Partnership
BusinessGlossary term
Definition
A business structure in which two or more individuals share ownership, responsibilities, profits, and liabilities of a business. Partnerships come in several forms, including general partnerships where all partners share liability equally, and limited partnerships where some partners have limited liability and a more passive role. Partnership income passes through to the partners' individual tax returns, avoiding corporate-level taxation.
Related terms
- LLC (Limited Liability Company)A business structure that combines the liability protection of a corporation with the tax flexibility and operational simplicity of a partnership. LLC owners, called members, are generally not personally responsible for the company's debts and liabilities, meaning their personal assets are protected. LLCs can choose how they want to be taxed, either as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S-corp, or C-corp, making them one of the most versatile business structures available.
- Sole ProprietorshipThe simplest business structure in which a single individual owns and operates the business with no legal distinction between the owner and the business entity. While easy and inexpensive to set up, a sole proprietorship offers no personal liability protection, meaning the owner's personal assets are at risk for business debts and lawsuits. All business income is reported on the owner's personal tax return and is subject to self-employment tax.
- S-CorporationA special tax designation available to eligible corporations and LLCs that allows business income to pass through to shareholders' personal tax returns, avoiding the double taxation that C-corporations face. To qualify, the business must have no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom must be US citizens or residents, and the company can only issue one class of stock. S-corps also allow owner-employees to potentially reduce self-employment taxes by splitting income between salary and distributions.
- Equity FinancingA method of raising capital by selling ownership shares (equity) in a company to investors in exchange for funding. Unlike debt financing, equity financing does not require repayment or interest payments, but it does dilute the existing owners' ownership percentage and control. Companies at various stages use equity financing, from startups selling shares to angel investors to established companies issuing stock through public offerings.
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