Area of Law: Business Law
Answer # 206
What is a sole proprietorship?Region: Ontario Answer # 206
A sole proprietorship is a business that is owned by one person. It is the simplest type of business to start. There are several important features of a sole proprietorship. First, the business and the owner are considered to be one entity under the law. Second, all the assets of the business are personally owned by the sole proprietor. Third, the sole proprietor is not considered an employee of the business. Because of this, the sole proprietor is not eligible for Employment Insurance if the business fails, (although benefits are available for parental and maternity, sickness and compassionate care reasons). The sole proprietor is not paid a salary, but instead can take money from the business through personal drawings.
Owning a sole proprietorship has several advantages and disadvantages, including important tax implications.
One of the advantages of being a sole proprietor is that you can be your own boss. You can make business decisions without having to ask anyone else. You also get to keep the profits from the business and you have the freedom to end your business whenever you want. A sole proprietorship is the easiest form of business to start. And, although you need to keep separate accounting records for the business, you only need to file one tax return.
Owning a sole proprietorship also has disadvantages:
- The owner is personally responsible for all aspects of the business.
- If the business is being sued, so is the business owner.
- If the business owes money, the business owner is responsible for the debt, and the owner may have to use personal assets to pay. If the owner cannot pay the debts of the business, he or she may have to claim personal bankruptcy.
- The only way to transfer ownership of a sole proprietorship is to sell the assets of the business (as opposed to selling shares such as with a corporation) to someone else. This is not attractive to a buyer because they will not be able to take advantage of their personal capital gains exemption if they, in turn, sell the business. Otherwise, the life of the business ends when the sole proprietor dies.
There are also important tax implications of operating a sole proprietorship. Net business income from a sole proprietorship must be included as part of the sole proprietor’s personal income. However, if the business suffered a loss, the owner can deduct the loss from other income he or she has received for that year. This will lower the overall taxable income of the owner and reduce the amount of personal income tax that must be paid. If the business made a profit, the profits are taxed at the owner’s personal income tax rate. In general, it is better from a tax standpoint to be a sole proprietor if you expect the business to lose money in its early years and you have income from another source, such as employment income. You may be eligible to apply to use a fiscal period other than a calendar year for calculating and paying taxes, but you will not usually be able to defer taxes this way.
Business taxation can be very complicated, and it is usually a good idea to contact a tax lawyer or a chartered accountant to determine the tax implications of your particular situation. Normally, sole proprietorships are best for businesses earning a small profit, and which do not have significant liability concerns. More information about starting and operating a business in Ontario can be found from ServiceOntario. For information regarding the tax implications of owning your own business, visit Canada Revenue Agency.
Is your business protected?
Whether you’re a start-up or well-established business, life insurance can help protect your business so that you can still achieve your business goals in the event of the unexpected. It’s important to get professional advice for your unique situation, and it is more affordable than you think. For a free consultation and quote, contact an Empire Life Insurance advisor today.
You now haveoptions: