Small Business Guide - Welcome to Alabama A&M University

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Choosing your Business StructureS m a l l B u s i n e s s H a n d b o o k f o r N o r t h A l a b a m a"C" Corporation "S" Corporation LLC's and LLP'sLimitedPartnershipGeneralPartnershipSoleProprietorshipAssociate (s) 1 2+ 2+ 1 or 2+ 2+ 1 or 2+LLC / LLP has onlylimited liabilities.Limited to asset thatare owned by thecorporation; No personalliabilityLimited to assets thatare owned by thecorporation; no personalliabilityGeneral partner(unlimited personalliability)Unlimited personalliability and jointliabilitiesLiability Unlimited personalliabilityLimited partner(investment)Profits are taxed asincome to the partnersbased on theirshare.Profits are taxed asincome to the partnersbased on theirshare.Profits are taxedtwice. Corporationtax and theshareholder for theirdividends.Profits are taxed asincome to the partnersbased on theirownership.Profits are taxed asincome to the partnersbased on theirownership.Taxation Profits are taxed asincome to the ownerpersonally.LowA few hundred dollarsin fees for filingthe articles of incorporation.Very Low Very Low Very Low A few hundred dollarsin fees for filingthe articles of incorporation.Costs of FormationVery Little Little Little Complex Complex Fewer hurdles thanfor a corporation.FormalityRequirementsLLP are commonamong professionalssuch as attorneys andaccountants, who arenot allowed to usecorporations to limittheir liability.An "S" Corporation is a way to prevent"double taxation". There are several conditionsto meet. For instance, Max. 35 Stockholders.Stockholders must be residentcitizens and individuals (not entities).1. LP has to meetcertain criteria toavoid being taxed asa corporation.The terms of thepartnership shouldbe written down inan agreement.Misc. Insurance can reduceliabilities/risks.2. General Partnermay be a corporation.8
S m a l l B u s i n e s s H a n d b o o k f o r N o r t h A l a b a m aFind the Right LocationThe location of your business should be well-considered. Each companyhas a different profile of the perfect location. Pivotal questionsabout the locations are for instance:♦♦♦♦How important is the closeness to the customer?How does close-by-competitors affect my business?How important is the access to transport connection?How great are the chances for my business to grow at thislocation?Location: North AlabamaThe “Tennessee Valley” an ideal location, offers a population ofabout one million for a variety of businesses. The principal cities areHuntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, and Athens. The HuntsvilleMetropolitan area counts a population of about 400,000 and is thehome of many federal operations (e.g., Marshall Space Flight Centerand Redstone Arsenal). Also, the “Tennessee Valley” is well-known forsome of the biggest organizations in the world, with companies suchas General Electric in Decatur, Sara Lee in Florence, and Boeing, BASFand Adtran in Huntsville. The infrastructure of north Alabama boaststwo Interstates highways (I565 & I65), the International Airport andInter—Model Center in Huntsville, and the Port of Decatur. Furthermore,many higher education institutions are located in North Alabama,educating talented and a skilled labor force for any kind ofbusiness.According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, one incentivefor engaging in business in Alabama is the low business cost inAlabama. Business Owners in north Alabama benefit from one of thelowest overall corporate income tax burdens, the lowest propertytaxes in the U.S. and a very high skilled labor force. Thus, the overallcorporate income tax burden is one of the lowest in the U.S, with athriving economy, and being cited by many entrepreneur magazinesas one of the best regions in the United States to start a business.9
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