Final answer:
Corporations have the highest costs of establishment and maintenance, followed by partnerships with moderate costs, and sole proprietorships with the lowest costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
When ranking the major forms of business organizations based on the cost to establish and maintain, from highest to lowest, we consider the following types: corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.
- Corporations typically have the highest cost because they involve complex regulatory requirements, legal fees, and administrative expenses.
- Partnerships have moderate costs, including legal documents and partnership agreements, but are generally less costly than corporations.
- Sole proprietorships have the lowest cost to establish and maintain, as they are the simplest form with minimal regulatory demands and no required formal legal setup.
Other organizations like non-profits and cooperatives also play significant roles in the economy, but their costs can vary widely based on their specific structures and objectives, and therefore they are not ranked within the traditional forms of for-profit business organizations.