List the factors that help in selecting a suitable form of organisation.
For a new or
proposed business, the selection of a suitable form of ownership organisation
is generally governed by the following factors:
1.
Nature of business activity:
This
is an important factor having a direct bearing on the choice of a form of
ownership. In small trading businesses, professions, and personal service
trades, sole-proprietorship is predominant.
Examples are
Laundromats, beauty parlours, repair shops, consulting agencies, small retail
stores, medicine, dentist accounting concerns, painters, decorators, bakers,
confectioners, tailoring shops, small scale shoe repairers and manufactures,
etc. The partnership is suitable in all those cases where sole proprietorship
is suitable, provided the business is to be carried on a slightly bigger scale.
Besides,
partnership is also advantageous in case of manufacturing activities on a
modest scale. The finance, insurance, and real estate industries seem to be
suited to partnership form of organisation. Some of the financial businesses
that find this form advantageous are tax, accounting, and stockbrokerage firms,
and consulting agencies.
Service
enterprises like hotels and lodging places; trading enterprises, such as
wholesale trade, large scale retail houses; manufacturing enterprises, such as
small drug manufacturers, etc. can be undertaken in the form of partnership.
Manufacturing contains the highest percentage of companies among all
industries. Similarly large chain stores, multiple shops, super-bazaars,
engineering companies are in the form of companies.
2.
Scale of operations:
The
second factor that affects the form of ownership organisation is the scale of
operations. If the scale of operations of business activities is small, sole proprietorship
is suitable; if this scale of operations is modest — neither too small nor too
large — partnership is preferable; whereas, in case of large scale of
operations, the company form is advantageous.
The scale of
business operations depends upon the size of the market area served, which, in
turn, depends upon the size of demand for goods and services. If the market
area is small, local, sole-proprietorship or partnership is opted. If the
demand originates from a large area, partnership or company may be adopted.
3. Capital
requirements:
Capital
is one of the most crucial factors affecting the choice of a particular form of
ownership organisation. Requirement of capital is closely related to the type
of business and scale of operations. Enterprises requiring heavy investment
(like iron and steel plants, medicinal plants, etc.) should be organised as
joint stock companies.
Enterprises
requiring small investment (like retail business stores, personal service
enterprises, etc.) can be best organised as sole proprietorships. Apart from
the initial capital required to start a business, the future capital
requirements—to meet modernisation, expansion, and diversification plans —also
affect the choice of form of ownership organisation.
In
sole proprietorship, the owner may raise additional capital by borrowing, by
purchasing on credit, and by investing additional amounts himself. Banks and
suppliers, however, will look closely at the proprietor’s individual financial
resources before sanctioning loans or advances.
Partnerships
can often raise funds with greater ease, since the resources and credit of all
partners are combined in a single enterprise. Companies are usually best able
to attract capital because investors are assured that their liability will be
limited.
4. Degree
of control and management:
The
degree of control and management that an entrepreneur desires to have over
business affects the choice of ownership organisation. In sole proprietorship,
ownership, management, and control are completely fused, and therefore, the
entrepreneur has complete control over business. In partnership, management and
control of business is jointly shared by partners.
They have
equal voice in the management of partnership business except to the extent that
they agree to divide among themselves the business responsibilities.
Even
then, they are legally accountable to each other. In a company, however, there
is divorce between ownership and management. The management and control of
company business is entrusted to the elected representatives of shareholders.
Thus,
a person wishing to have complete and direct control of business prefers
proprietary organisation rather than partnership or company. If he is prepared
to share it with others, he will choose partnership. But, if he is just not
bothered about it, he will go in for company.
5. Degree
of risk and liability:
The
size of risk and the willingness of owners to bear it is an important
consideration in the selection of a legal form of ownership organisation. The
amount of risk involved in a business depends, among other, on the nature and
size of business. Smaller the size of business, smaller the amount of risk.
Thus, a sole
proprietary business carries small amount of risk with it as compared to
partnership or company. However, the sole proprietor is personally liable for
all the debts of the business to the extent of his entire property. Likewise,
in partnership, partners are individually and jointly responsible for the
liabilities of the partnership firm.
Companies
have a real advantage, as far as the risk goes, over other forms of ownership.
Creditors can force payment on their claims only to the limit of the company’s
assets. Thus, while a shareholder may lose the entire money he put into the
company, he cannot be forced to contribute additional funds out of his own
pocket to satisfy business debts.
6. Stability
of business:
Stability
of business is yet another factor that governs the choice of an ownership
organisation. A stable business is preferred by the owners insofar as it helps
him in attracting suppliers of capital who look for safety of investment and
regular return, and also helps in getting competent workers and managers who
look for security of service and opportunities of advancement. From this point
of view, sole proprietorships are not stable, although no time limit is placed
on them by law.
The illness
of owner may derange the business and his death cause the demise of the
business. Partnerships are also unstable, since they are terminated by the
death, insolvency, insanity, or withdrawal of one of the partners. Companies
have the most permanent legal structure. The life of the company is not
dependent upon the life of this member. Members may come, members may go, but
the company goes on forever.
7. Flexibility
of administration:
As
far as possible, the form of organisation chosen should allow flexibility of
administration. The flexibility of administration is closely related to the
internal organisation of a business, i.e., the manner in which organisational
activities are structured into departments, sections, and units with a clear
definition of authority and responsibility.
The internal
organisation of a sole proprietary business, for instance, is very simple, and
therefore, any change in its administration can be effected with least
inconvenience and loss. To a large extent, the same is true of a partnership
business also. In a company organisation, however, administration is not that
flexible because its activities are conducted on a large scale and they are
quite rigidly structured.
Any
substantial change in the existing line of business activity — say from cotton
textiles to sugar manufacturing — may not be permitted by law if such a
provision is not made in the ‘objects clause’ of the Memorandum of Association
of the company.
Even
when it is permitted by the Memorandum, it might have to be endorsed by the
shareholders at the general meeting of the company. Thus, from flexibility
point of view, sole proprietorship has a distinct edge over other forms.
8. Division
of profit:
Profit
is the guiding force of private business and it has a tremendous influence on
the selection of a particular form of ownership organisation. An entrepreneur
desiring to pocket all the profits of business will naturally prefer sole
proprietorship.
Of course,
in sole proprietorship, the personal liability is also unlimited. But, if he is
willing to share the profits partnership is best. In company organisation,
however, the profits (whenever the Board of Directors decides) are distributed
among shareholders in proportion to their shareholding, but the liability is
also limited. The rate of dividend is generally quite low.
9. Costs,
procedure, and government regulation:
This
is also an important factor that should be taken into account while choosing a
particular form of organisation. Different forms of organisation involve
different procedure for establishment, and are governed by different laws which
affect the immediate and long-term functioning of a business enterprise. From
this point of view, sole proprietorships are the easiest and cheapest to get
started. There is no government regulation. What is necessary is the technical
competence and the business acumen of the owner.
Partnerships
are also quite simple initiated. Even a written document is not necessarily a
prerequisite, since an oral agreement can be equally effective. Company form of
ownership is more complicated to from.
It
can be created by law, dissolved by law, and operate under the complicated
provisions of the law. In the formation of a company, a large number of legal
formalities is to be gone through which entails, at times, quite a substantial
amount of expenditure.
For a new or proposed business, the selection of a suitable form of ownership organisation is generally governed by the following factors:
1. Nature of business activity:
This is an important factor having a direct bearing on the choice of a form of ownership. In small trading businesses, professions, and personal service trades, sole-proprietorship is predominant.
Examples are Laundromats, beauty parlours, repair shops, consulting agencies, small retail stores, medicine, dentist accounting concerns, painters, decorators, bakers, confectioners, tailoring shops, small scale shoe repairers and manufactures, etc. The partnership is suitable in all those cases where sole proprietorship is suitable, provided the business is to be carried on a slightly bigger scale.
Besides, partnership is also advantageous in case of manufacturing activities on a modest scale. The finance, insurance, and real estate industries seem to be suited to partnership form of organisation. Some of the financial businesses that find this form advantageous are tax, accounting, and stockbrokerage firms, and consulting agencies.
Service enterprises like hotels and lodging places; trading enterprises, such as wholesale trade, large scale retail houses; manufacturing enterprises, such as small drug manufacturers, etc. can be undertaken in the form of partnership. Manufacturing contains the highest percentage of companies among all industries. Similarly large chain stores, multiple shops, super-bazaars, engineering companies are in the form of companies.
2. Scale of operations:
The second factor that affects the form of ownership organisation is the scale of operations. If the scale of operations of business activities is small, sole proprietorship is suitable; if this scale of operations is modest — neither too small nor too large — partnership is preferable; whereas, in case of large scale of operations, the company form is advantageous.
The scale of business operations depends upon the size of the market area served, which, in turn, depends upon the size of demand for goods and services. If the market area is small, local, sole-proprietorship or partnership is opted. If the demand originates from a large area, partnership or company may be adopted.
3. Capital requirements:
Capital is one of the most crucial factors affecting the choice of a particular form of ownership organisation. Requirement of capital is closely related to the type of business and scale of operations. Enterprises requiring heavy investment (like iron and steel plants, medicinal plants, etc.) should be organised as joint stock companies.
Enterprises requiring small investment (like retail business stores, personal service enterprises, etc.) can be best organised as sole proprietorships. Apart from the initial capital required to start a business, the future capital requirements—to meet modernisation, expansion, and diversification plans —also affect the choice of form of ownership organisation.
In sole proprietorship, the owner may raise additional capital by borrowing, by purchasing on credit, and by investing additional amounts himself. Banks and suppliers, however, will look closely at the proprietor’s individual financial resources before sanctioning loans or advances.
Partnerships can often raise funds with greater ease, since the resources and credit of all partners are combined in a single enterprise. Companies are usually best able to attract capital because investors are assured that their liability will be limited.
4. Degree of control and management:
The degree of control and management that an entrepreneur desires to have over business affects the choice of ownership organisation. In sole proprietorship, ownership, management, and control are completely fused, and therefore, the entrepreneur has complete control over business. In partnership, management and control of business is jointly shared by partners.
They have equal voice in the management of partnership business except to the extent that they agree to divide among themselves the business responsibilities.
Even then, they are legally accountable to each other. In a company, however, there is divorce between ownership and management. The management and control of company business is entrusted to the elected representatives of shareholders.
Thus, a person wishing to have complete and direct control of business prefers proprietary organisation rather than partnership or company. If he is prepared to share it with others, he will choose partnership. But, if he is just not bothered about it, he will go in for company.
5. Degree of risk and liability:
The size of risk and the willingness of owners to bear it is an important consideration in the selection of a legal form of ownership organisation. The amount of risk involved in a business depends, among other, on the nature and size of business. Smaller the size of business, smaller the amount of risk.
Thus, a sole proprietary business carries small amount of risk with it as compared to partnership or company. However, the sole proprietor is personally liable for all the debts of the business to the extent of his entire property. Likewise, in partnership, partners are individually and jointly responsible for the liabilities of the partnership firm.
Companies have a real advantage, as far as the risk goes, over other forms of ownership. Creditors can force payment on their claims only to the limit of the company’s assets. Thus, while a shareholder may lose the entire money he put into the company, he cannot be forced to contribute additional funds out of his own pocket to satisfy business debts.
6. Stability of business:
Stability of business is yet another factor that governs the choice of an ownership organisation. A stable business is preferred by the owners insofar as it helps him in attracting suppliers of capital who look for safety of investment and regular return, and also helps in getting competent workers and managers who look for security of service and opportunities of advancement. From this point of view, sole proprietorships are not stable, although no time limit is placed on them by law.
The illness of owner may derange the business and his death cause the demise of the business. Partnerships are also unstable, since they are terminated by the death, insolvency, insanity, or withdrawal of one of the partners. Companies have the most permanent legal structure. The life of the company is not dependent upon the life of this member. Members may come, members may go, but the company goes on forever.
7. Flexibility of administration:
As far as possible, the form of organisation chosen should allow flexibility of administration. The flexibility of administration is closely related to the internal organisation of a business, i.e., the manner in which organisational activities are structured into departments, sections, and units with a clear definition of authority and responsibility.
The internal organisation of a sole proprietary business, for instance, is very simple, and therefore, any change in its administration can be effected with least inconvenience and loss. To a large extent, the same is true of a partnership business also. In a company organisation, however, administration is not that flexible because its activities are conducted on a large scale and they are quite rigidly structured.
Any substantial change in the existing line of business activity — say from cotton textiles to sugar manufacturing — may not be permitted by law if such a provision is not made in the ‘objects clause’ of the Memorandum of Association of the company.
Even when it is permitted by the Memorandum, it might have to be endorsed by the shareholders at the general meeting of the company. Thus, from flexibility point of view, sole proprietorship has a distinct edge over other forms.
8. Division of profit:
Profit is the guiding force of private business and it has a tremendous influence on the selection of a particular form of ownership organisation. An entrepreneur desiring to pocket all the profits of business will naturally prefer sole proprietorship.
Of course, in sole proprietorship, the personal liability is also unlimited. But, if he is willing to share the profits partnership is best. In company organisation, however, the profits (whenever the Board of Directors decides) are distributed among shareholders in proportion to their shareholding, but the liability is also limited. The rate of dividend is generally quite low.
9. Costs, procedure, and government regulation:
This is also an important factor that should be taken into account while choosing a particular form of organisation. Different forms of organisation involve different procedure for establishment, and are governed by different laws which affect the immediate and long-term functioning of a business enterprise. From this point of view, sole proprietorships are the easiest and cheapest to get started. There is no government regulation. What is necessary is the technical competence and the business acumen of the owner.
Partnerships are also quite simple initiated. Even a written document is not necessarily a prerequisite, since an oral agreement can be equally effective. Company form of ownership is more complicated to from.
It can be created by law, dissolved by law, and operate under the complicated provisions of the law. In the formation of a company, a large number of legal formalities is to be gone through which entails, at times, quite a substantial amount of expenditure.
