How Forming an LLC Will Help Your Business: The Different Types of Business Entities

There must be millions, if not billions, of businesses around the world. Numerous people all over the planet form one type of business enterprise or the other in hopes of turning a profit. With the many businesses out there, you can bet that they provide as many different kinds of products and services on offer. There are retail stores that sell consumer goods; businesses that offer special services; there are even businesses that are exclusively located online to cater to the numerous internet consumers. Keeping that in mind, businesses around the world can be grouped into certain classifications. For instance, a business can become a corporation by going through the process of incorporation. On the other hand, you can turn your business into a limited liability company by forming an LLC. The choice is yours.

The standard operating procedure in forming a company today is choosing what type of company you want. Or rather what classification you would like your company to fall under. Virtually every country requires every registered business enterprise to fall under any of their own nation's types of business entities. As stated by Business Link, the U.K. government's online resource for business, the type of business you will establish will affect a whole range of aspects that have to do with your enterprise, from the legal requirements of forming an LLC to the consequences of incorporation.

Here are the factors that will vary:

- The structure of your management

- How your company will be able to make money and offer its products and services

- Which government entity you have to notify to let them know that your business exists

- The type and amount of tax you will have to pay

- The type of records and accounts your company will keep

- Who is financially liable in case your business runs into trouble

Any business owner should keep this in mind: choosing the right kind of business entity for your company will be vital to its success. So it is up to every business owner, and all his or her partners, to choose the right type of business entity for their enterprise.

Here are some general types of business entities you can classify your business into:

1. Sole proprietorship

2. Cooperative

3. Partnership

4. Limited Liability Company (LLC)

5. Corporation

There are, however, more specialized types of business entities. Different countries have different laws and regulations regarding the creation of business entities. In one country you can have five types of business entities, while in another there may be seven.

For example, there are four different types of business entities in Chile, namely,

1. Sociedad por acciones

2. Empresa Individual de Responsibilidad Limitada

3. Sociedad Anonima

4. Sociedad de responsibilidad limitada

While in Namibia, there are six:

1. Close Corporation

2. Companies

3. Sole trader

4. Partnership

5. Trusts

6. Cooperatives

To sum up, before you can establish your business, you need to know what type of business entity you will classify it under. Whether you are thinking of forming an LLC or are planning on incorporation, use your best judgment.

Virgil Ladner just recently learned about incorporation and forming an LLC from an acquaintance who is an expert on the matter.