Limited Partnerships: A Smart Choice for Your New Business Endeavor

Control Meets Collaboration with a Strategic Advantage for Entrepreneurs and Investors

When starting a new business venture, choosing the right structure is a decision that can shape your path to success. Among the many options, one stands out for its unique blend of flexibility, funding opportunities, and fiscal prudence: the limited partnership.

A limited partnership will enable you, as the general partner, to manage and operate the business with little intervention from the limited partners. You can raise capital to fund the venture without giving up control of the business or being saddled with considerable start-up debt.

In this article, we delve into the world of limited partnerships, unraveling how they function, the benefits they bring, and why they might be an ideal choice for your new business.

Raising Equity

A limited partnership offers an effective way to secure investment. Investors, as limited partners, contribute capital in return for a share in the entity’s financial results. Crucially, they do this without the burden of managing the business or incurring personal liability. This structure is ideal for entrepreneurs seeking investment while maintaining operational control.

Limiting Liability

It’s essential to maintain the limited liability status of your partners.

To avoid personal liability risks, limited partners should:

• Avoid management roles to preserve this protection
• Keep involvement focused on investment and oversight, without direct management decisions
• Steer clear of actions such as guaranteeing a partnership debt

Merely consulting with you will probably not result in personal liability as long as you remain the ultimate decision-maker as general partner.

General Partner Liability

The trade-off for operational control in a limited partnership is that you, the general partner, is personally liable for the entity’s debts.

The mitigate the risk of this liability, consider:

1. Forming a corporation to manage the partnership and serve as general partner
2. Securing adequate insurance to cover potential business liabilities

Tax Considerations for Limited Partnerships

Since the partnership is a pass-through entity for tax purposes, each partner will receive a K-1 and must include his or her share of partnership income, deductions, credit, and loss, on their individual tax return.

To the extent the income is qualified business income, the partners will be eligible to take the qualified business income deduction.

Comparing Limited Partnership, C Corporation & S Corporation

Limited partnerships are attractive for tax reasons. They are pass-through entities, meaning partners include their share of income or loss in their personal tax returns. Additionally, partners may qualify for the qualified business income deduction, enhancing the tax efficiency of the partnership.

If the business was a C corporation instead of a partnership, the earnings would be taxed at a higher effective tax rate. With a corporation, earnings are taxed once when earned by the corporation and again when distributed to shareholders.

With proper planning, the limited partnership can be structured to provide special allocations of various tax benefits that make the venture more attractive to prospective investors.

For this reason, a limited partnership may be a better choice for your new venture than an S corporation. To be respected by the IRS, special allocations must have what is known as “substantial economic effect.” We can help you determine the special allocations that your limited partnership needs.

Reflections: Harnessing the Power of Limited Partnerships in Business

With their ability to raise capital efficiently, limit liability, and offer favorable tax considerations, limited partnerships present a compelling case for many new ventures, particularly in sectors requiring significant upfront investment. As we’ve explored, the key lies in strategic planning, clear communication, and a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities within this structure. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a budding business enthusiast, considering a limited partnership could be a pivotal step in turning your vision into a thriving reality. Not only is the right structure laying a strong foundation; it’s also building possibilities.