LLC VS Sole Proprietorship: Major Differences That You Need To Know
LLC Vs Sole Proprietorship: What is right for you? –
Whether you are starting a new business or an online store, you will need to choose the right legal structure for your business based on your choice and needs. Both LLCs and sole proprietorships are quite common. The business model you choose might have a big impact on how you run your company, especially as seen from the tax, legal, and management perspectives.
In this article, you will learn about two major types of business structures – LLC and Sole Proprietorship. We will first discuss each of these business structures individually in brief. Finally, we will share the major differences between the two in regard to structure, function, role of the owner(s), etc. Hence, to learn more about these two types of business structures, read on through to the end of the article.
What Is An LLC?
According to Investopedia,
“A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure in the U.S. that protects its owners from personal responsibility for its debts or liabilities. Limited liability companies are hybrid entities that combine the characteristics of a corporation with those of a partnership or sole proprietorship.”
The LLC is basically a corporate structure where the owners of the organization protect their place from the liabilities of the company. Here, the company is a different entity from that of the owner. In case of debts, liabilities, and lawsuits, the structure of the organization protects the owners by making them limitedly liable.
However, what the regulation of the LLC is depends on the state in the US where your business is located. Apart from banks and insurance companies, any individual or entity can be a member of an LLC. Whatever profits LLCs make, they do not pay taxes directly on the profits. The profits and losses of the LLC are passed through to members of the organization, that report on their individual tax returns.
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What Is A Sole Proprietorship?
According to the Forbes Advisor,
“A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business that’s owned by the individual running it. A sole proprietorship is the default choice for anyone who runs a business but hasn’t set up another formal business structure like an LLC. As a sole proprietor, there’s no separation between your personal and business assets and expenses. You are personally responsible for all your business’s debts and obligations.”
This is the simplest form of business. It is basically an unincorporated business with only one owner. Apart from that, this business is also the least expensive to form. A business, by default, is a sole proprietorship if an individual operates the business on his own.
For example, if you are an individual shopkeeper, freelancer, retailer, or online business owner, you automatically become a sole proprietor of the business. In this case, you will not need to adopt a business structure from the first. Furthermore, if the name of the business is the same as the name of the owner, then the business is typically a sole proprietorship.
However, any sole proprietorship can also operate under a trade name or a brand name. The best thing about a sole proprietorship is that the business and the business owner are not legally separate. Hence, if the business incurs debts, the owner of the business is personally responsible for making the payments for the debt.
LLC Vs Sole Proprietorship: What Are The Differences?
The major difference is rightly noted by Wall Street Mojo –
“LLC is a separate legal entity run by its members having limited liability, and it is mandatory for an LLC to get registered, whereas sole proprietorship is a sort of business arm of an individual which is not separate from its owner; hence its liabilities are not limited, and there is no need to register sole proprietor.”
The following are the major differences between LLCs and sole proprietorships:
| Limited Liability Company | Sole Proprietorship |
|---|---|
| The company has more than one owner. | A single owner of the business runs a single unit. |
| The business and the members are separate entities in an LLC structure. | The business and the owner are not separate in a sole proprietorship. |
| The members of the business need to register as per state regulations if they want to form an LLC. | The owner of a sole proprietorship needs to ensure that the business name is not the same as another business in the state. |
| It costs around $100 to $800 to form an LLC. | There are no costs to form a sole proprietorship. |
| The taxation method is single. A single applicable rate is charged to the members. | The taxes of the sole proprietorship are charged from the income of the sole owner. The owner’s taxes and the business taxes are the same here. |
| The members of the LLC are liable only as far as their investments and shares in the business. | The owner of a sole proprietorship is fully responsible for the entire business. Furthermore, the owner also does not get liability protection. |
| There is little paperwork to be done. | There is no paperwork involved. |
The best option for you, if you are starting out as a business owner, is to go with a sole proprietorship. If you want to grow a bit more, then changing the structure of your business to an LLC will be a better option.
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Final Thoughts
LLC vs Sole proprietorship – Hope you have understood the differences between these two types of business structures. If you are starting out as a business owner, consultant, or freelancer, then sole proprietorship is the easiest and simplest option for you. The paperwork that is required is very minimal, and there are no big costs associated.
However, if the business grows bigger and you need legal protection for yourself and your personal assets, LLC is the option to go for. In case of bankruptcy or a legal lawsuit against the business, you do not get involved. Furthermore, there is tax flexibility too. What do you think is the better option of the two? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
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The Resources You Need To Start Your Business
What do you need before launching your business? If you've been working toward it for a while, you might be wondering whether the simpler question is what don't you need? While the run-up to starting your company might feel increasingly frantic as you get closer to opening your doors, whether they are physical or virtual, if you've done your research, have a solid business plan, and have made sure that you have ample supply of the resources below, you should be ready to go. Details About Resources You Need To Start Your Business 1. Knowledge There's really no limit to the amount of knowledge that can be useful to you as an entrepreneur, but at some point, you do have to set aside the research and take those first scary real-world steps. Think of knowledge acquisition as an ongoing thing. There's a reason that some professions have continuing education requirements. It would be best if you never stopped learning about your industry, about business in general, and about ways you can improve. But what about the necessary elements in order to get started? First, you need to know your industry. Ideally, you've already got some experience in it; if not, then you'll have a much steeper learning curve. You can take courses, read books, look at online talks, and chat with other entrepreneurs to help you learn more. You need to know about basic business concepts and structures. This can help prevent a situation where you take a very circuitous path to solve problems that actually have fairly standard solutions. Knowledge really is power, and being well-informed about your industry and the forces that act on it will put you at the head of the pack. 2. Funding Having enough funding is critical for every new business, but you also need to know the types of funding and how much you need. Don't underestimate. Even a home-based endeavor will have costs such as setting up a website, physical or virtual storage and printing up business cards and similar items. There are a variety of funding sources that may be available to you, including loans, grants, and investors. Keep in mind as well that funding can be a staged process. You may need a certain amount just to get up and running, and after that, you can look for additional money that is accessible with the aid of Philippine debit cards. In fact, some loans and grants are only available to entrepreneurs who are already in business. 3. Location And Equipment When you hear the word resources, physical items may be the first thing that you think of, and you can't start your business without a place to operate from and things to help you do your job. If your enterprise is virtual, you still need to carve out a space online and have someplace to work, even if it's only a corner in your house or bedroom. If you're selling a product, of course, you will also need to have that actual product. Some resources will be specific to the type of business that you're running, but don't assume that because you are small, you don't need to have certain tools. In fact, you probably face the same challenges that larger companies do, albeit on a smaller scale. This can be the case for companies that have a small fleet. You might think that just because you only have a handful of vehicles, your fleet management challenges will be smaller. However, fleet tracking for small businesses is just as important as it is for large ones. A great way to simplify your operations and increase efficiency is with GPS tracking. In general, the process of accumulating the necessary equipment can add up to big costs, so you need to carefully evaluate your needs. However, don't make the mistake of trying to skimp on necessary hardware and software. This may look economical in the short run, but it will catch up with you eventually. Read Also: 6 Tips For Growing Your Small Business And Boosting Your Bottom Line 4. People Human resources usually refer to employees, and this is certainly one important element of success if your company is big enough to employ more people than just you. Find great candidates through personal referrals or working with a recruiter, and make offers that will attract top talent. However, people will be useful to you in other ways as well. Finding a mentor with who you can bounce ideas and who can offer guidance is invaluable. People extend to the support systems in your life as well. You'll need both professional and personal support. Are you involved with any local professional organizations? Are your family and friends on board with what you're doing? These sources of support can provide ideas and encouragement and can help keep you on track when your energy is flagging. Read Also: Top Signs Your Boss Is Threatened By You Effective Ways To Track Your Employees’ Work Is Natural Gas Distribution A Good Career Path?
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Business Continuity Plan – What Is It, And How Does It Work?
Your business can come across a disaster or a host of negative situations for the business, which negatively affect the work processes of the business. In such cases, business continuity planning is one of the most necessary things to have. A business continuity plan will enable you to stay prepared for any kind of negative situation for the business. This shall further ensure that the business is able to work the same. In this article, you will learn about a business continuity plan and what are its major features. In addition to that, you will also learn how a business continuity plan works for a business. Furthermore, we will also discuss the major benefits of having a business continuity plan for your business. Finally, we will guide you with a step-by-step procedure on how to create such a plan for your business and stay prepared. What Is A Business Continuity Plan? According to Hubspot.com, “A business continuity plan outlines directions and procedures that your company will follow when faced with a crisis. These plans include business procedures, names of assets and partners, human resource functions, and other helpful information that can help maintain your brand's relationships with relevant stakeholders.” The major goal of a business continuity plan is to deal with the situations that disrupt the business. These disruptions can be both minor and full-blown threats. The plan allows you to plan for contingencies ahead of time. Such plans, as well as preparations according to those plans, can allow your business to continue operations even at times of high risk. Having a plan will help you to deal with the risks and either prevent or mitigate them. Some of the major disruptions that can affect the business include a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, a network breakdown, a cyber attack, and various other factors. These situations are large enough to disrupt organizations of any size. In such situations, a business continuity plan benefits the business by providing it with a procedure, processes, and tools. These will help the business to operate properly and recover within a short span of time. Read More: What Is a Franchise, And How Does It Work? – Examples, Benefits & More How Does A Business Continuity Plan Work? According to VMWare.com, “Business continuity planning is critical because without it, an organization faces downtime and other problems that could damage its financial health. In major disasters, a lack of a business continuity plan could cause irreparable financial harm that might ultimately force a company to permanently close.” In a business continuity plan, the business defines all the risks that can affect the operations of the organization. Hence, the plan becomes an important part of the risk management processes of the business. Some of the major risks include disasters, network breakdowns, cyberattacks, and more. Since threats and disruptions include a loss of revenue and higher costs for the business, it can lead to a loss of business profits. Furthermore, it is also not a great thing for your business to rely on insurance alone. Also, since the business does not cover all the necessary costs, as well as the ones associated with customers, a business continuity plan is necessary to deal with such situations. What Are The Benefits Of Having A Business Continuity Plan? The disasters in a business can be of any size and degree and can even be catastrophic for the business. Hence, a business continuity plan is one of the most essential things you can have for your business. The plan will help you to identify all the major risks that can affect the work processes of your company. According to Investopedia, “BCP is typically meant to help a company continue operating in the event of threats and disruptions. This could result in a loss of revenue and higher costs, which leads to a drop in profitability. And businesses can't rely on insurance alone because it doesn't cover all the costs and the customers who move to the competition.” The following are some of the major benefits of a business continuity plan: It helps to continue operating even in times of disaster. However, it is different from a disaster recovery plan. Helps in improving risk management of the company. It can stop disruptions in the organization from spreading. Helps to mitigate downtime of business technology and networks. It helps to save a lot of money, time, and resources. Business Continuity Plan - Steps To Create Here are some of the major steps you will need to follow if you want to create a business continuity plan: 1. Business Impact Analysis According to Investopedia, “An important part of developing a BCP is a business continuity impact analysis. It identifies the effects of disruption of business functions and processes. It also uses the information to make decisions about recovery priorities and strategies.” Here, your business managers will need to identify the functions of the plan as well as related resources for the business, especially the ones that are sensitive to time. 2. Recovery In this portion of the plan, the planner will need to identify the steps and implement them. This will include the steps for recovery as well. 3. Continuity Team You will need to create a continuity team here. The job of the team will be to devise a plan to manage the disruption of the plan. 4. Continuity Training You will need to train and test the continuity team here. The members of the team will also need to complete various exercises for the application of the plan. Read More: Intrapreneurship – Definition, Importance, Duties, And Responsibilities Summing Up Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of what a business continuity plan is and how it can allow your organization to recover quickly from disasters or, in the best cases, prevent them. The plan is a great option to keep your personnel prepared, save your assets, and ensure the business starts functioning fast. However, you will need to test your business continuity plan from time to time to ensure that there are no gaps in it. To find out gaps, you can create dummy situations or drills with your employees. Do you have any more recommendations on how to create the best business continuity plan? Share your ideas with us in the comments section below. Read Also: Entrepreneur : Who Coined The Term ‘Entrepreneur’? Entrepreneurship – Definition, Meaning, Scope, And More Importance Of Entrepreneurship: Types, Features & Benefits
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Business Deductions And Tax Planning: Two Critical Steps To Save Money
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Locating And Making A Claim For Tax Deductions It is essential to maintain precise records of your company's costs to properly identify and account for tax deductions. The Internal Revenue Service mandates that all expenditures must have supporting paperwork and receipts. Knowing which deductions you are eligible to claim is also very important since certain costs could not be deductible at all. 2. Utilize The Available Tax Breaks The qualifying business income (QBI) deduction allows owners of pass-through businesses to take a deduction equal to up to 20% of their share of the firm's income. However, this deduction is subject to several regulations and limits and does not come without restrictions. Figuring out who is eligible to claim the QBI deduction and then determining the amount of the deduction itself is not a straightforward operation. However, the deduction may offer a large tax break for owners of small businesses. If you believe you could qualify for this, you should discuss it with your accountant. 3. Investigate Different Ways To Cut Down On AGI Your adjusted gross income, often known as your AGI, is a primary factor in determining the taxes that you must pay. For instance, if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $200K, or if you are married, your AGI is less than $250K, then you will not have to pay the extra 0.9 percent in Medical taxes. You may reduce your AGI by the below methods or by lowering your salary: For example, by registering a company in the US we can obtain some benefits. Making contributions to a retirement plan that postpones paying taxes until later. Using the itemized deductions method if your total deductions are more than the standard deduction. Making contributions to a health-related savings account If you have any reason to believe that you will wish to itemize your deductions, you might think about keeping track of them on a spreadsheet throughout the year. 4. Learn To Leverage Tax Credits Tax credits are an additional method that businesses may use to reduce the amount of tax liability they are responsible for paying. Tax credits, in contrast to tax breaks, which lower the level of cash that is subject to taxation for a person or corporation, reduce the percentage of tax that is actually owed by the taxpayer. It is in the best interest of businesses to benefit from tax benefits. Consider the following few options: Credit for work opportunities offered: Access credit for the disabled: Tax breaks for health insurance premiums paid by employers with less than 25 employees 5. Delay Or Accelerate The Receipt Of Income When it comes to their financial records and tax filings, many small firms rely on cash. When using this cash method a business records revenue and costs at the time that the corresponding cash transaction takes place. So, it means records are taken when the cash changes hands. This opens up some intriguing possibilities for tax planning tactics. You could wish to delay receiving income until the next year if you believe that you will be in a reduced tax band the following year. 6. Purchase Assets At The End Of The Year In certain tax years, it can be helpful to estimate the amount of taxes your company will owe, and then to acquire assets, both new and already used, to lower those estimated taxes. 7. Pay Student Loans Of Workers Employers are now permitted to provide financial assistance to their workers in the form of student debt repayment via a clause that was included in the CARES Act 2020. This Act contains a condition that permits companies to claim a tax exemption for repaying employee student loans and eliminates it from employee income, which means that workers do not have to pay required taxes on the money. 8. Work With Independent Contractors If you engage independent contractors or freelancers for any reason linked to your company (for example, taking images of things for your online shop), you can deduct the cost of their services from your taxable income. Before independent contractors begin working for you, you should always make it a point to gather their 1099 forms and ensure that you file them correctly. 9. Reconsider The Type Of Business Entity Your choice of business entity has a big influence on the amount of Taxes You Will Owe. People who are self-employed and must pay self-employment taxes include those who operate their businesses as sole proprietorships, limited partnerships, or certain limited liability companies. If you anticipate that your company will owe a significant amount of money in taxes, one solution to this problem is to restructure your company so that it is treated as a different kind of legal organization. Last Words: Why Is It Important For Businesses To Plan Their Taxes? You are required to pay taxes as the owner of a company, but the amount that you owe should never come as a complete shock to you. It is crucial to understand how company taxes operate and to make estimations of the amount you need to pay each quarter or year to guarantee that you have sufficient funds. Tax planning is something that can help you generate correct tax predictions, make all tax forms and reports on time, and avoid the possible ramifications of not doing so. Planning your taxes properly may help you achieve all of these things. Read Also: How To Start A Logistics Company? An Expert Guide Biggest Stock Market Crashes In The World History 10 Best Investment Apps For 2021
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How To Start A Concession Stand Business? – A Complete Guide
Do you want to commence your Concession stand business? Are you ready with your business plan and its prospect? If not, you have to understand the basics of this business to grow your business in the correct direction. You have to work on your plans well before establishing your business. One of the beneficial aspects of the Concession business is that it requires lower startup costs. Now, If you want to increase your profitability in the food service industry, then the application of the concession stand can work well in your friend. The Concession stands location will determine the ongoing success of your business. You have to chalk out a full-proof strategy to increase your profitability. How Much Does A Concession Stand Cost? Its cost depends on two factors:- Do you want to buy a used cart or, You want to build it from scratch. A new medium-sized concession stand will cost you around $11000 -$21000. On the other hand, if you want to use or purchase a well-equipped concession stand, it will cost you around $6000-$45,000. How Can You Start Your Concession Stand Business? You can follow specific lucid and straightforward steps to start your concession stand business with ease. Write your business plan first before standing your foodservice business. Keep the business plan as simple as possible. 1. Develop A Concession Stand Concept Your Concession stand concept and the menu will help you determine what type of cart you require to get the ideal location for your business. A concession stand can help you get pre-made snacks and creative gourmet cuisine for your business. You must have arrangements in your concession stand to sell the fresh cuisines, and the gourmet stuffs to your buyers. Try to keep your food items in proper condition. 2. Write A Concession Stand Business Plan Once you get a general idea about what kind of business you want to operate, now it’s time to figure out your business plan. For your concession stand, your business plan will act like a blueprint upon which the growth trajectory of your business will depend. It will help you make the right kind of investments without wasting too much money and time. A solid business plan for your concession stand will help you to gain most of the crowdfunding and other investors as they can gain a clear insight into your business growth in the upcoming days of your business. Also Read: How To Create A Powerful Business Models For Your Business 3. Arrange Funding For Your Concession Stand With a proper business plan in place, you will get the right idea of how much money you require for your business. If you want to launch a small concession stand business, your funding is enough to finance it. On the other hand, you will require money from outside sources if you want to start an extensive concession stand. Some of the best sources for the concession stand funding are as follows:- Investors:- You can pitch your business plan to your investors to arrange money. Crowdfunding: It allows a large group of people to make investments in your business if it sounds profitable and worth investing. Loans: You can collect the funds or the loans from the banks or from other sources that make loans available for investments. 4. Make A Purchase Of Your Concession Stand You can purchase your concession stand after having your business plan and funding in place. Now you need to decide whether you want a trailer, short-range, and stationary stand for your business. It will affect several factors, such as what kind of stand you purchase, the type of location you want, and the laws applied to this place. A place where there is lots of rush of people like a sports stadium or movie theatre can help you get more customers for your business. 5. Get The Essential Permits & Licenses Like any other business, you also need permission and licenses for running your concession stand business successfully. Here I will mention some of the standard licenses and permits you require to start your business. Some of them are as follows:- Food manager certification. Certificate for food handling. License for Food Vendor. Employer identification number. Sales & Use tax permit. These are some of the standard permits and licenses you will require for starting your concession stand business. Depending on your jurisdiction of the place, the law may change or alter. You can take a note of that thing for your own good. You can also incorporate your business with an LLC and you would require a registered agent in your state. For instance, if you are in Texas, you will require a registered agent in Texas for all kinds of legal correspondence. 6. Select The Food Storage & Preparation Equipment Depending upon the menu and the type of food you will serve to your target audience, you have to select the types of equipment which will suit you better. Some food items require the perfect temperature and pressure to keep the food quality intact. Some of the standard equipment’s which are primarily required for the business are as follows:- Warming & foid holding equipment. Sausage and Hot dig equipment. Ventless Fryers. Griddles. Popcorn machines. Cotton candy Machines. These are some of the types of equipment you may require for your concession stand business. Also Read: Top 7 Best Startups Revenue Model That Will Grow Your Business 7. Prepare A Concession Stand Equipment List To make your foodservice business run smoothly, you have to prepare the concession stand equipment list. There are certain everyday disposable you will require in the daily affairs of your business like cups, bowls, trays. Fryer baskets, cutlery, and many more. Some standard equipment which all types of concession stand require are as follows:- Cash registers. Coin Dispensers. Aprons. Snacks & Drinks. Signs. Cooking equipment. Serving equipment. Final Take Away Hence, if you want to run your Concession stand business properly, you have to make the required arrangements mentioned in this article. Then, you can feel free to share your views and opinions about the important deals for commencing a concession business. It is quite natural that we may have missed some of the crucial points essential to running these types of business smoothly. You can share your comments with us to provide you with better information on this business later. More Resources: Top 5 Types Of Business That Are Giving More Profits To The Sellers How To Start A Business In 2022 – Best Business Strategies? 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