Selecting Your Business Form

One of the most important decisions that you made in connection with starting your business was the legal form in which you operate. And, as time passes and your business grows, you may decide to change the form to conform to your changing business goals.

To choose the best business structure, you need to think about things like which business form will best help you to operate and grow the business, and what form, at your death, will make it easier for you to pass along the business to your heirs as a going concern, if you desire.

There are several choices:

• a sole proprietorship
• a partnership
• a limited liability company
• a corporation (including a regular "C" corporation or an S corporation)

As you can imagine, there are significant income tax consequences that flow from each of these choices. But don't forget to weigh the tax issues against the non-tax issues, such as what type of business form will best help you to operate and grow the business, and what form, at your death, will make it easier for you to pass along the business to your heirs as a going concern, if you desire.