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What are the 3 main types of profit-focused business entities? (Give a brief description of each)

User Rodalm
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Final answer:

The three main types of profit-focused business entities are sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. Sole proprietorships are owned and operated by a single individual, while partnerships involve two or more individuals sharing ownership and responsibilities. Corporations are large, formal entities with a separate legal structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three main types of profit-focused business entities are sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.

  1. Sole proprietorships are owned and operated by a single individual. They are the most common and easiest to start, with the owner assuming all of the risk and keeping all of the profits.
  2. Partnerships involve two or more individuals sharing ownership and responsibilities. There are general partnerships, where all partners share in the business decisions and liabilities, and limited partnerships, where some partners are passive investors with limited liability.
  3. Corporations are large, formal entities with a separate legal structure. They can be publicly traded or privately held, and shareholders own a portion of the company. Corporations have more complex governance and taxation requirements.

User Diedre
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Final Answer:

The three main types of profit-focused business entities are sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. A sole proprietorship is a business owned and operated by a single individual, while partnerships involve two or more individuals sharing ownership and management responsibilities. Corporations, on the other hand, are independent legal entities owned by shareholders, providing limited liability for owners.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sole Proprietorship: In a sole proprietorship, a single individual owns and operates the business. This structure is straightforward, with the owner having complete control and receiving all profits, but they also bear full responsibility for any liabilities.

Partnership: Partnerships involve two or more individuals sharing ownership and management responsibilities. There are general partnerships, where all partners share equally in profits and liabilities, and limited partnerships, where some partners have limited liability.

Corporation: Corporations are independent legal entities owned by shareholders. Shareholders enjoy limited liability, and the business can raise capital by selling shares. Corporations have a complex structure with a board of directors overseeing management, providing a separation between ownership and control.

User Bambus
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