Once you decide to establish a business, your first consideration will be the type of business organization to use. Legal and tax considerations will help you to determine your final choice, as well as personal needs and the needs of the particular business. There are three principal kinds of business structures: the Sole Proprietorship, the Partnership and the Corporation. There are advantages and disadvantages to each legal form of business.

The Business Structure section of our 'Open For Business' web site has been developed to give you a basic understanding of the various business structures. It is by no means everything you will need to know before forming and starting a business. Gathering information from a number of sources is a good way to get a well rounded understanding of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. You are encouraged to follow the links to all the helpful web pages referenced on this site.

Sole Proprietorship
General Partnership
Limited Partnership
Limited Liability Company
Limited Liability Partnership
Corporation

Our material was compiled from the Department of Community and Economic Development's The Entrepreneur Guide and Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry's The Pennsylvania Business Handbook.