Advantages of a Sole Proprietorship: Everything You Need to Know

There are several advantages of a sole proprietorship. Many small businesses have owners who choose to function as sole proprietorships. Sole proprietorships are the most common business construction and are owned by one person. This option offers various benefits. Selecting the appropriate enterprise construction is a serious decision, so figuring out some great benefits of operating a sole proprietorship may also help you decide if it's best for your business.

What Is a Sole Proprietorship?

A sole proprietorship enables individuals to report enterprise revenue and bills on their individual tax returns. Sole proprietorships are attractive to small business owners as a result of their comparatively straightforward startup.

The sole proprietor is entitled to all of the revenue that the sole proprietorship collects. However, sole proprietorships can be dangerous, as there isn't a separation between the proprietor and the enterprise in legal matters. The proprietor stays personally accountable for any losses or money owed.

A sole proprietorship may also be held legally responsible for violations committed by the enterprise or its workers. A sole proprietorship can be summed up by the phrase: "You're the business.”

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorships

Sole proprietors must comply with licensing needs within the states in which they run their business, in addition to local laws and zoning ordinances. A sole proprietorship has no company tax funds. Owners do not normally spend money on sole proprietorships.

Ease of Formation

Starting a sole proprietorship is much easier and less expensive than beginning a corporation. Some states enable sole proprietorships to be shaped without the double taxation requirements affecting most corporations. The proprietorship will be named after the proprietor, or a fictitious title can be utilized to support the enterprise’s advertising.

Employment

The spouse of a sole proprietor can be employed without being formally declared as a worker. Spouses may also begin a sole proprietorship, although legal responsibility can be solely assumed by one particular person.

Decision Making

Management over all enterprise choices falls to the proprietor. The proprietor may also totally change the sole proprietorship at any time he or she deems necessary.

Liability

The business proprietor is held instantly chargeable for any losses, money owed, or violations of the enterprise. For instance, if the enterprise has any money owed, these funds will probably be drawn from the proprietor’s personal funds. The proprietor could possibly be sued for any illegal acts initiated by the company. That is drastically different from corporations, whereby the members take advantage of limited liability (i.e., they can't be held accountable for losses or violations).

Taxes

Whereas there are various tax advantages to sole proprietorships, an important disadvantage is that the proprietor must pay self-employment taxes. Additionally, some tax advantages are not deductible, like medical health insurance premiums for workers.

Lack of Continuity

The business doesn't continue if the proprietor dies or becomes disabled. Upon the proprietor’s death, the enterprise is liquidated and becomes part of the proprietor’s private property to be distributed to beneficiaries. This can generate heavy tax penalties on beneficiaries resulting from inheritance taxes and property taxes.

Difficulty in Raising Capital

Since preliminary funds are normally supplied by the proprietor, it may be difficult to generate capital. Sole proprietorships don't issues stocks or other money-generating investments like corporations do.

Total Business Control

Enterprise owners who are sole proprietors can make quick decisions in addition to holding total control of the enterprise. Additionally, if unsuitable  are made, the proprietor is himself accountable.

Work-Life Balance

Sole proprietors usually find it difficult to take time off since they need to supervise the business. This could be a setback, since one’s private life can suffer from an excessive amount of work and stress. And in cases where the proprietor does choose to leave work for a vacation, she or he still must oversee the enterprise particularly on occasion of problems.

Changing Business Structure

If your enterprise grows to a point that a sole proprietorship will not work to your benefit, you can simply change your business structure to a more complicated model. The one requirement for shifting from a sole proprietorship to a different business structure is filling out the necessary paperwork.

If you need help with starting a sole proprietorship, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel’s marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.