Are you looking to run a business with one or more partners in the state of Kentucky?
The simplest way to do this is to form a Kentucky general partnership, which at its core is essentially just a handshake agreement between two (or more) people to operate a business together.
General partnerships are just one of several ways for multiple people to co-own a business, so in this guide we’ll describe how the general partnership compares to some other more formal business structures in Kentucky.
Rocket Tip: It’s important to understand that a general partnership does not offer limited liability protection as the LLC does. The LLC is the most popular entity for small businesses and is easy to set up – by doing it yourself or hiring an LLC service.
What Is a General Partnership?
At its core, the general partnership bears the most similarities with the sole proprietorship. Both are unincorporated business entities that are viewed as extensions of their owners as people, rather than as separate legal entities. General partnerships often don’t even have business names, as they can be operated using the owners’ personal names.
Let’s take a look at two of the most important differences between general partnerships and formal business entities:
1) Taxation and Signature Requirements
Due to the lack of legal distinction between the general partnership and its owners, the “pass-through” model of taxation applies to this type of company. This means that the profits and losses of a partnership are claimed on the owners’ personal tax returns. Along those same lines, general partnership owners can sign business contracts using their own names instead of signing on behalf of the company, and customers are also welcome to write checks to the owners personally.
2) No Asset Protection
The most important distinction between general partnerships and formal business structures like corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs) is the issue of personal asset protection. In a general partnership, if your business is sued, your creditors are free to pursue your personal assets, including but not limited to your house, car, and even the contents of your personal checking account.
On the other end of the spectrum, owners of LLCs and corporations enjoy limited liability protection, which means that for the most part, creditors can only go after business assets, and the personal assets of the ownership group are left intact.
How to Become a Kentucky General Partnership
If you want to start a general partnership in the state of Kentucky, there is no formal business registration process to complete.
To form a Kentucky general partnership, you simply need to start working with your partner or partners. In addition, unlike corporations or LLCs, there aren’t any formation fees or ongoing maintenance fees associated with filings like annual reports.
While the actual legal requirements are incredibly simple, there are still some other steps that you might want to take, depending on your preferences and your goals for the company. Let’s discuss the additional steps that may or may not suit your business needs.
DBA Obtainment
If you don’t want to use your personal name as your official business name, you can acquire a doing business as (DBA) name from the state of Kentucky. With a DBA, you can use an assumed name in an official capacity, which is a great way to attract customers, as most people find that a business name adds legitimacy and professionalism to a business, as opposed to simply using the owners’ own names.
With a DBA, your general partnership can also open business bank accounts using the assumed name, which is another way to increase the professional aspect of your company. After all, it looks much better to have your company name on your checks, rather than just writing checks from your personal accounts.
If you would like to secure a DBA for your Kentucky general partnership, you should first run a business name availability search with the Secretary of State. Once you’ve confirmed that your desired name isn’t already claimed by a Kentucky LLC or corporation, you can acquire your DBA by filling out the Certificate of Assumed Name.
Do you want more information on DBA registration in Kentucky? Take a look at our full article on the subject.
Register for Taxes
Other than the fact that general partnerships have more than one owner, the other major difference between a sole proprietorship and a partnership is the fact that a general partnership needs to acquire a federal tax ID number, otherwise known as an EIN.
While sole proprietors can get away with just using their personal social security number, the partnership needs an EIN because ― even though partnerships do not file business tax returns ― it needs to file an annual information return with the IRS.
In addition to the EIN, your business may need to register for state or local taxes.
One common requirement for Kentucky general partnerships is sales and use tax if your business sells goods or products. In general, Kentucky makes it easy to figure out which taxes you need to register for, thanks to their One Stop Registration. With this convenient website, the Kentucky Department of Revenue not only determines which kinds of taxes you need to pay, but it also automatically signs you up for them.
Determine License and Permit Requirements
The state of Kentucky does not have a general business license that all general partnerships are required to obtain. However, depending on what industry you operate in, your business may need licenses or permits to enable you to run your company in a compliant fashion.
In much the same way as they make tax registration easy, Kentucky has a handy permits and licenses search in the One Stop Business Portal. This tool enables you to search through the hundreds of industry-specific licenses and permits that apply to Kentucky businesses.
Finally, you should also make sure to sign up for any relevant local licenses. While this is far from an exhaustive list, Kentucky’s largest cities ― Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Paducah ― all have their own requirements in this regard.
Conclusion
The general partnership is a much simpler business for multiple owners than a corporation or a limited liability company.
The state of Kentucky doesn’t require any official formation for general partnerships, and they’re also not required to pay any formation fees or participate in ongoing maintenance filings like annual reports. However, the general partnership as a business structure has some serious weaknesses as well, like the lack of personal asset protection that leaves owners’ assets exposed to potential lawsuits.
We hope this article helped you determine whether you’d like to form a Kentucky general partnership, or if there’s another business type that would better suit your needs. As always, we wish you a successful business future!