Business Types And Their Differences
A business is defined by Wikipedia as a commercial entity or organization, usually organized for the purpose of earning revenue and achieving financial success. The word “business”, also denotes the systematic approach and activities of humans to create and sell various products and services to earn a profit. It includes all types of enterprises including private firms, partnerships, and others. The scope of business activity is very broad and can include manufacturing, trading, farming, banking, and financial activities such as investing, borrowing, and serving customers.
To be able to achieve the objective of making a profit, a business owner should have sound knowledge of business principles, strategies, and planning. A sound business plan provides a guideline on how funds will be spent so that the institution can realize maximum profit through optimal utilization of its assets. The ultimate objective of any business firm or organization is to make profit and achieve a market share by being competitive in its chosen industry.
Business corporations may be classified into two types: a partnership or a limited liability company (LLC). Partnership refers to a set of partnership agreements under which different parties are responsible for the entirety of the costs and profits, while liability companies limit the liability of partners to the partners themselves. Limited liability companies are similar to partnerships, but the differences lie in the fact that the partners are not liable for the debts of the firm. In a partnership, the partners could form a partnership lien against the assets of the firm if it fails to make sufficient profits during the specified time period.
There are two basic types of business structures – sole proprietorship and partnership. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a sole proprietorship has the advantage that the owner can avoid having to pay taxes on his personal income. A sole proprietorship is considered a pass-through business, which means it uses its personal assets – usually the home or real estate – as the basis for its operation. This allows the owner to shield his personal liability for expenses incurred by the business but limits his control over the firm.
Another example of a partnership is limited liability company. Under this agreement, the partners share in the expenses and profits, but they are still held liable for the debts of the firm. Business corporations have several advantages, allowing them to be sued only for negligence, fraud, and deliberate misconduct. These allow businesses to save costs by avoiding the high costs and risks that come with lawsuits, while also providing limited liability to the shareholders.
Apart from business types, there are other factors that affect a company’s success, such as location and market. The choice between these two is based on how much risk a company is willing to take. A firm needs to make sure that its location is appropriate to attract customers, while its market is competitive enough to generate profit. Other factors include the available resources and the number of partners who will be involved in the management of the business.