chapter 6 Flashcards
what is a sole proprietorship?
one person owning and operating a business, without forming a corporation
in a sole proprietorship, the business and owner are a single entity
what are the 6 advantages to a sole proprietorship?
easy and inexpensive to form
profits are retained by the owner
direct control of the business
freedom from government regulation
taxed once
ease of dissolution
explain how sole proprietorship are easy and inexpensive to form?
very few legal requirements when wanting to start a sole proprietorship business
explain how profits are retained by the owner in a sole proprietorship?
owner obtains the start-up funds and gets all the profits earned by the business. The more efficiently the firm operates, the higher the company’s profitability
explain how direct control of the business is a sole proprietorship advantage?
All business decisions are made by the sole proprietorship owner without having to consult anyone else
explain why a sole proprietorship has freedom from government regulation?
(more freedom than other forms
of business with respect to government controls) no governments requirements to open a sole proprietorship just need to be a licensed business
what are the 7disadvantages of a sole proprietorship?
unlimited liability
difficulty raising capital
limited managerial expertise
trouble finding qualified employees
personal time commitment unstable business life (limited lifespan)
losses are the owners responsibility
limited growth few fringe benefits
explain how unlimited liability is a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship?
Legally, the sole proprietor and the company are one and the same, making the business owner personally responsible for all debts the company incurs. can lose personal assets if needed
why is difficulty raising capital a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship?
Business assets are unprotected against claims of personal creditors, so business lenders view sole proprietorships as high risk due to the owner’s unlimited liability.
why is limited managerial expertise a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship?
The success of a sole proprietorship rests solely with the skills
and talents of the owner
why is trouble finding qualified employees a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship?
Sole proprietors often cannot offer the same pay, fringe benefits, and advancement as larger companies, making them less attractive to employees seeking the most favourable employment opportunities
why is the personal time commitment a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship?
Running a sole proprietorship business requires personal sacrifices and a huge time commitment (12-hour workdays and 7-day workweeks)
why is a unstable business life a disadvantage of a sole proprietorship?
life span of the business is uncertain - owner may lose interest, experience ill health, retire, or die. The business will cease to exist unless the owner makes
provisions for it to continue operating or puts it up for sale
what is liability?
liability is another term for debt, for a business it means the responsibility to pay all debts
why is liability important in a sole proprietorship?
because you have unlimited liability, any debts or damages incurred by the business are also your debts and YOU must pay them
what are required and important to fill out before forming a partnership?
legal forms outlining ALL the details of the partnership
what are the 3 forms of partnerships?
general partnership
limited liability partnership
limited partnership
explain what a general partnership is?
A partnership in which all owners share in operating the business and in assuming liability for the business’s debts. They co-own the assets, and each can act on behalf of the firm. Each partner also has unlimited liability for all the business obligations of the firm
explain a limited partnership?
a partnership with one or more general partners and one or more limited partners
what is a general partner?
an owner (partner) who has unlimited liability and is active in managing the firm
all money invested and personal assets are at risk if needed
what is a limited partner?
An owner who invests money in the business but does not have any management responsibility or liability for losses beyond the investment (personal assets are not at risk)
what is a limited liability partnership?
Limits all partner’s risks of losing their personal assets to the outcomes of only their own acts and omissions and those of people under their supervision
all other partners are not liable for another partners mistakes
what are the 12 questions to ask when choosing a business partner?
do you share the same goals
do you share the same vision for the company future
what skills does the other person have
does the other person have the same skills or do they compliment yours
what contacts, resources, or special attributes will the person bring to the business
what type of decision maker is this person
could I happily share authority with this person
do you trust each other
how does this person respond to adversity
do they try to solve the problem or try to defend their ego
can the person accept constructive criticism without getting defensive
to what extent can they bring fun and excitement into the partnership
what percentage of registered businesses in canada are sole proprietorships?
almost 25% of all registered businesses in canada fall under the form of owner ship