General Partnership (GP) 

Partnerships share many similarities with sole proprietorships—the key difference is that the business has two or more owners. There are two kinds of partnerships: general partnerships (GPs) and limited partnerships (LPs). In a general partnership, all partners actively manage the business and share in the profits and losses.

Like a sole proprietorship, a general partnership is the default mode of ownership for multiple-owner businesses—there’s no need to register a general partnership with the state.

Pros of General Partnership

• Easy to start (no need to register your business with the state).
• No corporate formalities or paperwork requirements, such as meeting minutes, bylaws, etc.
• You don’t need to absorb all the business losses on your own because the partners divide the profits and losses.
• Owners can deduct most business losses on their personal tax returns.

Cons of General Partnership

• Each owner is personally liable for the business’s debts and other liabilities.
• In some states, each partner may be personally liable for another partner’s negligent actions or behavior (this is called joint and several liability).
• Disputes among partners can unravel the business (though drafting a solid partnership agreement can help you avoid this).
• It’s more difficult to get a business loan, land a big client, and build business credit without a registered business entity.

Most people form partnerships to lower the risk of starting a business. Instead of going all-in on your own, having multiple people sharing the struggles and successes can be very helpful, especially in the early years.

This being said, if you do go this route, it’s very important to choose the right partner or partners. Disputes can seriously limit a business’s growth, and many state laws hold each partner fully responsible for the actions of the others. For example, if one partner enters into a contract and then violates one of the terms, the third party can personally sue any or all of the partners.

Limited Partnership (LP) 

Unlike a general partnership, a limited partnership is a registered business entity. To form an LP, therefore, you must file paperwork with the state. In an LP, there are two kinds of partners: those who own, operate, and assume liability for the business (general partners), and those who act only as investors (limited partners, sometimes called “silent partners”).

Limited partners don’t have control over business operations and have fewer liabilities. They typically act as investors in the business and also pay fewer taxes because they have a more tangential role in the company.

Pros of Limited Partnership

• An LP is a good option for raising money because investors can serve as limited partners without personal liability.
• General partners get the money they need to operate but maintain authority over business operations.
• Limited partners can leave anytime without dissolving the business partnership.

Cons of Limited Partnership

• General partners are personally responsible for the business’s debts and liabilities.
• More expensive to create than a general partnership and requires a state filing.
• A limited partner may also face personal liability if they inadvertently take too active a role in the business.

Multi-owner businesses that want to raise money from investors often do well as LPs because investors can avoid liability.

You might come across yet another business entity structure called a limited liability partnership (LLP). In an LLP, none of the partners have personal liability for the business, but most states only allow law firms, accounting firms, doctor’s offices, and other professional service firms to organize as LLPs. These types of businesses can organize as an LLP to avoid each partner being liable for the other’s actions. For example, if one doctor in a medical practice commits malpractice, having an LLP lets the other doctors avoid liability.

C-Corporation 

A C-corporation is an independent legal entity that exists separately from the company’s owners. Shareholders (the owners), a board of directors, and officers have control over the corporation, although one person in a C-corp can fulfill all of these roles, so it is possible to create a corporation where you’re in charge of everything.

This being said, with this type of business entity, there are many more regulations and tax laws that the company must comply with. Methods for incorporating, fees, and required forms vary by state.

Pros of C-corporation

• Owners (shareholders) don’t have personal liability for the business’s debts and liabilities.
• C-corporations are eligible for more tax deductions than any other type of business.
• C-corporation owners pay lower self-employment taxes.
• You have the ability to offer stock options, which can help you raise money in the future.

Cons of C-corporation

• More expensive to create than sole proprietorships and partnerships (the filing fees required to incorporate a business range from $100 to $500 based on which state you’re in).
• C-corporations face double taxation: The company pays taxes on the corporate tax return, and then shareholders pay taxes on dividends on their personal tax returns.
• Owners cannot deduct business losses on their personal tax returns.
• There are a lot of formalities that corporations have to meet, such as holding board and shareholder meetings, keeping meeting minutes, and creating bylaws.

Most small businesses pass over C-corps when deciding how to structure their business, but they can be a good choice as your business grows and you find yourself needing more legal protections. The biggest benefit of a C-corp is limited liability. If someone sues the business, they are limited to taking business assets to cover the judgment—they can’t come after your home, car, or other personal assets. 

This being said, corporations are a mixed bag from a tax perspective—there are more tax deductions and fewer self-employment taxes, but there’s the possibility of double taxation if you plan to offer dividends. Owners who invest profits back into the business as opposed to taking dividends are more likely to benefit under a corporate structure. Corporation formation and maintenance can be complicated, but online legal services like LegalZoom, Avvo, and Incfile can help with these things.

S-Corporation 

An S-corporation preserves the limited liability that comes with a C-corporation but is a pass-through entity for tax purposes. This means that, similar to a sole prop or partnership, an S-corp’s profits and losses pass through to the owners’ personal tax returns. There’s no corporate-level taxation for an S-corp.

Pros of S-corporation

• Owners (shareholders) don’t have personal liability for the business’s debts and liabilities.
• No corporate taxation and no double taxation: An S-corp is a pass-through entity, so the government taxes it much like a sole proprietorship or partnership.

Cons of S-corporation

• Like C-corporations, S-corporations are more expensive to create than both sole proprietorships and partnerships (requires registration with the state).
• There are more limits on issuing stock with S-corps vs. C-corps.
• You still need to comply with corporate formalities, like creating bylaws and holding board and shareholder meetings.

In order to organize as an S-corporation or convert your business to an S-corporation, you have to file IRS form 2553. S-corporations can be a good choice for businesses that want a corporate structure but like the tax flexibility of a sole proprietorship or partnership.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company takes positive features from each of the other business entity types. Like corporations, LLCs offer limited liability protections. But, LLCs also have less paperwork and ongoing requirements, and in that sense, they are more like sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Another big benefit is that you can choose how you want the IRS to tax your LLC. You can elect to have the IRS treat it as a corporation or as a pass-through entity on your taxes.

Pros of LLC

• Owners don’t have personal liability for the business’s debts or liabilities.
• You can choose whether you want your LLC to be taxed as a partnership or as a corporation.
• Not as many corporate formalities compared to an S-corp or C-corp.

Cons of LLC

• It’s more expensive to create an LLC than a sole proprietorship or partnership (requires registration with the state).

LLCs are popular among small business owners, including freelancers, because they combine the best of many worlds: the ease of a sole proprietorship or partnership with the legal protections of a corporation.

How to Choose the Best Business Entity Type

With a better understanding of how the common business entity types work and their respective pros and cons, you can now determine which type works best for your small business. The best course of action, if you can afford it, is to consult a business lawyer and tax professional on which structure is optimal for you, given where your business is currently and where you hope to take it.

As a starting point, however, there are three general factors to consider when choosing among business entity types: legal protection, tax treatment, and paperwork requirements. In the table below, you can see how the entities stack up with regard to each of these factors.