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BUSINESS STRUCTURES IN ONTARIO

Sole Proprietorships

A sole proprietorship is the simplest and most common form of business structure, and it is the
oldest form of legal ownership in Canada. It is owned by one person who retains all of the
legal rights and bears all of the responsibilities associated with the business. The owner
enjoys all of the profits flowing from the business and is responsible for all of its debts. The
business is not considered as a separate entity from the owner. In other words, the firm is
part of the owner. The income of the business is reported as personal income on the owner’s
personal income tax return, and is taxed at the same rate as the owner’s other personal
income, if any.

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Advantages of a sole proprietorship

• A sole proprietorship is the simplest and least expensive type of organization to create
or dissolve.
• Sole proprietorships are not governed by any specific legislation. Each province,
however, has some specific regulations.
• The owner retains absolute control over business decisions and is the sole owner of any
profits from the business.
• The profits of the business are not taxed as a separate entity, only as part of the
owner’s personal income.
• Unlike an employee, a sole proprietor can deduct business expenses from personal
income.
• The owner may derive personal satisfaction from being one’s own boss.

Disadvantages of a sole proprietorship

• The owner faces unlimited liability. Unlike some other business structures, a sole
proprietorship is not a separate entity from the owner. Unlimited liability occurs
because there is no legal distinction between the owner and the business.
• With regard to liability and taxation, the owner and the business are one in the same.
• Therefore, the owner can be held personally liable for all business debts, or for
negligent acts of employees in the course of business.
• Creditors can seize the personal assets of the owner for non-payment of business
debts. Unlimited liability implies that the owner is liable for claims against the
business, even those that go beyond the value of his or her ownership in the firm.
• The ability to obtain financing may be impaired because the amount of money the
owner is able to invest in the business is limited to what available resources he or she
has and what he or she is able to borrow.
 • In contrast to some other business structures, in which funds can be raised through the
sale of equity in the business, the only option available to sole proprietorships is debt
financing.
• The ability to obtain this debt financing will depend greatly on the value of the owner’s
personal assets that can be used for collateral.
• The owner is solely responsible for all aspects of the business, from day-to-day
operation to securing financing. If the business grows, the managerial responsibilities
may become too large for one person to handle.
• Upon death of the owner, the business is legally terminated.
• The assets may be transferred to a new owner who establishes a new sole
proprietorship, but the new owner acquires the business free and clear of all debts,
obligations, and other liabilities of the original owner.
• As a consequence, the resulting taxes payable by the owner’s estate may be so
substantial that some assets must be sold to meet these obligations.

Partnerships

A partnership is established when two or more people agree to pool their financial, managerial,
and technical resources in order to operate a business for profit. Partnerships are most
commonly found in professions such as law and accounting. The definition of a partnership, as
enumerated in the provincial Partnership Act, is the relation which subsists between persons:

• carrying on a business in common,

• with a view to profit from the business.

Each partner owes every other partner a duty to act in the best interests of the partnership.
Like a sole proprietorship, a partnership is not taxed as a business that is separate from its
owners. The income from the partnership is included as part of the partners’ personal incomes
and taxed accordingly.

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Creation of a Partnership

Partnerships may be created either by agreement between the parties, or by the conduct of
the parties. However, where a partnership is the desired form of business structure, it is
recommended that the partners draw up a written Partnership Agreement. This can help
greatly in the settlement of any disputes that may arise in connection with the business of the
partnership.

Advantages of a partnership

• Because two or more people will be in business together, they can combine their
finances in order to invest more than either could have done individually.
• A partnership will most likely be able to borrow more than a sole proprietorship because
creditors will have the collateral of two or more people instead of only one to secure
their lending.
• Partners can pool their talents so that each person can focus on his or her area of
expertise in the business.
Disadvantages of a partnership

• Like a sole proprietorship, partners in a partnership are also exposed to unlimited

liability incurred by the business.

• However, unlike a sole proprietorship, each partner can legally bind every other
partner.
• Each partner is jointly and severally liable for all partnership debts, so a partner
can be held personally liable for any debts, obligations or wrongful acts of
another partner.

• The partnership ends every time a partner leaves, unless provided for in a partnership
agreement. In addition, a partner cannot simply withdraw his or her investment from
the business. He or she must find someone (or another current partner) who is willing
to buy into the partnership in order to replace the exiting partner, and this candidate
must be acceptable to the remaining partners.
• Management decisions may be more complex and more difficult to make, particularly
when disagreements among partners occur.

• A properly drawn partnership agreement may provide for a mechanism to

resolve any decision-making problems.

• Start-up costs can be as high as, or even higher than, the cost of incorporating, once a
properly drawn partnership agreement is taken into account.

Corporations

A corporation is distinct from a sole proprietorship and partnership in one fundamental way: it
is a separate legal entity. It has a legal existence independent from the owners of the
business. It can buy, own, and sell property, sue and be sued, and must file its own income
tax return.

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There are three main groups of people involved in a corporation:

Shareholders

• They are the owners of the corporation. Common shareholders are entitled to vote at
shareholders’ meetings on company-related issues such as electing the board of
directors and choosing an auditor. Most shareholders are not involved in managing the
affairs of the corporation.
• Shareholders’ liability for debts of the corporation is limited to the price they paid for
the shares they own.
• Shareholders receive a portion of profits based on the type and number of shares they
own in the corporation.
• They are entitled to share the assets if the corporation dissolves, after all debt
obligations have been satisfied.
Board of Directors

• The board of directors is elected by the shareholders to guide the affairs of the
corporation.
• Directors owe a fiduciary duty to the corporation, and must disclose any personal
interest in any business in which the corporation participates.

Officers

• Officers are hired by the board of directors. They are responsible for the day-to-day
management of the corporation
• Unlike shareholders, officers can legally bind the corporation to contracts they sign on
its behalf.

In contrast to sole proprietorships or partnerships, a corporation is subject to double taxation.

Because it is a separate legal entity, any profits of a corporation are taxed according to
corporate income tax rates. Then, if after-tax profits are distributed to shareholders in the
form of dividends, the shareholders will be taxed on these dividends. Thus, income from a
corporation can be taxed twice: once at the corporate level, and then again when the income is
distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends. Shareholder income from dividends does,
however, get some form of tax relief in the form of dividend tax credits.

Advantages of a corporation

• A corporation provides limited liability for the owners (shareholders); shareholders are
only liable to the extent of their investment in the shares of the corporation.
• As a separate legal entity, the corporation is responsible for its own debts and
obligations.
• A corporate structure provides flexibility in the organization of the business, and in the
relationship between the owners.
• A corporation has a perpetual existence, so it does not end upon the death of one of the
shareholders.
• This perpetual existence allows for simpler estate planning, without the necessity of re-
negotiation of partnership agreements each time a change is made.
• Control and ownership of a corporation are easily transferable by selling shares.
• Corporations may facilitate access to capital because additional shares in the
corporation can be sold to raise funds.
• A corporation may be the preferable structure when there is a large number of owners,
as it provides for a formal decision-making hierarchy.
• A shareholder can contract with or sue the corporation, whereas a partner can do
neither with respect to the partnership and must contract with or sue the partners
individually.
• A corporation can provide flexibility of financing.
• The corporation can create different classes of shares, with varying rights and
characteristics.
• This flexibility provides more options to investors, as they can obtain a type of
investment that most properly fits with their own investment objectives.
• Some government assistance is only available to corporations.
• Corporations may offer possible tax advantages compared to other forms of
organization. For example, small businesses that have incorporated may be eligible for
the small business deduction.
Disadvantages of a corporation

• The costs of creating and maintaining the corporation can be very high. For instance,
the required legal and accounting work may be significant.
• Laws governing corporations are more complex. If a corporation’s shares are publicly
traded, then the corporation must also follow stringent financial reporting and securities
commission requirements.
• Shareholders cannot use corporate losses to offset their personal income.

Which type of business structure to use?

Deciding which type of business structure to use can be difficult. Some questions to ask when
choosing among various business structures include:

• How easy and costly is the form of business structure to organize?

• How much capital will the business need?
• How much capital will come from owners and how much debt financing will be needed?
• What are the tax implications of each business structure?
• How much personal involvement should the owners have in controlling and managing
the business?
• How much risk and liability for the business should the owners assume?
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