J.K. Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2014: Your Complete Guide to a Better Bottom Line

Business Organization

Sole Proprietorships

Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies

S Corporations and Their Shareholder-Employees

C Corporations and Their Shareholder-Employees

Employees

Factors in Choosing Your Form of Business Organization

Forms of Business Organization Compared

Changing Your Form of Business

Tax Identification Number

If you have a great idea for a product or a business and are eager to get started, do not let your enthusiasm be the reason you get off on the wrong foot. Take a while to consider how you will organize your business. The form of organization your business takes controls how income and deductions are reported to the government on a tax return. Sometimes you have a choice of the type of business organization; other times circumstances limit your choice. If you have not yet set up your business and do have a choice, this discussion will influence your decision on business organization. If you have already set up your business, you may want to consider changing to another form of organization.

According to the Tax Foundation, more than 90% of all businesses are organized as sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), or S corporations, all of which are “pass-through” entities. This means that the owners, rather than the businesses, pay tax on business income. Nearly 50% of the private sector workforce is employed by ...