10 Types of Business Ownership: How to Choose One

When launching or acquiring a business, one critical consideration is selecting the right type of business ownership structure. This decision can significantly impact operational efficiency, taxation, and even the saleability of the business in the future.

In this article, you'll find some questions to ask before defining your business's ownership model, mistakes to avoid, and types of structures available so you can choose the one that best suits your business plans and expectations.

8 questions to guide your business ownership structure

When preparing to choose the best ownership structure for your business, consider questions that not only address operational needs but also long-term goals like potential ownership transfer or sale.

Here are eight critical questions:

1. How many owners are there going to be, and will this affect future saleability?

2. To what extent do you want to have liability, especially as the business scales?

3. What kind of taxation structure aligns with your business’s growth and potential exit?

4. What is the primary goal of your venture?

5. How comfortable are you with risking personal assets?

6. Do you need a formal structure?

7. Do you want to establish a business entity quickly, or can it wait?

8. How involved do you want to be with administrative duties?

Related: From a marketer to business owner: How Derek Delost found his passion

10 types of business ownership

As a business owner, choosing the structure can significantly impact your company's future. Here are ten types of business ownership to consider. 

1. Sole Proprietorship 

As the name suggests, the sole proprietorship business structure allows only one person to own an unincorporated business. On the positive side, sole proprietorships enable business owners to reap all the profits. However, they're also the only ones who will be held accountable if there are business debts to pay or losses. Besides, a sole proprietor must pay personal taxes based on all business profits. 

The sole proprietorship is the simplest business structure to create. Because of that, it's the go-to choice of contractors or consultants. Many small businesses begin like this, only to move to more complicated structures later. 

2. General Partnerships

General partnerships (GP) require two or more people to be established. These individuals are known as general partners and have unlimited liability regarding the business's obligations. In case of failure, partners might have to use their personal resources to cover any obligations.  

A general partnership is formed through a partnership agreement that states how the partnership should be governed, the partners' rights and responsibilities, the percentage of profits for each partner, what will happen in case of a partner's death, and many other details. 

General partnerships are less expensive and easier to establish than other business structures involving partnerships. This structure is a good choice for businesses providing services, such as medical practices or law firms. 

3. Limited Partnerships (LP)

With a limited partnership, two or more partners own the business. The structure must include a general partner who will run the organization and has unlimited liability for debts. Meanwhile, the other partners will have liability up to their investment amount. 

This business structure is typical for business owners looking for investments in the real estate industry. 

Partners can benefit from a limited partnership since they'll be held accountable only for the amount of money they put into the business. Regarding taxation, limited partners don't have to pay self-employment taxes, but they can't make any management decisions. 

4. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

In an LLP, organization members have limited liability for business debts or legal claims. Each partner will be held accountable according to the amount of capital they contributed. It's common to find LLPs in law firms, accounting firms, and medical practices. 

Limited liability partnerships focus on growing the business without significantly increasing resources. One unique trait of an LLP is the existence of junior partners who, after several years of work, can reach the status of "full partner."

Related: Becoming A Business Owner: Humble Learnings From A Successful CEO

5. C - Corporations

In a C-corporation, shareholders are taxed separately and the legal entity is also subject to taxation. This business entity should have mandatory annual meetings and a board of directors which is chosen and voted by investors.

C-corporations limit the personal liability of anyone who is involved with the organization. By selling stock options, the company can gather high amounts of capital. However, creating a C-corporation can be expensive since you have to cover legal fees. Besides that, these organizations should register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when reaching a certain size.

6. Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The LLC business structure offers partners limited liability, shielding their personal assets from lawsuits and creditors. LLC regulations vary by state, so you must ensure compliance with local laws.

One significant advantage is that LLC profits are passed through to partners and reported on individual tax returns, eliminating double taxation. However, LLC members often need to pay self-employment taxes in a pass-through arrangement.

LLCs can be an attractive structure for growing businesses planning an eventual exit. For instance, in industries like SaaS or ecommerce, this model allows for operational flexibility while keeping the partners’ liability in check—key considerations for valuation during a sale.

7. S-Corporations

The main goal is to avoid double taxation on corporate profits by passing income, credits, deductions, and losses to the shareholders. This organization is only available to companies with under 100 shareholders. In an S Corporation, shareholders become responsible for paying income-related taxes. 

With this structure, businesses can avoid spending extra money by paying taxes. Employees from an S corporation can be shareholders and be able to receive dividends. At the same time, companies with this structure undergo much scrutiny from the IRS since the government entity is ensuring the business is paying taxes. Also, setting up an S corporation can be expensive and time-consuming.

8. Nonprofit Corporations

Nonprofits focus on social causes to positively impact society. They are created for charity and are not looking to make any profit. 

NPOs can be found in different fields: religion, science, education, health, and the environment, to name a few. Because of their mission, nonprofits can gain a "tax-exempt status."

9. Benefit Corporations

Also known as B Corps, these organizations seek profit without neglecting the idea of positively impacting the environment. Through a benefit corporation, shareholders expect profits. At the same time, the company is responsible for what it does for a social cause. Patagonia is an example of a B Corp. 

10. Close Corporations

In this business structure, only a few shares are held by a limited number of individuals related to the industry. The general public can't acquire stocks from these corporations since they are usually held by families, owners, or even managers. 

4 common mistakes when selecting a business structure for long-term growth

1. Not defining the organization’s long-term goals

What is the purpose of your organization? Are you building it with a specific exit strategy in mind? Will the business focus purely on profit generation, or does it have a dual mission of income and social impact?

Defining these goals will help you choose the ownership structure that aligns with your future business plans, particularly if you aim to maximize value during an eventual sale.

2. Forgetting about taxes (or focusing entirely on them)

Taxes can be frightening, but choosing an organizational structure solely based on taxes can make you sign a commitment that isn't the best for you in the long run. Don't prioritize taxes (with the idea of avoiding them); don't forget them. You need to give them the exact relevance to avoid picking the wrong option that will bring you extra paperwork for your business or partners.

3. Focusing on the short-term goals

What might be the best option for the immediate future might be in the opposite direction of the path that will take you closer to your mission. There is no correct answer here since it depends on your business, goals, resources and long-term vision. 

4. Skipping paperwork

Some structures may require more time and resources than others, but this shouldn't stop you from selecting the best option for the future of your business.

Expert guidance for smooth business ownership transitions

Looking to sell or acquire a business? Boopos makes business ownership transitions seamless. Our expert M&A advisors specialize in sell-side advisory for profitable SaaS, ecommerce, and digital businesses.

Start your journey with us by requesting a personalized assessment of your business's market value, backed by proprietary underwriting data and tech-driven insights. Contact us today.

Disclaimer: The content of this post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.