The most common forms of business are sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and S corporation. A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure allowed by state law. The next largest segment of small businesses is comprised of what I call Main Street entrepreneurs. These are the dry cleaners, restaurants, auto repair operations and local retailers that are part of the fabric of our daily lives.
There are about 4 million of them and they employ a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these companies exist primarily to support a family and are not primarily focused on expansion. While these companies have high abandonment rates that open and close frequently, they are critical to the American middle class. In the modern world, having a website is essential for any small business. Without one, a company can lose out on thousands of potential customers.
This is why website design has become such a booming profession. Not only does it offer the opportunity to work from home, but there will always be a demand for websites that look great and function perfectly. A partnership is another popular form of business ownership. It offers many advantages such as sharing resources and knowledge with another person, obtaining private funding, and more.
However, it's important to remember that in a general partnership, responsibilities are divided equally between each partner. Compared to other types of businesses, partnerships offer more flexibility but also come with more risk. The most common forms of business ownership are sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), series LLC, and public limited liability companies which can be taxed as C or S corporations. You can find out more about the types and requirements for business ownership in your state by visiting the Secretary of State's website. Sole proprietorship is the simplest type of business but also provides the least amount of financial and legal protection for the owner. Professional services such as those provided by doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects, and engineers often use this type of business structure when available. A C corporation is the most common type for those looking to raise capital from investors who don't want to be involved in day-to-day operations.
This type of business allows your company to deduct taxes in a similar way to an individual but profits will be taxed twice - both at the corporate and personal levels. A limited liability company (LLC) is a newer type of business that combines elements from both partnerships and corporations. It offers more protection than a sole proprietorship but less than a corporation. When policymakers understand the different types of small businesses and realize that startups create most new jobs, they may be tempted to focus only on growing companies. However, it's important to remember that service-based self-employment opportunities such as dog walking or repair jobs in your community as well as online careers like virtual assistant or researcher can also be great options for entrepreneurs. Learn more about savings on business phone systems of up to 60%, perfect for any type of small business.
