Partnerships

Partnerships provide an alternative to setting up and running a . They do not offer the same financial protections as a but can be a useful, flexible way to run your business. These Q&A include an introduction to the different types of business partnership and their characteristics, explains how these differ from a , and provides guidance on how you can set up and run a general or (not an ). There is also an accompanying template partnership agreement that you can personalise for your own business.

Introduction to business partnerships

  1. 1.What is a partnership?
  2. 2.What is a general partnership or ordinary partnership?
  3. 3.What is a limited liability partnership (LLP)?
  4. 4.What is a limited partnership (LP)?
  5. 5.Which type of partnership should I choose for my business?
  6. 6.Can I convert my business partnership into a company?

Starting a business partnership

  1. 7.How do I set up a partnership?
  2. 8.Have I set up a business partnership by accident?
  3. 9.How should I choose a name for my partnership?
  4. 10.Do I need to register my partnership with Companies House?
  5. 11.Do I need to display the name of my partnership or partners anywhere?
  6. 12.What information must I include in my partnership stationery?

Partnership agreements

  1. 13.Do I need a written partnership agreement?
  2. 14.What should a partnership agreement contain?
  3. 15.How do I enter into a partnership agreement?
  4. 16.What happens if I do not have a partnership agreement?

Tax and business partnerships

  1. 17.Do I need to register my partnership with HMRC?
  2. 18.How do I register my partnership with HMRC?
  3. 19.Does my partnership need to register for VAT?

Running a business partnership

  1. 20.Who controls my partnership?
  2. 21.How should my partnership make decisions?
  3. 22.Who can sign contracts for my partnership?
  4. 23.How are the profits of my partnership divided?
  5. 24.Do partners have the right to be paid a salary or receive any remuneration from my partnership?
  6. 25.What is a partner's draw or drawing?
  7. 26.How is a partner's draw or drawing approved?
  8. 27.What is a partner's capital contribution?
  9. 28.Are all partners required to make a minimum capital contribution to my partnership?
  10. 29.Can I be personally liable for the debts or losses of my partnership?
  11. 30.What happens if someone wants to sue my partnership?
  12. 31.Does my partnership have to file a tax return?
  13. 32.How does my partnership file a tax return?

Appointments, resignations and expulsions from a business partnership

  1. 33.Can my partnership appoint a new partner?
  2. 34.How can my partnership appoint a new partner?
  3. 35.Can my partnership remove or expel a partner?
  4. 36.How can my partnership remove or expel a partner?
  5. 37.Can a partner retire from or leave my partnership?
  6. 38.How can a partner retire or leave my partnership?

Ending a business partnership

  1. 39.Can I end a business partnership?
  2. 40.How can I end a business partnership?
  3. 41.What happens to the cash, assets and debts of my business partnership when it is wound up?

Partnership agreement

Use this Partnership agreement template if you want to start a business partnership between two or more individuals. It's a good idea to have a written partnership agreement in place if you want to start a partnership because it provides rules around how your partnership will be run. For example, the Partnership agreement template allows you to decide matters like: how new partners are appointed; how profits and losses are shared; the partners' duties and responsibilities; how partners may retire or be expelled from the partnership; and the obligations of the partners not to compete against the partnership. By using a Partnership agreement, you reduce the risk of disputes with your partners in future and you are also given greater flexibility to run your partnership as you wish (if you do not have a partnership agreement in place, the default rules of partnership law apply). You can find a blog summarising what a partnership agreement is and how to use it here .
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