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E-Myth – “Why most small businesses don’t work & what to do about it”

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Outsourced Accounting Services | Accounting Differences For Proprietors And Corporations


Entrepreneurs may be uncertain of their business idea, or start a business and not be operating it full time and run it as a proprietorship while they are waiting to gain the traction in their business to be able to incorporate says outsourced accounting services. While they are doing this, business owners should be aware of what the requirements are to operate a proprietorship versus a corporation, so that they know how to set their accounting information up, and when they need to file their business taxes.

Entrepreneurs should learn what the differences between a proprietorship and a corporation. The biggest differences is that a corporation is its own separate legal entity that has its own tax requirements. A proprietorship on the other hand is an unincorporated business that is attached to the business owner and the business owners tax requirements.

The next thing an entrepreneur should understand is why they should strongly consider the benefits of limited liability. Outsourced accounting services recommends that entrepreneurs should consider what incorporating will do for them, in terms of limiting the liability in their business. Many proprietors do not understand that they can get sued for their business, even if they are not operating at full time, and even if they have a main source of income separate from that business. Not only does this puts entrepreneurs at risk for getting sued themselves, but it can also put their assets at risk to including their house, their vehicle and their personal savings. Many entrepreneurs often choose not to incorporate because of the perceived expense, but often the risk of lawsuit convinces them that they should incorporate their business.

Another thing that entrepreneurs should keep in mind if they are operating as a proprietor, is that they are not tax efficient once they reached fifty thousand dollars in income. This is actually the threshold according to outsourced accounting services of when it becomes a liability to remain proprietor over incorporating. Business owners will end up paying more taxes on fifty thousand dollars as a proprietor and they will pay in incorporating their business.

If entrepreneurs are operating a proprietorship, they also should keep in mind that their tax return for their business will need to be filed along with their personal tax return. Though it is a different tax form required, they need to submit their tax returns at the same time. although the personal tax deadline in Canada is April 30, proprietorships do get an additional forty-five days to make up for the fact that they have to file to tax returns and the same amount of time says outsourced accounting services.

By learning the difference between proprietorships and corporations, and the benefits that entrepreneurs would have if they incorporated, can help business owners make the decision on what is right for them, and when they have made the right decision for their business, learn what they have to do for the requirements of their business structure.

Outsourced Accounting Services | Accounting Differences For Proprietors And Corporations

It is extremely important that entrepreneurs are knowledgeable about the difference between proprietorships and corporations says outsourced accounting services. The reason for that, is because there are many tax requirements and accounting requirements that are different between the two different business structures. By knowing which methods to use in their business can help an entrepreneur be proactive in ensuring there keeping their information accurately for this type of business that they operate.

One of the first things that entrepreneurs should understand, is they do not need accounting software to operate as a sole proprietor. Outsourced accounting services says the reason for that, is because the type of accounting that a proprietor needs to do does not require accounting software. Having to pay for that software and then spend the time learning how to utilize it can end up costing a business owner time and money. That time can be better spent in their business generating revenue and improving their product. They can actually keep track of their revenue easily on a spreadsheet program, and have all the information they need for their accounting and their year-end.

Something else that entrepreneurs should keep in mind as a proprietor, is that they should be making an appointment with their outsourced accounting services in order to find out how to set up their spreadsheet. The reason for this is that can help entrepreneurs identify what the most important expense categories that they need to track are, as well as what the revenue streams they should be utilizing, and for entrepreneurs to be able to ask as many questions as they need so that their spreadsheet can be as accurate as possible. By doing this ahead of time, entrepreneurs can ensure that they are setting their spreadsheet up correctly, which means they can ensure the accuracy of the information, and a much easier time filing their business year end as well.

Something else for entrepreneurs to keep in mind as they are operating a proprietorship, is that it is a good idea to have separate business bank accounts as well. Not only to allow for ease of accounting, says outsourced accounting services. But this can help entrepreneurs have an additional layer of assurance that their spreadsheet is accurate. If they have separate business banks and business credit cards, they can take those bank credit card statements and review them against their spreadsheet. All the totals should be the same, can help entrepreneurs verify the accuracy of that spreadsheet. This can also help entrepreneurs in case they get audited by Canada revenue agency, that are be much easier to prove what transactions were business if they have kept everything completely separate.

When entrepreneurs find all of the facts out about but they need to do for their accounting when they operate a proprietorship, they can end up with most accurate financial information possible, which can help them not only complete their year ends accurately, but it can also help entrepreneurs have the best information possible for making financial decisions in their business.