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Business Structures

The importance of business structures and how they can affect your business.

This information sheet is aimed to provide a brief overview of the different business structures available and the
importance of choosing the correct structure for what you are trying to achieve.

It is important to understand the differences in business structures as this will determine:

  • The licenses you require;
  • How much tax you are required to pay;
  • Whether you are considered an employee, or the owner of the business;
  • Your potential personal liability;
  • How much control you have over the business; and
  • Ongoing costs and volume of paperwork for your business.

Sole Trader

A sole trader is the simplest form of business structure, and can be described as an individual operating as a sole person legally responsible for all aspects of the business. As a sole trader, you can also employ people to help you operate your business.

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Simple set up and operateUnlimited liability which means all personal assets are at risk
if things go wrong
Retain complete control of assets and business decisionsLimited opportunity for tax planning – not being able to
split business profits or losses with family members and
personally liable to pay tax on all the income from the
business
Fewer reporting requirements
Losses incurred by business activities may be offset against other
income such as your investment income or wages (subject to
certain conditions)
Allows for the use of individual Tax File Number (“TFN”) to lodge
tax returns
Not considered an employee of your own business and therefore
do not pay payroll tax, superannuation or workers’ compensation on income you draw from the business
Ability to change business structure if business expands or
winding up

Company

A company is a separate legal entity and can incur debt, sue and be sued. The shareholders of the company can limit their personal liability and are generally not responsible for company debts.

It is a complex business structure and has high set-up and reporting costs. You can form a company as either a private (also known as proprietary) or public entity.

There must be at least one director (and a secretary unless it is a private company). The director is responsible for
managing the company’s business activities. To register as a company, an entity must be incorporated under the
Corporations Act 2001 and be registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (“ASIC”).

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Limited liability for shareholdersSignificant set-up and maintenance costs
Ability to raise significant capitalDo not retain complete control
Ability to carry forward losses indefinitely to offset against
future profits
Complex reporting requirements
Easy to sell and pass on ownershipCannot distribute losses to its shareholders
Profits can be reinvested in the company or paid to the
shareholders as dividends

Partnership

A partnership involves an association of people (two or more people) or entities operating a business together, with a view to making a profit, but not as a company.

There are two types of partnership – general and limited.

GeneralLimited
General partnership is where all partners to some extent in the
day-to-day management of the business.
Limited partnership is one formed by up to 20 people and
has at least one general partner who controls the company’s day-to-day operations and is personally liable for business
debts, and limited partners. A limited partner contributes
a defined amount of capital to the business but is generally
not liable for its debts or obligations.
AdvantagesDisadvantages
Simple and inexpensive to set upA partnership is not a separate legal entity. Each partner is fully responsible for debts and liabilities incurred on behalf
of the business by other partners – with or without their
knowledge
Minimal reporting requirementsPotential for disputes over profit sharing, administrative
control and business direction.
Shared control and management with other partnersChanges of ownership can be difficult and generally requires a new partnership to be established
A partner’s share of the business’s tax losses may be offset against other personal income, subject to certain conditions
More opportunities for tax planning (such as income splitting
between family members) than that of a sole trader
Relatively easy to dissolve the partnership or to resign and
recover your share
Partners are not employees – superannuation contributions
and workers’ compensation insurance are not payable for
partners

Trust

A trust is a structure where a trustee carries out the business on behalf of the trust’s members (or beneficiaries).
A trust is not a separate legal entity.

A trustee may be an individual or a company. The trustee is legally liable for the debts of the trust and may use its assets to meet those debts. However, if there is a shortfall the trustee is responsible for the difference.

There are two main types of trusts that can be setup via a trust deed: discretionary or unit trusts.

In a discretionary trust, the trustee has discretion in the distribution of funds to each beneficiary. In a unit trust, the interest in the trust is divided into units with their distribution determined by the number of units held by each member.

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Reduced liability especially if corporate trusteeCan be expensive and complex to establish and administer
Asset protectionDifficult to dissolve, dismantle, or make changes once
established particularly where children are involved
Flexibility of asset and income distributionAny profits retained to reinvest into the business will incur
penalty tax rates
Cannot distribute losses, only profits

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