When starting a new business, you will be required to determine the type of business entity it is for tax purposes. There are a number of them out there and each one has different benefits and draw backs. It is best to understand them all before determining which is best for your company.

PART 1 - SOLE PROPREITORSHIPS
The sole proprietorship is the best option for someone who is starting a business in which she will be the only person involved. Many individuals who work out of their home, such as freelance writers, photographers, eBay business owners, etc., opt for a sole proprietorship for their business.

It is considered the quickest and easiest business setup process. There are no prerequisites for your business, an attorney is not necessary, and there are minimal costs for establishment of the sole proprietor entity. In most states, you simply register your business as a fictitious business name. In other words, [your name] doing business as [name of your business].

A fictitious registration does not, however, protect the name you choose for your business - anyone else can use that name. On the other hand, doing so does allow you to use the name of the business rather than your own for business banking accounts and other documentation.

There are some minimal formalities you may need to address when establishing a sole proprietorship:

• Obtain a Federal Tax Identification Number or EIN (otherwise, you will have to use your social security number).
• Obtain an occupancy permit for your place of business, if it is outside your home, depending on the requirements in your state.
• Obtain a business license, if your state requires.

Profits made on a sole proprietorship are considered the personal income of the owner and are taxed as such. It is best to set aside at least 25% (sometimes more) of any profits to pay in quarterly installments to the government. I recommend that you consult with an accountant to determine your best options regarding the taxes on your business.

There are two distinctive drawbacks to this type of business entity. As sole proprietor, the business you start has no separate existence from you. You are personally liable for the debts of the business, which means any debt you may be in default on will end up on your personal credit record. It is best to start this type of business with little to no debt associated with it.

Also, the existence of a sole proprietorship only lasts as long as you do. If a family member wishes to continue the business after you retire or pass away, he will have to register the business under his own name. Of course, as I pointed out, this process requires very little effort.

If you’re just getting starting as an entrepreneur, then I highly recommend that you designate your business as a sole proprietorship. Should the business begin to boom and grow, and you require some help to keep things moving, then you may want to consider other entity options.

Part 2: Corporations
Part 3: Limited Liability Companies
Part 4: Partnerships

Sources:
• Entrepreneur.com: Business Structure Basics
• Start-a-Business.com: Sole Proprietorship
• AllBusiness.com: Corporation, Partnership, or LLC?
• Wikipedia.org: Sole Proprietorship

Tags: starting a new business, business entity, sole proprietorship, EIN, occupancy permit, business license, taxes, entrepreneur

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One Response to “Which Business Entity is Right for You? (Part 1)”

1. One Man Band » This Week’s Carnival of the Capitalists is Up! says:
   

   […] The one-more-before-the-door award goes to The Small Business Buzz for “Which Business Entity is Right for You” because it’s a question that every One-Man Band has to answer. Even better, the post is the first in a short series examining different sorts of business organizations. […]

   Posted December 17th, 2006 @ 10:36 pm
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