Types of Business Partnerships And What They Entail

There are three relatively common partnership types: general partnership (GP), limited partnership (LP) and limited liability partnership (LLP). A fourth, the limited liability limited partnership (LLLP), is not recognized in all states. There are often distinct reasons why business owners choose each of these partnership types, which are explained below.

General Partnership

A general partnership is a partnership with only general partners. Each general partner takes part in the management of the business, and also takes responsibility for the liabilities of the business. If one partner is sued, all partners are held liable. General partnerships are the least desirable for this reason.

Limited Partnerships

A limited partnership includes both general partners and limited partners. A limited partner does not participate in the day-to-day management of the partnership and his/her liability is limited. In many cases, the limited partners are merely investors who do not with to participate in the partnership other than to provide an investment and to receive a share of the profits.

Limited Liability Partnerships

A limited liability partnership (LLP) is different from a limited partnership or a general partnership, but is closer to a limited liability company (LLC). In the LLP, all partners have limited liability.

An LLP combines characteristics of partnerships and corporations. As in a corporation, all partners in an LLP have limited liability, from errors, omissions, negligence, incompetence, or malpractice committed by other partners or by employees. Of course, any partners involved in wrongful or negligent acts are still personally liable, but other partners are protected from liability for those acts.

LLC or Partnership?

In recent years, the limited liability company has supplanted the general partnership and the limited partnership, because of the limits of liability. But there are still cases in professional practices in which some partners want to be limited in scope of duties and they just want to invest, having the liability protection.

You might have also considered setting up your multiple-person business as an LLC. While a multiple-member (owner) LLC is taxed like a partnership, there are differences in liability and in other ownership provisions. Read more about the differences between an LLC and partnership.

Just to confuse the issue, a partnership can have different types of partners – general partners and limited partners. There can be both types of partners in any type of partnership except for the general partnership, which has only general partners. Briefly, the two types of partners:

• General partners, who invest in the partnership, participate in the day-to-day operations, and are liable for debts and lawsuits of the partnership
• Limited partners, who invest in the partnership but who have no participation in day-to-day operations and who are not usually considered to have liability.

Why choose a general partnership?

• Ease of creation. No state filing is required. The partnership is created when the partners begin business activities.
• Low cost of operation. Because general partnerships are not formed by means of a state filing, they are not required to pay a formation filing fee, ongoing state fees or franchise taxes. The partnership must still obtain the business licenses and permits required for operation however.
• Few ongoing requirements. Unlike corporations, general partnerships are not required to hold annual meetings of the owners, issue partnership interest, and keep personal asset separate from business assets. Having a partnership agreement that outlines how the partnership will be managed, the roles of each partner, and what events will cause the partnership to end operations is recommended.

Why choose a limited partnership?

• Unlimited liability for general partners only. In a limited partnership (LP), at least one partner has unlimited liability—the general partner(s). The other partners (limited partners) have limited liability, meaning their personal assets typically cannot be used to satisfy business debts and liabilities. The amount of their liability is limited to their investment in the LP.
• Limited partners are not involved in management. The general partners oversee the day-to-day operations of the LP. Limited partners are basically silent investors.
• Short-term projects/ventures. LPs are often the business type of choice for special situations versus true businesses. For example, films are often formalized as LPs and family estate planning often utilizes LPs.

Why choose a limited liability partnership?

• Professional service businesses. Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) can only be created by certain types of professional service businesses, such as accountants, attorneys, architects, dentists, doctors, and other fields treated as professionals under each state’s law.
• Personal asset protection. The personal assets of the partners in an LLP typically cannot be used to satisfy business debts and liabilities. The LLP does not shield the partners for liability for their personal acts. Put simply, the LLP cannot limit the liability of owners for their own malpractice.

Limited liability protection

Keep in mind that general partnerships offer no liability protection to the owners. The owners are legally considered the same as the business, and personal assets can therefore be considered business assets. Additionally, partners in a general partnership bear responsibility for the actions of the other partners. General partnerships are undoubtedly the easiest to create and have the lowest ongoing costs, but they also provide the highest risk to the partners.