Company
Sole Trader
Partnership
Ownership & Profits
A company is owned by shareholders, and run by directors - both could be you. Profits are shared.
You get total ownership and control of the business, and its profits.
Partners own and run the business together. You get joint control and profits.
Setup & Paperwork
Increased tax and legal formalities = more complex set-up process and ongoing paperwork.
Easy to set-up, simple to run.
Few tax and legal formalities = relatively simple to set-up and run.
Compliance
High levels of regulation, with additional record-keeping requirements and other obligations.
Less formal or legal processes, with little ongoing red tape.
Less formal and legal processes, with little ongoing red tape.
Liability & Risk
Your liability is usually limited to your ownership share. Increased protection from risk to your personal assets.
You’re personally responsible for all debts incurred by your business, putting your personal assets at risk.
Partners responsibility for all debts incurred by the business (regardless of ownership share) putting your personal assets at risk.
Setup Cost
A company can be expensive to establish and maintain.
Establishment costs are low.
Establishment costs are low.
Raising Capital
Easier to attract funding and investors. Wider capital-raising opportunities.
Your ability to raise capital is limited.
You have greater borrowing capacity.
Tax Basics
Your personal income is taxed lower than the top personal tax rate. The company submits its own tax return, with good tax breaks to be had.
Your net profit is taxed at individual rates, or your overall income tax is calculated at personal rates.
You are taxed as an individual on your income from the partnership, but the business will also need to lodge a separate partnership tax return.