Lesson 23: Legal Responsibilities and Business Strategies Flashcards
What structures do for-profit businesses typically operate under?
- sole proprietorship
- partnership
- corporation
What is a sole proprietorship?
It is a business owned and operated by one person.
How does a sole proprietorship exsist?
As long as the owner operates the business and profits from the business belong to the owner.
In a sole proprietorship, there is no ________ ____ that shields the actions of the business from the personal responsibility of the owner.
corporate veil
When an owner of a sole proprietorship conducts business under a different company name, does the personal responsilibty of them (being the owner) still reside on them?
Yes
What are the cons of a sole proprietorship PT business?
- no corporate veil to protect you from personal responsibility/fees
- incoming revenue can be decreased if you take time off
- if any lawsuit should occur, the financial loss is far greater and can cause you to sell assets
What is the definition of a partnership business?
When two or more people agree to operate a business, share profits/losses.
Partnerships can be created without filing paperwork, why should you file these documents though?
Any partnership should have legal documents to establish the rules of operation that outlines the structure of authority, partners’ rights, expected performance/contributions from each party, buy-out clauses, income distribution and responsibility for debts.
It basically protects each partner’s finances and job.
What should be included in a partnership rules of operation legal document?
It should outline and clearly define:
- structure for authority
- partners’ rights
- buy-out clauses
- income distribution
- expected performance and contributions from each partner
- responsibility for debts
In extreme cases, the lack of a partnership agreement can result in what?
The courts requiring the business to be dissolved to settle financial disputes
Partnership paperwork should be designed to address any eventuality, what is an example of one?
Potential death or incapacity of one of the partners.
What is a general partnership?
The joining or 2 or more individuals to own and operate a business.
Why will most attorneys advise against a 50-50 partnership split?
Because this can result in a stalemate because neither partner can institute policy without the other’s permission as business decisions must be approved by a majority of 50.1%.
Why can a disproportionate ownership in a partnership cause issues?
Because the minority partner ultimately cannot make decisions without permission from the other and may not want to invest as much as they get less profit/income.
What is the difference between an express partnership and an implied partnership?
An express partnership is created and recognized by a contract whereas an implied partnership is created and recognized by the judicial system without a contract necessarily.
What is an implied partnership?
One that is created and recognized through the judicial system as the individuals act as partners but don’t necessarily have a binding contract.
Such as opening a business bank account together or co-signing a loan.
What is an express partnership?
One that is created and recognized by the parties signing a contract.
In some cases, minority partners may be personally liable for a greater share of the companies’ liabilities than their % of ownership - why?
If their partner files for bankruptcy, the minority partner may be required to cover the financial obligation of the insolvent general partner even if they own 45%.
Why do some partnerships involve limited patners?
Limited partners are only liable for their direct financial contribution so this protects the partner from covering financial obligations should their partner pull out.
What do limited partners not gain in a partnership?
Any formal managerial input regarding the operations of the business.
Why has it proven to have issues in a partnership where one partner is the ‘hands on’ person and the other is the ‘office/admin’ person?
Because it creates problems where one partner maybe doesn’t fully value/appreciate the other partner’s input/work.
When/why does a partnership end?
When a partner dies, becomes bankrupt, the other partner engages in any illegal activity or if the court rules a partner as being medically incapacitated. It can also occur when the company is not making money and all parties wish to dissolve the partnership.
If a business is not making any money, what could happen for the partnership?
The partnership is dissolved unless one or more partners have different opinions on the financial future of the company.
A resolution must be met between all parties - these may include court intervention to determine dissolving of the partnership or compensation for one’s exit.
What is flow-through taxation?
When financial profits and losses flow from the business directly to the investors. The business does not pay any taxes, rather, the profits are taxed on the investors’ individual tax return and losses can be used by investors to offset other personal income.
Why is flow-through taxation good for sole proprietorships/partnerships?
Because it means that you pay lower tax and can offset your tax with another personal income to avoid business loss.
What are corporations designed to do?
Create a ‘separate’ entity from the investors and operators of a business.
How does the corporate veil work between investors/operators in a corporation?
In a corporation, investors own shares and must not act as owners therefore lowering their personal liability.
Operators of the business and investors must share separate existences in the company.
What is an example of an investor in a corporation piercing the corporate veil?
By mixing their personal checking account with that of the corporation, this can be seen by court as acting as the corporation and increases their personal liability potentials for any corporate debt/judgements.
How is forming and maintaining a corporation more burdensome than a sole proprietorship or partnership?
Because corporations are formed and registered in the office of the secretary of state as opposed to just an agreement between the partners.
What secretary of state must a corporation register in?
The one in which they operate.
If however, they operate in many states, they must determine the best state for short and long-term operation.
What must be done to register a corporation in a state?
- must select a name that is not previously registered in the desired state
- appropriate notice of incorporation forms must be completed
- fees paid
- registered agent must be present
Who is a registered agent?
The contact person in the event that a lawsuit is filed against the corporation.
Once the incorporation is complete, what is the corporation recognised as?
a distinct legal entity
What happens once the corporation is recognised as a distinct legal entity?
The shareholders will elect a board of directors who will hire the executive management team. If there are few shareholders, the investors may fill the corporate positions.
What annual paperwork must be filed once a company is established?
Operational paperwork, tax returns that are appropriate to the local, state and federal governments.
What are the main corporate structures?
- subchapter S-corporation
- limited liability companies
- limited liability partnerships
- C-corporations
What is the main financial advantage of subchapter S-corporations?
Profits flow through the business to the shareholders and are taxed as ordinary income.
Which of the corporate structures are most typically used by PT businesses that do not operate as a sole proprietorship or partnership?
Subchapter S-Corporations
What are 2 pros to Subchapter S-Corporations?
- shareholders are shielded from personal liability by the corporate veil
- S-corps can own subsidiaries that operate independently which shields them from liability
What are 3 cons to Subchapter S-Corporations?
- must be based in the US
- can only have a total of 100 investors that must be from the US
- can only issue one form of stock so every share must have the same voting rights/dividend allotments
What is the definition of an Subchapter S-Corporation?
A type of corporation that meets specific Internal Revenue Code requirements. The requirements give a corporation with 100 shareholders or less the benefit of incorporation while being taxed as a partnership.
What is the difference between LLC/LLP and S-corps?
An S-Corp requires extensive paperwork whereas LLCs and LLPs can be established by filing simple paperwork in the state where the LLC/LLP will initially operate.
There are also no national standards regarding the operation of LLCs or LLPs.
Why is it likely that LLC/Ps will become the preferred operating structure for PTs?
Because they combine the limited liability and flow-through taxation of the S-Corp but with easier creation and operation requirements.
What is the difference between a C-Corp and S-Corp in tax payments?
A C-corp is taxed as a company first and then any profits remaining may be provided to shareholders whereas in an S-corp, the profits flow through the business to the shareholders before being taxed as ordinary income.
What are C-corps thought to provide double taxation?
Because the company is taxed first, then the shareholders are paid the remaining profits before they are taxed individually on their dividends. Therefore, they essentially pay double tax.
What is the difference between a C-corp and an S-corp in terms of shareholders?
Unlike an S-Corp, C-Corps have no limits on the number of potential shareholders, can also issue different classifications of stock and stock can be sold to foreign nationals/institutional investors.
Why do profitable companies operated as partnerships, LLCs or S-Corps elect to change their classification to a C-Corp?
Because ‘going public’ can enable the owner/s to generate a large amount of money.
What is a possible negative to already established companies changing their classification to a C-Corp?
It can allow investors to take a significant stake in the operation of the company and can often lead to prominent founders of the company being ‘forced out.’
This happens when one person/group owns 50.1% of the stock and therefore has the majority of power to set policies.
Why when a company goes public does no one owner retain more than 50.1% of the stock?
Because that one owner would therefore hold the majority of the business which means they can make executive decisions and policies.
What can a consultation with an attorney who specializes in business operations assist with?
Reducing potential liability and mitigating potential tax payments.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship?
Pros -
easily created/managed and flow through taxation
Cons -
personal liability and raising capital
What are advantages and disadvantages of a partnership?
Pros -
easily created and flow through taxation
Cons -
potential management disputes and personal liability (except limited partners)
What are advantages and disadvantages of an S-Corp?
Pros -
flow through taxations and limited liability
Cons -
limited number of potential investors and costs of formation/operation
What are advantages and disadvantages of an LLC/LLP?
Pros -
flow through taxations and limited liability
Cons -
undefined operating standards in states
What are advantages and disadvantages of C-Corps?
Pros -
limited liability and unlimited number of investors
Cons -
cost of formation/operation and double taxation
What does LLC and LLP stand for?
Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships
What is a Franchise Operation Business Model?
A franchise is a type of license that a party (franchisee) acquires to allow them to have access to a business’s (franchisor) proprietary knowledge, processes, and trademarks in order to allow the party to sell a product or provide a service under the business’s name.
What is the franchising model based on?
The principle that local business owners will have greater success connecting their facilities to the local communities and more commitment to making them successful if they have an ownership stake in the business.
What can a franchisee purchase?
A specific location or the rights to open a number of locations for a specific market.
Owning and operating a franchise provides some of the advantages of both an?
independent operation and a multiple-facility operation
What is the individual franchisee upfront cost that most franchise operations will change?
up to £25,000 plus annual fees of a % of revenue earned from the business
What costs are involved in owning a franchise?
- cost of purchasing operational and retail products through franchisor’s business structure
- annual feels of a % of revenue earned from the business
What are 5 advantages to owning and operating a franchise?
- obtaining the rights to a recognized brand name that will assist the PT in creating a strong presence in a specific market
- access to business/operating systems created by the franchiser (e.g equipment layouts, discounts on equipment purchases, marketing info)
- access to national advertising programs and the ability to share costs associated with marketing/brand identity with other franchise owners
- ability to control the business as long as the requirements of the parent franchise company are met
- franchisers that will provide training/advice on all aspects of marketing/operating the business as it is in their best interest for all individuals to be successful
What are the disadvantages of owning/operating a franchise?
- upfront costs and ongoing costs to maintain the association with the parent brand
- annual costs of maintaining the franchise (such as necessary purchases through the franchise system)
- association with a particular brand which could drawback if other franchisees perform badly or unethically
- following the franchise’s operating model which could limit the franchisee’s ability to adapt to changing market forces
What is the difference between an employee and independent contractor?
Employees regularly work for their employer whilst independent contractors are typically hired on a short-term basis to perform a specific task or series of tasks.
Once the specific task is complete, ICs are paid and no longer needed.
What are employers responsible for in terms of their employee?
- training and supervising them
- maintaining records regarding their work
- withholding and matching the employees Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes for Social Security and Medicare
What does an employer usually cover for their employee?
Unemployment coverage, workers’ compensation coverage and medical benefits.
What work details typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
If schedules are created that require specific materials to be utilized and an overseeing of procedures then it will typically be seen as an employee.
What payment details typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
Regularly scheduled payments typically indicate employment whilst payment by the ‘job’ indicates independent contractors.
What training/retraining details typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
An IC will require no training or additional training from the hiring agency.
What equipment details typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
ICs will typically provide their own equipment.
How does a person’s ‘number of clients’ typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
Employees typically work for one employer whereas an IC will have multiple clients.
How does someones nature of work typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
If the work provided is integral to the core function of the business then they are deemed an employee. In addition, if the work is typically performed by ICs then the courts will utilize that in their determination.
How does ‘intention of the parties’ typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
The intent of the parties is a factor in defining an IC and employee.
If the intent is to work scheduled hours, they are more likely deemed an employee.
What are 8 areas that courts will look at when investigating a potential status dispute?
- work details
- payment
- length of relationship
- training/retraining
- equipment
- number of clients
- nature of work
- intention of parties
How does someones ‘length of relationship’ typically differentiate an independent contractor from an employee?
ICs are typically hired for short amounts of time opposed to employees.
A PT that is an independent contractor that works in a fitness center should be able to?
- choose when/where to work
- charge variable fees for different situations
- begin working without extensive guidance
- maintain autonomy in training decision
Why can it often be better to be a PT at a gym?
Because you are gaining more security being an employee of a fitness facility as opposed to an IC with more personal/financial risk.
What elements are necessary to creating a binding contract?
- an offer and acceptance with a mutual agreement of terms
- consideration (an exchange of valuable items i.e money for service)
- legality (acceptance under the law)
- ability of the parties to enter into a contract with respect to legal age and mental capacity
Why is an oral contract deemed dangerous?
Because oral contract disputes may require legal intervention in which case the conflicting stories may be settled in a courtroom without sufficient evidence to support the trainer’s account of what transpired.
Some trainers use scheduling as a form of contract, why should a written contract be established instead?
To account for rescheduling, bounced checks, agreements to follow instructions and adhere to proper techniques, confidentiality, termination of agreement.
What will be signed as a component of the initial contract?
A waiver
When should a PT insist upon a written contract not only with clients but fitness centers, vendors and other entities in which they work?
Every time they conduct new business/services.
When does the statute of frauds require there be a written contract for the agreement to be valid?
In any case where the agreement involves real estate, goods or services worth $500 + or requires 1+ years to complete.
When will the courts not intervene in a potential oral contract dispute?
When the contract violates the statute of frauds as it will invalidate the agreement.
What is the difference between an act of omission and an act of commission?
An act of omission would be a PT failing to act such as not spotting their client whereas an act of commission would be acting inappropriately such as failing to suitably make a program for someone with back injuries.
To substantiate a charge of negligence in court, what 4 elements must the plaintiff establish?
- the defendant had a duty to protect the plaintiff from injury
- the defendant failed to uphold the standard of care necessary to perform that duty
- damage or injury to the plaintiff occured
- the damage or injury was caused by the defendants breach of duty
What is proximate causation?
In law, a proximate cause is an event sufficiently related to an injury that the courts deem the event to be the cause of that injury.
What does vicarious liability/respondeat superior refer to?
This is a concept that states employers are responsible for the employment actions of their employees.
Aka if their employee acts negligently then the employer and employee are liable for court cases.
What is an exculpatory clause used for?
a contract provision that relieves one party of liability if damages are caused during the execution of the contract.
e.g signing a waiver before boxing that says you will not sue should you break your nose during
Why should a PT utilize their own waiver in addition to the one signed at a fitness facility before working with a client?
Because the original waiver may not extend to the PT if they do not immediately work at the centre and the client may try to sue. It is extra protection.
What must a client understand before signing a waiver?
The nature of the activities and potential risks of injuries they may sustain during.
What is classified as gross negligence?
An action that demonstrates recklessness or a willful disregard for the safety of others, this occurs when someone deliberately acts in a manner that extends beyond the scope of employment or fails to meet the accepted standard of care.
If a PT removed a safety screw from a bench, what is this classified as and would the waiver protect them from legal inference?
This is an example of gross negligence because it deliberately places danger upon their client. The waiver would not protect them.
The use of proper waivers protects the PT from lawsuits that arise from what type of injuries?
Ones that are typically sustained during exercise (e.g sprained ankle) as well as injuries due to mistakes the trainer makes during training.
What is classified as contributory negligence?
When the plaintiff in a lawsuit is deemed to have played a role in the injury and is prevented from receiving any remuneration (money).
If a client fails to tell you that the sole of their shoe is broken and slips during a session, what type of negligence is this?
contributory negligence
What is comparative negligence?
When several parties are involved so the damage is split between who is at fault.
If a client fails to tell you that the sole of their shoe is broken and slips during a squat you were not properly spotting - what might the court deem this? What would the result of this be?
They would deem it as comparative negligence and may give 40% blame to the client and 60% to you - meaning you would pay 60% of the damage costs.
What 3 forms should be filled out before a PT begins the first exercise session with a new client?
- agreement to participate
- informed consent
- waivers
What is an agreement to participate form designed to do?
Protect the PT from a client claiming to be unaware of the potential risks of physical activity.
What type of form is more typical for class settings as opposed to 1-1?
agreement to participate
What should an agreement to participate form outline?
- potential risks to be encountered
- nature of activity
- expected behaviour of participant (as they may need to follow instructions)
Why do some attorneys suggest you do not train anyone until they have been verified by a basic health examination?
Because whilst PTs know how to start safely and slowly, they cannot evaluate a client’s overall health in the way a doctor can.
Why is it useful to know if a client has health insurance?
To know that they’re covered but also so that you can provide this info if anything should happen.
What is an informed consent form?
A form that shows the client’s acknowledgment that they have been specifically informed about the risks associated with the engaged activity.