Business Structures Mastery: Choosing the Right Entity Form

Course Description

This intensive 5-day course provides a comprehensive overview of various forms of business organizations. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies (LLCs). The course covers formation, governance, taxation, and dissolution aspects of each business structure, enabling participants to make informed decisions on entity selection.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the key characteristics and legal implications of different business structures
• Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each organizational form
• Evaluate tax considerations for various business entities
• Develop skills to advise on appropriate business structures based on specific scenarios
• Gain insights into formation and dissolution processes for different entities

Course Modules

Day 1: Introduction to Business Structures

• Overview of business organization types
• Legal and economic considerations in entity selection
• Sole proprietorships: characteristics and implications
• Case studies in entity selection

Day 2: Partnerships

• General partnerships: formation and management
• Limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships
• Partnership agreements and partner rights
• Taxation of partnerships

Day 3: Corporations

• C-Corporations: structure and governance
• S-Corporations: eligibility and benefits
• Corporate formation and bylaws
• Shareholder rights and corporate taxation

Day 4: Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

• LLC formation and operating agreements
• Management structures: member-managed vs. manager-managed
• LLC taxation options
• Comparing LLCs to other entity types

Day 5: Advanced Topics and Decision Making

• Hybrid entities and special purpose vehicles
• International business structures
• Entity conversion and restructuring
• Practical workshop: Choosing the right business structure

Practical Wins for Participants

• Ability to confidently advise on optimal business structure selection
• Skills to draft basic formation documents for various entity types
• Understanding of tax implications for different business structures
• Capacity to guide clients through entity formation and governance processes