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TEXT III
(To be read after Unit IV
To be read after Unit IV)
Прочтите текст и выполните последующие задания.
The Sole Proprietor
The sole proprietor is the oldest form of business organization.
Even today, from the point of view of numbers, small firms
predominate, but their total productive capacity is less important
than companies. Such one-person
firms range from the window-
cleaner, shopkeeper and builder who employs other workers and
may even own many separate units. Nevertheless these businesses
have the characteristic of being owned and controlled by a single
person. This person decides the policy of the firm, and alone takes
the profits or bears losses. In addition,
the only accounts which
have to be submitted are income-tax assessment. No corporation
tax is payable.
However, the sole proprietor suffers from five main
disadvantages.
First, such a firm can develop slowly, because sources of capital
are limited.
The success of the venture, especially in its early stages,
depends mainly on the person in charge. The main source of capital
is the owner’s savings together with such additional sums as can
be borrowed from relatives,
close friends, a bank.
Second, in the event of failure, the property of the proprietor
can be claimed by creditors. In short, there is no limited liability.
Third, where profits are high,
income tax paid on annual
profits may be larger than a company’s corporation tax. This
is because income may be taxed at a high marginal rate of tax,
whereas corporation tax is only 20% if a company’s profits are
less than $300,000. Less tax leaves more funds for investing in the
business.
Fourth, it is more difficult to transfer part of a business than
to transfer shares in a company.
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Fifth, on the retirement or death of the owner, a one-man firm
stops its activity.
Because of these disadvantages, sole proprietors are mainly
confined to businesses which are just setting up and also to certain
industries, such as agriculture and repairing shops.
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