The Four Types of Business Structures (And Three Tips for Choosing the Right One)

Having the wrong business structure could leave you open to a number of financial issues. In this article, DG Institute CEO Dominique Grubisa explains each type of structure.

The four types of business structures

1. Sole Trader Business Structure
2. Partnership Business Structure
3. Company Business Structure
4. Trust Business Structure

When you start a business, you have several choices when it comes to your company structure.

Do not make the decision lightly about which one to use.

Each business structure has its own tax and liability implications. And if you make the wrong choice for your business, you could expose yourself to issues, both legal and financial, later on.

Before making your choice, you need to understand the basics of each of Australia’s four key structures.

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The Sole Trader Business Structure

As a sole trader, you are the only owner of the business. That means you take the responsibility for managing everything. However, it also means that you’re legally responsible for any issues the business has.

For example, you’re responsible if the business gets into debt. 

This is the simplest business structure to set up. However, it also tends to carry the heaviest tax burden. That’s because a sole trader has to pay tax on every dollar of profit the business makes.

Interestingly, being a sole trader doesn’t prevent you from employing people. But if you go down this route, you still have the same responsibilities as any other company in regards to your employees.

The Partnership Business Structure

According to the ATO:

“A partnership is a group or association of people who carry on a business and distribute income or losses between themselves.”

The partnership structure can help if you’re wary of accepting full liability for potential business problems. However, partnerships can have their own issues in regards to potential disputes. That’s why it’s important to have a Partnership Agreement in place. This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner.

As a separate business entity, a partnership needs a Tax File Number (TFN). It also needs to be registered under the Business Name Act, assuming you don’t use the partners’ names for the business.

Unfortunately, partnerships don’t offer much in the way of asset protection. Much like a sole trader business structure, the partners’ personal assets are part of the structure’s liability. This means that creditors could chase after your assets if the partnership experiences money issues.

The Company Business Structure

You have the choice between private and public companies with this business structure. Most companies start out private. Later on, you can go public if you intend to get listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.  

Companies need to have their own TFN. Plus, they offer better asset protection than the previous two structures. Your personal assets aren’t completely protected in this structure. But creditors will generally focus on company assets only.

However, there are more compliance issues to consider with this business structure. That makes it more complex and expensive to set up. You also create more reporting obligations, both in terms of financial and legal issues.

 The Trust Business Structure

Under a trust structure, you transfer the ownership of the business to a third party. This third party is the trustee, who takes responsibility for distributing all the business income.

As the ATO puts it:

“A trustee is legally responsible for the operation of the trust. The trustee can be an individual or a company. Profits from the trust go to beneficiaries.”

This is perhaps the most complicated business structure to create. There are many compliance issues to keep in mind. Plus, you’ll need to create a trust deed and file for a TFN for the trust.

However, using a trust is the best way to protect your assets. Furthermore, you can use the trust to hold property and other assets for the trust’s beneficiaries.

Choosing the Right Business Structure – Three Key Tips

Now that you understand the basics of each business structure, it’s time to make a choice. The simple fact is that there’s no “right” answer. The choice you make depends on your circumstances and how you want to operate your business.

However, we do have some tips that may help you make your decision.

Tip #1 – Think About How Your Business Generates Income

There’s a key term to keep in mind here – personal services income (PSI).

According to The Sydney Morning Herald:

“If the bulk of your income is PSI, it generally needs to be attributed to the individuals who earned the income and factored into their individual tax return rather than as business income.”

This is a key consideration when it comes to potential tax benefits. If the people in your business generate income by providing personal services, this may make some tax benefits irrelevant. For example, a company structure may not work as well as a partnership in this situation.

Tip #2 – Consider Asset Protection

This is a particular issue when it comes to sole trader and partnership structures. In both cases, you’re trading a simpler setup for more risk.

If either structure runs into financial issues, your personal assets may be in danger. For example, suppose your sole trader business ends up in debt. Unfortunately, this means that your creditors could target your house and other belongings to repay that debt. 

The company and trust structures provide more protection in this respect. That’s because they don’t leave you personally liable for the success of the business.

Tip #3 – Speak to a Business Advisor

Going it alone could lead to you making the wrong choices.

A good business advisor can take a look at your situation and help you determine which structure would work best for you. They’ll also be able to provide more advice on the tax implications of each structure.

This will help you weigh up the pros and cons of each structure, rather than rushing into whatever seems like the simplest choice.

Are You Ready to Move Forward in Business?

With these tips, you’ll be able to choose the right structure for your company.

However, this is only a small part of the equation when it comes to running a successful business. Once you’ve decided on a business structure, you have to build systems and become profitable.

This is an area where DG Institute can help you. We provide guidance for budding entrepreneurs who wish to take over existing businesses and turn them around.

Are you ready to learn more?

DOMINIQUE GRUBISA

Lawyer, Asset Protection Specialist and Property Educator

Dominique Grubisa is a practising legal practitioner with over 22 years of legal and commercial experience. She is a property investor and developer, an entrepreneur with businesses in Australia and Southeast Asia, a speaker, educator, writer and published author. You may contact Dominique at info@dginstitute.com.au

This column has been written for general information purposes only. It is not intended as legal, financial or investment advice and should not be construed or relied on as such.