or a partnership, which will determine whether the shareholders will be obliged to pay the self-employment tax.
Owning a business is always more attractive than working for somebody else. Either way you have to work, but when you own a share or the whole business, your effort is invested in your own property. So, choose the structure that suits your needs and start your business cruise.
Dan Radak is a web hosting security professional with ten years of experience. He is a coauthor on several websites and regular contributor to BizzMark Blog. Currently, he is working with a number of companies in the field of online security, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies.