Business Structures

Introduction

The following presents an overview of common business structures available in Australia. There are different legal and taxation consequences associated each structure.

Sole Trader

When a person conducts business as an individual, he or she is a sole trader. From a legal point of view there is no difference between the person and the business. As such, the liabilities of the business are the liabilities of the individual - he or she is personally liable for any and all business-related obligations, such as debts resulting from the purchase of goods or services or from court judgements and for the performance of warranty obligations in respect of goods supplied or work performed. Many sole traders carry on business under a registered business name and may carry on business under a company structure where they are the sole shareholder and sole director.

Register a company as a sole trader Register a business as a sole trader


Partnerships

A partnership is where two or more individuals, corporate or other entities, agree to carry on business together under a registered business name with a view to profit. All partners in the partnership must have the same goals, and, so far as third parties are concerned, each partner is equally responsible for decisions made by the other partner or partners on behalf of the business. All the partners in a partnership are treated equally from a legal point of view. If there is no written agreement, all partners will share in the profits equally, are liable to cover losses equally and are equally responsible for the activities and trading of the business. Nevertheless, from a third party's point of view, all the parties are jointly and severally liable for the obligations of the partnership. A partnership agreement between the partners should record the term of the partnership and specify all relevant aspects of the partnership business.

A partnership has no separate legal existence from the partners who make up the partnership. So far as third parties are concerned, the liability of the partners for all business debts and obligations is joint and several and unlimited. Accordingly, each partner can be sued, and be required to pay the full amount of any debts of the partnership. If this happens, a partner's only recourse may be to sue or cross-claim against the other partner of partners for their share of the debt.

Register a business for a partnership


Companies

A company exists as a legal entity separate from its owners (the "shareholders") and those who manage the affairs of the company (the "directors"). This means that the shareholders and directors are generally not liable for the debts of the company. Exceptions to the general principle that directors are not personally liable for debts of the company, are to be found in provisions relating to insolvent trading as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). In essence, insolvent trading involves incurring a debt at a time when there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is no longer able, or is likely to be no longer able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the regulatory body governing companies in Australia and administering the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). ASIC's aims are, among other things, to provide protection for consumers and businesses in their dealings with companies.

Most Companies are a Private Company (also known as a Proprietary Company)

This is a company which does not sell its shares to the general public (e.g. through a stock exchange). The transfer (sale) of shares in such a company is usually restricted in some way, such as by the requirement that the directors of the company must approve any transfer of shares and that new shareholders only become members of the company on registration of the transfer of the shares to them by the company. A proprietary limited company must have a minimum of one member (shareholder) and can have up to 50 non-employee members (shareholders). The liability of the shareholders of the company is limited to the uncalled amount, if any, owing on their shares. A private company has the words "Pty Limited" or "Pty Ltd" after its name.

The accounting requirements imposed on a proprietary company depend on whether the company is classified a small or a large company. A company's classification can change from one financial year to another as its circumstances change.

Register a company


Small Proprietary Company

A proprietary company is a small proprietary company for a financial year if it satisfies at least 2 of the following tests:

the consolidated gross operating revenue for the financial year of the company and the entities it controls (if any) is less than $25 million; and/or

the value of the consolidated gross assets at the end of the financial year of the company and the entities it controls (if any) is less than $12.5 million; and/or

the company and the entities it controls (if any) has fewer than 50 employees at the end of the financial year.

A small proprietary company is only required to prepare an annual financial report (an annual profit and loss statement, a balance sheet and a statement of cash flows) and a directors' report (about the company's operations, dividends paid or recommended, options issued etc.) if:

the shareholders with at least 5% of the votes in the company direct it to do so; or

ASIC directs it to do so.

Although the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) itself may not require a small proprietary company to prepare a financial report except in the circumstances mentioned above, the company may need to prepare annual financial reports for other purposes (e.g. income tax laws).

Register a small proprietary company


Large Proprietary Company

A proprietary company is a large proprietary company in a particular financial year if it satisfies at least 2 of the following tests:

the consolidated gross operating revenue for the financial year of the company and the entities it controls (if any) is $25 million or more; and/or

the value of the consolidated gross assets at the end of the financial year of the company and the entities it controls (if any) is $12.5 million or more; and/or

the company and the entities it controls (if any) have 50 or more employees at the end of the financial year.

Large proprietary companies must prepare annual financial reports and a directors' report. Further, the financial report must be audited and provided to the company's shareholders. Large proprietary companies must also lodge their annual financial reports with ASIC unless exempted by ASIC from doing so.

Register a large proprietary company


Trusts

A trust structure can be employed in a business or for trading purposes. A trust involves the trustee (usually either an individual or corporate entity) holding certain assets in his, her or its own name but for the benefit of a group of persons and/or entities (e.g. referred to as "beneficiaries"). The trustee is required to use any property belonging to the trust for the good or benefit of the beneficiaries, and not for his, her or its own purposes. Trusts are often created because of the flexibility they allow in tax planning, tax minimization and asset protection. They are also a popular form of business structure because they allow a felxible means of distributing income and assets and because they can provide certain income tax savings by distributing income among tax advantaged beneficiaries.

A trust itself does not pay income tax on profits, provided that the profits of the trust have been fully distributed to the beneficiaries in the relevant financial year. Trusts are relatively simple to form. However, the law of trusts is quite complex and a lack of appreciation of the law or an inadequately drafted trust deed can give rise to problems. Accordingly, anyone contemplating the use of a trust as a business structure should seek legal advice.

The two main types of trusts are:

unit trusts; and

discretionary trusts (family trusts).

In a typical unit trust, beneficiaries own units in the trust, and the trustee must distribute the income to the beneficiaries/unitholders in accordance with their respective unit holding or class of unit holding in the trust. Accordingly, a unitholder in a unit trust, like a shareholder in a company, has a specific entitlement to a share of the income or property of the trust in accordance with his or her unit holding in the trust. Different classes of units may have the same or different rights and entitlements (e.g. as to share of income or capital, voting rights and peferential rights to interest or income) between them.

On the other hand, in a discretionary trust, the trustee typically has the discretion to decide which beneficiaries will receive distributions of both income and capital, and what amount(s) (if any) they will receive between them.

The discretion as to distribution of income and capital should be exercised afresh each financial year. This is an important advantage in tax planning. Subject to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), limited liability may be achieved with discretionary trusts by the use of a corporate trustee. Discretionary trusts are a common choice for family-run businesses.

Order a Trust


In selecting the right business structure for you it is wise to consult an experienced advisor. This online portal is the copyright of David Garry & Associates who may be able to assist you in deciding what appropriate business structure is suitable to your circumstances. The comments above are of a general nature and are only provided as an information or educational tool.

For further information you may care to peruse our website:

www.davidgarry.com.au