By Fernando Berrocal

The business structure you choose will influence more than only how you'll file taxes. Everything from legal, administrative, and financial ramifications, as well as your company's name, are all possible outcomes of these decision. Limited liability corporations (LLCs) or partnerships are common structures for businesses with several owners. That decision to choose between "Partnership" or "LLC" will have far-reaching repercussions, so let's discover what structure is best for your company.

The Fundamentals of a Partnership:

In the states where the business is created, organizations with more than one owner are automatically classified as partnerships. Unless the agreement specifies otherwise, each partner owns an equal share of the business's assets and liabilities. While there are no unique filing or registration procedures necessary to form a partnership, all firms must comply with the same permits, licenses, filing, and tax obligations. Depending on how the company is established and where it is situated, there are different sorts of partnerships.

General Partnership (GP): It's the most basic structure, simply create and disband. The business is officially launched after more than one partner’s draft and signs a formal partnership agreement. There is no legal requirement to register with the state. Unless the partnership agreement specifies otherwise, it splits ownership and earnings equally. Similarly, all partners have equal authority over contract and financial choices in the organization.

Limited Partnership (LP): Unlike the former, this one requires state registration. They must obey the state rules when it comes to information in a limited partnership agreement, reserving an LP business name, partner responsibilities, and yearly reporting requirements. Limited partnerships are for partners who want to raise capital but don't want to deal with the more complex regulatory difficulties that come with incorporating a corporation or LLC. Limited partnerships have one or more limited partners and one or more specified general partners. The limited partners put money into the business and the general partner handles day-to-day operations.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): This is not recognized in all states, and some require the business to register as a Professional Limited Liability Partnership. In summary, a limited liability partnership is a type of company structure that is commonly utilized by professionals (e.g., attorneys, accountants, engineers, etc.). In addition, most states require all partners to be licensed in the same field. While the LLP allows all partners to share equal responsibility, it also restricts the partners' personal liability.

Overall, forming a partnership is extremely simple, with minimal paperwork and few regulations. However, a partnership might expose the owners to undesired risk and personal responsibility. Many co-owners choose to create a limited liability corporation for these reasons.

The fundamentals of a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC):

The LLC is a formal corporate structure that is a legal entity that is registered with the company's home state and is responsible for the state's rules and regulations. Unlike a partnership, LLC owners are considered distinct from the business and are not liable for the debts or obligations of the company. LLCs retain their commitments regarding the business's liabilities, safeguarding owners from litigation and debt worries.

Owners of an LLC are referred to as "members." According to the IRS, most states do not impose ownership restrictions, allowing individuals, businesses, other LLCs, and international entities to participate. An LLC can have any number of members, and most states allow a single owner to create one. The LLC is referred to as a "multi-member LLC" when there are more than one owner/member, and all members have the same liability protections. 

In essence, an LLC is a cross between a partnership and a corporation. The fundamental benefit, similar to that of a corporation, is the restricted liability of the owners/members. The LLC's management flexibility is another benefit. Depending on the firm owners' preferences, an LLC can be administered by members or by managers.

Which is the best option for your organization?

Every business is unique, and each owner has distinct ideas about how they want to operate and manage their business. The best advice is to consider if the liability protections provided by an LLC are worth the additional costs and paperwork required. Then, before making a final choice, seek guidance from your accountant and attorney.

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