Business structure basics: Corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, LLC
Do you want to start your own business? Whether your business is making and selling crafts online, manufacturing and marketing automobiles, or anything in between, you’re a business. And that business needs a structure.
If your business is small enough, you could easily act as a sole proprietorship with no formal paperwork needed. Or, you could establish a specific business entity. But what are the different types, and which should you choose?
You need an overview. And, depending on what you choose, you’ll probably need a lawyer.
Key Points
- A business may be structured as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or S corporation.
- Each type of business structure has a different level of liability and different tax treatment.
- An S corp is not a business structure; it is a certain tax status election filed with the IRS.
Typical business structures include sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, and S corporations.
Sole proprietorship
If you start selling a product or service on your own without filing any paperwork with the state, you are running a sole proprietorship. You’ll likely buy business supplies with your own money, run your business out of your home, and make all business decisions yourself. There are countless different businesses that could be run as sole proprietorships:
- An accountant or administrator serving several clients
- A dentist working alone
- A pastry chef making and selling cupcakes to local restaurants
- A neighborhood lawn service
The supplies and products owned by the business are owned by you, and any loans you take out are owed by you—whether your business makes money or not.
All expenses and income pertaining to a sole proprietorship are reported on Schedule C, flow up to your Form 1040, and are taxed at your personal tax rate. You also owe self-employment tax on your business net income through Schedule SE. If your business does not survive, you’ll be personally liable for repaying any outstanding debts.
What is liability?
In the context of business structures, liability means that if your business fails, your assets (e.g., your home and car) may need to be sold to pay your creditors. If you have limited liability, only the assets owned by the company are at risk in case of business failure. If you’re an investor, limited liability means that you’ll lose only as much money as you put into the business, even if it fails.
Partnerships and LLCs
The basic definition of a partnership is that two or more people own a business together. Each person in a partnership provides either labor, skills, money, or property to the business. Partnerships might be formed when similar professionals work together in a group, such as lawyers, real estate brokers, or plumbers, or when a small business owner needs someone to help pay for the costs of running their business in exchange for a return on the investment. (Learn more about general versus limited partnerships.)
- General partnership (GP). A general partnership is formed when two or more people work together to run a business. A general partnership is not recognized at the state level because it is not a business organization, so no paperwork is needed. Each general partner is liable for the work performed by the business, including any losses over and above its assets.
- Limited partnership (LP). Limited partnerships are businesses in which one or more partners (called general partners) have all the risk in the business and the other partners (called limited partners) have limited liability. This type of business is regulated by state law.
- Limited liability partnerships (LLP). This partnership is structured such that all partners have limited liability. Only some states allow formation of LLPs. Typically, they must comprise groups of professionals requiring licensing, such as accountants, doctors, or lawyers. Note that an LLP does not save its partners from personal liability in the case of negligence (such as malpractice). If the business goes bankrupt, though, the partners are not liable.
- Limited liability company (LLC). An even more specific type of limited liability partnership is a limited liability company (LLC), which is a structure formed at the state level. Owners of an LLC are called “members” rather than partners. There is no personal liability to any member in an LLC, except in the case of their own personal negligence. Some states do not allow professionals requiring licensing to form LLCs. An LLC is treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes unless it files specific paperwork to be taxed as a corporation (more on this below).
Partnerships and LLCs aren’t recognized as taxable businesses by the IRS; partnerships merely report annual information to the IRS on a Form 1065. Instead, each partner’s share of income and expenses are reported to them on a Form K-1. The information is entered in each partner’s personal Schedule E, which flows up to the tax Form 1040. Each partner pays tax at their individual tax rates.
Corporation (“C corp”)
Corporations are businesses that are completely separate from their owners, who are called stockholders or shareholders. They exchange their money for shares of stock in the company. Each share represents a pro rata claim on future earnings. If a shareholder sells their interest in the business, the business continues to run without any consequence.
Shareholders have limited liability up to the value of their invested shares. They can’t be sued for negligence, and they won’t have to pay for the company’s debt in case of bankruptcy.
The corporation pays its own taxes, runs its business, makes a profit or loss, and can be held liable for illegal acts and negligence. There are more reporting requirements for corporations, more extensive recordkeeping is necessary, and there are more rules and regulations that cover corporations than with other business structures. A corporation can often get business loans (i.e., issue debt) more easily than a partnership, and it can raise capital by selling additional shares of stock to investors.
A corporation’s shareholders invest money in the company in hopes of a later return via increased corporate value. Shareholders may also receive dividends, which are partial profits paid to investors. A common complaint about the corporate business structure is that corporations are “doubly taxed.” A corporation’s profits are taxed at the corporate level, and the dividends it pays out to shareholders are taxed as dividend income via a personal Schedule B.
S corporation (“S corp”)
An S corp is not a business structure; it is a certain tax status election filed with the IRS. Although the business is structured as a corporation, the federal taxation of an S corp is treated more like a partnership. Income and expenses flow through each shareholder’s personal 1040 via the K-1 and Schedule E. Some states do not recognize S corp status and tax these entities as C corps, so do some research in your state.
There are a few rules that need to be followed to qualify for S corp status, and you must file Form 2553. The rules cover the types of shareholders that are allowed (individuals, trusts, and estates only) and the number of shareholders allowed (up to 100). S corps must be domestic (not foreign) corporations. Certain financial institutions and insurance companies are not allowed to be S corps.
Comparison of business types
| Business type | Ownership | Liability | Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Owner only | Personal | Personal |
| Types of partnerships | Two or more | Varies based on type | Personal |
| LLC | One or more | Business | Personal |
| Corporation | Shareholders | Business | Business |
| S corp | One or more (fewer than 100) | Business | Personal |
The qualified business income (QBI) deduction
One benefit of owning a small business is the qualified business income deduction (also called the 199A deduction), which will reduce the taxes you owe when you complete your Form 1040. Qualified business income (QBI) is calculated on tax Form 8995 for businesses operated as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or S corp. The deduction is then calculated as 20% of QBI. The deduction can’t be more than 20% of taxable income minus net capital gain, and does not apply to C corporations. This deduction is currently in effect through December 31, 2025.
The bottom line
If you’re starting your own business, you should consider all the different business structures to find the one that’s right for you and any partners. Granted, you probably won’t be doing this all on your own—you’ll likely enlist help from an attorney and an accountant. But as the chief cook and bottle washer (and the person who’s ultimately responsible for the ups and downs of the business), you should understand the basics of the company’s structure, both now and in the future.
If your plan is to start small and build your business slowly, it might make sense to begin as a sole proprietorship or general partnership until you secure a strategy and growth trajectory.
Later you may decide that limiting your liability is a good idea, so you could change your business structure to an LP, LLC, or corporation. Consider which tax treatment would be best for your business, and be sure to register with your state government. And if you want S corp status, you’ll need to file paperwork with the IRS.
Now get to work building your dream company, and good luck.
This article is intended for educational purposes only and not as an endorsement of a particular financial strategy. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. Please consult your legal or tax advisor before proceeding.