Sole Proprietorship

Many new business owners choose the sole proprietorship because it is the most straightforward form to initiate and provides the most control since only one person makes the decisions (for good or ill). Read this section and pay particular attention to the discussion on unlimited liability, as this is a significant drawback for sole proprietorships. It might be interesting to try the exercise at the end of the section and find a sole proprietor in your area.

EXERCISE

(AACSB) Communication

Talk with a sole proprietor about his or her selected form of business ownership. Ask him or her which of the following dimensions (discussed in this section) were important in deciding to operate as a proprietor: setup costs and government regulations, control, profit sharing, income taxes, skills, continuity, and transferability, ability to obtain financing, and liability exposure. Write a report detailing what you learned from the business owner.