1) Different Business Models Flashcards
(198 cards)
Different legal forms of business
- Sole trader
- Partnership
- Limited partners
- Limited liability partnership
Why businesses raise finance
- Purchase premises
- Employ staff
- Obtain advice (oft accountants)
- Expand and grow (by acquiring other businesses, marketing)
How businesses raise finance
- Owners may invest in it by making contributions of capital
- Outside investors may make capital contribution to the business to share in its profits.
- Business may borrow money
- Retention of profit.
Sole traders
- No set up costs or formalities
- Not a separate legal entity
- Unlimited personal liability
- No formal structure
- No Companies House filing or procedural element
- Complete privacy - no publicly filed accounts
Partnership - Overview
- No set up costs
- Not a separate legal entity
- Unlimited personal liability
- No CH filing
- Privacy
Governed by the provisions of the Partnership Act 1890
Partnerships - Formation
- No formalities
- There does not need to be intention - two or more people working together with the intention of creating profit = a partnership
s1(1) PA 1890
“…the relation which subsists between persons carrying on a business in a common view to profit”
No need for intention
Section 2 PA 1890
- Rules for determining the existence of a partnership
- Profits/losses shared = conclusive
- Loan between partners
- Property jointly held
Does a partnership exist
- No one factor suffices - consider all the facts
Northern Sales (1963) Limited v Ministry of National Revenue (1973)
Agreement to share losses as well as profits = partnership more likely
Walker v Hirsch 1884
Clerk lent money to the partnership, was paid a fixed salary and took 1/8th of the profits/losses but **was never held out **as a partner.
No partnership found to exist.
Terms of Partnership
Nothing required in terms of formalities - advisable to have an agreement drawn up by a solicitor.
Otherwise partnership governed by the default provisions of the PA
Standard Clauses of the PA 1890
Section 24(1) Profits and Losses
Section 24(6) Renumeration
Section 24(8) Decision making
Section 25 Expulsion
PA 1890 Section 24(1)
- Section 24(1) Profits and Losses
Partners entitled to share equally in the profits of the business, share equally in the losses - Even if capital has been contributed unequally.
Recommend express provision of profit sharing ration
PA 1890 Section 24(6)
Renumeration
Partners are not entitled to a salary
PA 1890 Section 24(8)
Decision making
Decisions arising during the ordinary course of the business are decided by a majority.
Except for any change to the nature of the partnership business which requires unanimity.
PA 1890 Section 25
Expulsion
A partner cannot be expelled by majority vote unless all partners have previously expressly agreed a majority can do this.
Partnership Agreements
Can be varied by unanimous consent (s19 PA)
Legal advice recommended.
Sleeping Partners
Not involved in the management of the business.
Limited liability unless become involved in business
General Partners
Run the business and have unlimited liability
Limited Partnerships - Overview
- At least one limited and one general partner
- Governed by the Limited Partnership Act 1907
- Must be registered at Companies House,
- but have no requirement to file accounts.
- Not commonly used for general business - usually used for investment vehicles.
What structure is usually used for investment vehicles?
Popular** joint venture business structures** where an investor (limited partner) puts money into a business run by the general partner.
Subcategory of private fund limited partnership also created.
Limited Liability Partnership - Key Characterstics
- LLPs were introduced by the LLP Act 2000
**Separate legal personality. **
Treated as a partnership for tax purposes.
All partners has limited liability - limited to the amount that they have agreed to pay under the terms of their Partnership Agreement
Registered at CH in the same way as companies
Required to file annual accounts
LLPs are in effect a hybrid
Between a traditional partnership (procedural flexibility) and a company (with limited liability).