Exam Revision Flashcards
Trading business
Buys and sells inventory
A retailer is a business that sells inventory to the public
A wholesaler is a business that purchases inventory from a manufacturer and sells this inventory to a retailer
Service business
Provides a service to a customer in exchange for a fee
Sole trader
Is a business owned by one man or woman
Advantages of being a sole trader
Easier and less expensive to establish and operate
Sole trader does not have to share the profit with other owners
Disadvantages of being a sole trader
Liable for all the debts of the business
One person may not have enough money to start or expand a business
Limited sources of advice when making business decisions
Business may have to close or be sold if sole trader has a serious illness
Any losses made by the business cannot be shared with other owners
Sole trader will find it more difficult to take annual holidays
Partnership
Is a business, other than a company, that is owned by two or more people. The number of members of a partnership is limited by law. Max of 20 people
Advantages of a partnership
Two or more partners maybe able to raise more capital than can one sole trader
Partners contribute different skills to the business
Partners share the workload of operating a business
One partner can cover for another partner who is sick or on holiday
Partners share the risks and losses of the business
Disadvantages of a partnership
Partners are jointly and severally liable for all the debts of the partnership
Conflict over business policy or personality clashes can occur. Can end the partnership
Has a limited life
Any profit made by the business must be shared between a number of people
Partnership Ageememt
- The aims of the partnership
- The profit or loss sharing ratio
- The voting procedures as meetings of partners
- Procedures to be followed in the event of the retirement or death of a partner and procedures to be followed for the admission of a new partner
Corporations act 2001
All aspects of company formation and certain aspects of company operation are controlled by an Act of the commonwealth parliament known as the corporations act 2001
Company
An organisation established under the Corporations Act 2001 as a separate legal entity. A company can make contracts in its own name, can own property and can sue and be sued in its own name.
Capital of a company
The money or other resources that a person invests in a business is known as capital. The capital of he company is divided into shares. Each share is given a money value. People purchase these shares and become the owners of the company. Known as shareholders
A company limited by shares
One in which the liability of the shareholders for company debts is limited to the amount owing on their shares
Proprietary company
Is a company that cannot raise money from the public. Must have at least one shareholder and max 50 non-employee shareholders. Must have the word “proprietary” or “Pty” included in its own name
Small and large proprietary companies
A small proprietary company must satisfy any two of the following three conditions
- The revenue for the year is less than 25 million
- He assets at the end of the year are less than 12.5 million
- The company has less than 50 employees at the end of the year
Advantages of a company limited by shares
The death of a shareholder does not end the company as it is a separate legal entity
Shareholders of a company limited by shares have the protection of limited liability
Disadvantages of a company limited by shares
A company is subject to much greater regulation
A company is more expensive to form
Sources of finance
Loans from family or friends A credit card A bank overdraft A term loan Lease finance Factoring
Credit card
Short term source of finance for a business, paid within a few months. Very expensive form of short term borrowings unless it is paid off within the interest free day periods
Bank overdraft
Is a loan made by a bank in which the customer can withdraw more money from his or her bank account than had been deposited in the account.
Term loan
Long term source of finance obtained by the bank, paid back after a number of years
Accounting
Is a system of recording and processing business events and reporting to people on the performance of a business