Introduction to Partnerships

A partnership is an association of two or more people who co-own and operate a business for profit.

Consider Sarah, James, and Alex, who plan to start a consulting firm and must choose among three main partnership types.

If they choose a general partnership, all partners manage the business and are personally liable for its debts.

In this case, they would share management duties and would be fully liable for the firm’s debts.

Next, they can consider a limited partnership. One or more partners manage the firm as general partners with unlimited liability, while the others invest capital as limited partners and do not manage the business.

For example, Sarah and James will manage clients as general partners, while Alex can contribute capital and become a limited partner.

Finally, they may choose a limited liability partnership, in which all partners can participate in managing the firm and are not personally liable for each other's mistakes.

In that case, if Sarah and James make a mistake while advising a client, Alex would not be personally liable for their mistake, so his personal assets would remain protected.

By understanding these partnership options, they can choose the best-suited structure for the firm.