How To Choose The Best Legal Structure For Your Business

Published on: 15 April 2022 Last Updated on: 05 May 2022

Starting a business can be exciting, scary, and – let’s be honest – confusing!

You don’t need an MBA or any other business degree to start a successful business. But, there are other important things that you need to make right from the beginning.

While there are many things that need to be done correctly from the start of the business, there is one thing where you cannot make a mistake Choosing The right business structure.

Your business structure is important in many ways. It decides how your business will showcase in front of others, what power you will have over your business, and most importantly, what type of taxation it will fall under.

Seeing how the current entrepreneurs are so hung up on sole proprietorship that they do not see the benefits of other business structures.

Today, we have come to take you on a journey and make you see the different business structures and what each offers to a business.

What Is A Legal Structure Of A Business?

Every new business requires the formation of a business entity that can be considered its identity in the market. This is where the concept of a legal structure comes in.

A legal structure, also known as a business ownership structure, determines the flow of power within the business, the type of income tax you need to file, and highlights the risk to which your business is exposed.

The most common legal business structures are as follows:

Sole Proprietorships.
Partnership.
Corporation.
Cooperative.
Limited Liability Company (LLC).

Types Of Business Structure

While there are many legal business structures, we have picked the most used currency in the world. This Legal Structure covers almost every aspect of legal business structure.

1. Sole Proprietorships

This is the simplest form of legal business structure. In this type of business structure, one individual is solely responsible for the business profits, debts, and liabilities.

This business structure works great for small to medium-scale businesses. This entity does not offer separation or protection of any personal and professional assets. While this is great for small businesses, it might be difficult to scale up.

2. Partnership

As the name suggests, this type of business structure is owned by two or more individuals. The legal partnership structure can be further divided into two entities: General Partnership and Limited Partnership.

A general partnership is where all the shares are equally divided among all the partners.
In a limited partnership, one individual has control over all the business operations. While others are just contributors and shareholders for the profit.

3. Corporation

When a business is considered a corporation, it becomes a separate entity from its owner by law. It is considered a separate entity that enjoys legal rights just like any other person.

For instance:

It can sue others.
It can be used.
Buy and sell a property.
It even has the right to sell the right of its ownership.

4. Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A Limited Liability is a hybrid structure that allows owners, partners, and shareholders to limit their liability while enjoying the tax and flexibility of a partnership business model.

Under the umbrella of the LLC, members of the business are shielded from any personal liability related to the business as long as they have a written LLC Operating agreement contract.

However, to do that, the business needs to have the best business bank accounts with all the necessary features.

5. Cooperative

A cooperative business legal structure follows the concept of serving the same people who are working for the business. All the members are responsible for making business decisions, and whatever the profit business samples, it is shared among the members.

A cooperative business structure offers the following advantages.

Low taxes.
Increased funding.
Better discounts and services.

Factors To Weigh Before Choosing A legal Business Structure

While an individual can choose any business structure they like, there are a few considerations you need to look into.

1. Complex Procedure

Businesses with fewer people don’t need complex procedures to rule their business operations. Instead, they can just follow a simple business format.

However, if your business has many employees and offers different types of services, you must select a business structure that can support all your business requirements.

The best way to understand what kind of legal business structure you need is essential that you understand the goals and a business structure that help you achieve the least complexity.

2. Continuity Of Existence

You are not starting a business with a lifespan of only a decade. That means, while you are planning for your business, you must plan for its continuity. Hence, it is important that you see how a business is concluding.

If you are thinking of securing your business for future financial security, you must also look into the right business structure to support your needs.

3. Control

Business is all about control. If you cannot control how your business is operated, you will never be able to calculate the ROI at the end of the day. Hence, it is essential to decide how much control each individual requires to operate the business.

For instance, if someone wants to have more control over their business, sole proprietorship might be a more suitable business structure.

4. Liability

When running a business, you need to ensure that your personal liabilities are not tied down with your business. In that case, what will happen is that your personal liabilities will be used to cope with business losses.

Hence, to separate your business from your personal liabilities, choose a legal business structure that protects your personal assets.

Conclusion

Choosing a business structure is dependent on what you want to achieve from your business. Depending on what you want from your business, you can go with any legal business structure.

While you are free to decide for yourself which business structure you want to go with, it is a good idea that you take help from a business lawyer.

A business lawyer can help you understand the differences and benefits more detailedly. They will even help you with all the paperwork needed to establish your business as a legal entity.

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Arnab

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

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Six Steps to a Successful Office Move

There are several steps to take when moving your office from one location to another. Whether you are downsizing or expanding, moving your business requires a lot of planning and the ability to minimize interruptions to productivity, employee projects, and cash flow. Depending upon the size of your business and the funds you have available, there can be a lot of stress associated with moving. Office Moving Basics: If you are on a limited budget, knowing how moving companies arrive at their fees can reduce your stress and even help you save money. For example, if you have the flexibility, try to schedule your move for an off-peak period that is less expensive. Or look for free packing boxes so you will not have to buy or rent them from a moving company. Whether you choose to rent a moving truck or decide to hire a commercial moving company, below are six ways to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible. 1. Prepare, Plan, and Delegate Write down a plan to outline everything you must do to get to your new office location. Include notifying staff and clients, packing up everything you need, and obtaining insurance. Do not underestimate how long the process will take. Smaller offices will take less time to pack and prepare than larger offices. Start packing the office items you will not need until you are in the new office space. Decide who will be responsible for different steps of the moving process. For example, assign or delegate a move coordinator to communicate with and keep employees informed. Be sure the person you choose has stellar organizational and communication skills and give them the authority to make and manage decisions. Small offices with only a few employees will require a very coordinated effort to work together. 2. Layout a Timeline Keep in mind that while you plan to move, there will still be work that needs to get done. When creating a plan, establish a reasonable timeline so that your business does not suffer during the moving phase. The first step to put on your timeline is the moving date. Do not forget to include time for cleaning up and decluttering your office before packing. There is no need to bring stuff you will not need to a new place. Your lease termination date will play a significant role in choosing a moving day. 3. Know Your Budget Relocating to a new office location will cost money. Determine how much you can afford to outsource and where you can reduce costs. Will you hire a professional mover or rent a truck? Do you plan on upgrading office furniture and equipment? It is highly recommended that you include moving insurance in your budget if anything gets damaged or lost during the move. 4. Plan Out the New Office Space Collect any available information, such as floor layouts and blueprints, for the new space. Know where the electrical outlets are located and how much storage space you have. Does the new office have large open spaces that will require temporary walls or cubicles? If yes, It's possible that you will need to hire electricians, painters, carpenters or you can try One Point Partitions if your office will require some more specific work, like toilet divisions so that your new office will accommodate your current needs. Do not forget to include these costs in your budget. 5. Solicit Bids If you plan on hiring a professional mover, get several bids, and choose the company that best suits your needs and budget. Specialty items such as high-value products and complicated equipment like medical equipment should be handled by professionals with experience. 6. Notify Service Providers and Clients Let your clients or customers know well in advance when you plan to move. Even if you do your best to avoid delays in communications and services, there is a good chance there will be a slight delay during the actual move. Set up a contingency plan for how clients can reach you during your move. A suggestion is to leave a few employees in the office to attend to customer inquiries. Follow the steps above to achieve a successful office move with minimal to no downtime. The better you plan, the more likely your staff will be able to get back to work in the new location quickly. Read Also: The Ultimate Moving Checklist – Things you Need to do When Moving Finding The Right Moving Company Plan Moving Houses Ahead: 7 Essential Tips 10 Things to Do Before You Move Out of State Factors To Consider While Preparing For A Move

Green Business Opportunities for Eco-Entrepreneurs

Whether or not people are willing to admit it, climate change is here. And it's affecting how people live in all parts of the world, from rising sea levels that are wiping away micro-islands to protracted droughts that are impacting crop yield. As an entrepreneur, you have the ability to make an even broader impact towards a greener and more sustainable approach to doing things. Here are six green business opportunities for eco-minded entrepreneurs: Green Printing: Ink refill businesses don't exactly sound exciting or profitable, but it's actually a highly lucrative endeavor, not to mention an eco-friendly one, too. Refilling ink cartridges reduces non-degradable plastic waste that end up in landfills. In fact, close to 400 million empty ink and toner cartridges are discarded each year. That creates tonnes of plastic and chemical waste that seep into and pollute soil and water systems. Green Finance: Businesses like Red Maple Financial are helping create a greener future by diverting their funds and resources into local, community-driven projects. You can either invest in or create a similar business model that supports sustainable, eco-friendly agriculture. Aside from financing, green finance is also typically involved in projects that create educational opportunities, support artistic endeavors, and bolster local ecological interest. Green Retail: Eco-friendly retail stores, like EcoPlum, are becoming increasingly common as retail consumers become more aware and proactive about their carbon footprint. With each purchase, customers can earn points that they can later exchange for rewards or choose to donate to worthy environmental projects. Every product these green retailers sell also bear a green certification, which means you are also supporting sustainable manufacturing practices. Green Construction: Construction is and will always be a booming industry. As the human population increases, construction projects will relatively increase as the need for housing and public facilities emerge. Sustainable construction materials including recycled railroad ties and pilings are paving the way for greener infrastructure. Companies, like Axion, are switching from traditional, non-sustainable materials, like gravel and steel, to recycled plastic. Green Catering: The food industry, for decades, has been generating millions of tons of waste, from unsold crops to spoiled meats. Organic catering is a great way to combine your passion for food and the environment. By catering to local parties and business events, you can control and lower food spoilage by using only organic and locally-grown fruits, vegetables, and meats. You can also ensure that poultry is raised and slaughtered humanely by working only with farms that adhere to strict and rigorous practices and standards. Green Blogging: If you want to start an eco-friendly business but is short on funding, you can always share your values and inspire change by starting your own blog. As a green blogger, you will be writing about environmental topics, such as reviews of green cleaning products or organic restaurants in your local area. You can start making money through marketing and/or selling these eco-friendly brands to your readers. Final Thoughts: Going green is crucial towards saving the planet for future generations. As an entrepreneur, you have more influence and power to affect change in the direction that you want. Keep in mind that these are only six of the many green businesses that you can pursue. In general, any business today can be recreated into an eco-friendly, sustainable model of itself. Read Also: Why Do Entrepreneurs Put Up Their Drop Shipping Websites For Sale? 7 Startup Ideas For Young Entrepreneurs

How You Can Invest In Your Small Business

Many small business owners crave growth and dream of running a successful company, but many of those same people struggle to invest in their dreams. It may require all of your time and energy simply to keep the company running, so how can you effectively plan for the future? You don't have to commit to any overhauls right now, and you may find that even small improvements result in immediate and obvious improvements. If you lack confidence in your company or your abilities, here are some ways you can invest in your small business and finally reach your goals. Business Loans Many of the tactics that will help small businesses grow require money to even think about implementing. When you own a small company, chances are you've already invested a lot of your own personal assets into the business and aren't in a position to contribute more. A business loan can help you meet a variety of your goals if you've got a healthy financial history and a stellar business plan. Make sure you do your research, because you might qualify for special programs like minority business loans. New Suppliers If you're looking to improve your products, you might want to start with your suppliers. Everyone wants the lowest price for the highest quantity of the best products, but many small businesses have to pick and choose their priorities. For example, they can choose the lowest price and get more products, but the quality might suffer. Or they want the best products for the lowest price and can't afford to buy in higher quantities. Your supply chain has an impact on every area of your business, so branching out and establishing relationships with new suppliers can make a big impact. New Employees The idea can make some business owners nervous, but having extra help can change the way you perform daily operations. Maybe you're looking for a specialist who can help you with marketing. Maybe you need help interacting with customers or packing orders. Maybe you just don't want to do all the boring, pesky little tasks that are essential to the company's survival. You can hire a new employee, but you can also outsource or hire someone to work a few hours here and there instead of every day. Marketing consultants and customer relations services are very popular, for example. Specialized Training If you want to get ahead of your competition and keep an eye on industry trends, you should consider investing in specialized training and furthering your education. There are numerous ways you can do this. You can take a course, attend a training session in person, read books, and attend industry events like conferences and conventions. This will require taking some time away from your company, but you're likely to receive enough valuable experiences to make up for the time away. In addition to learning new skills, you can network with others in your niche and brainstorm with people who intimately understand your industry. After a few days away, you can come back home inspired and ready to try something new. Diversified Products And Services It's easy for businesses to become stagnant if they only offer the same products and services year after year. Consistency is great, but adding something new and exciting is how you're going to keep your loyal customers interested and draw in potential new customers. You don't have to come up with an entirely new product line, either. Sometimes one or two new products is enough to drum up some excitement. You can also get creative and utilize products you already have. Creating the same product in new colors, flavors, scents, or sizes is a great way to start experimenting without opening yourself up to extreme risks. Running a small business is a lot of work, so it can feel impossible to implement new tactics and pursue new goals. Just remember that there are strategies you can take advantage of to invest in your company and see real growth on your own timeline. Try to know as much about the market as possible, where to invest and opportunities it can provide. If required, also take help from professionals like the Singapore venture capital. Read Also: Master’s In Business Analytics: Is It Worth The Effort? Your Business Needs Marketing To Survive – Here’s Why Content Marketing Campaign Strategy For Small Business

How To Choose The Best Legal Structure For Your Business

What Is A Legal Structure Of A Business?