Types Of Organisations
Overview
From a one-person street-food stall to a multinational listed on the stock exchange, businesses come in many shapes. The legal structure a business chooses affects who owns it, who controls it, how it raises finance, and what happens if things go wrong. Choosing the right form of ownership is one of the first and most important decisions any entrepreneur makes.
In this lesson you will compare sole traders, partnerships, private and public limited companies, public corporations, franchises, social enterprises and multinationals. You will learn the meaning of limited and unlimited liability, examine why businesses change their legal structure as they grow, and evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of each form of ownership.
Objectives
- Understand the main types of business ownership: sole trader, partnerships, limited companies (private and public), public corporations
- Understand characteristics relating to size: concepts of risk, ownership and limited liability, public corporations and reasons for and against public ownership, ownership, control, sources of finance, use of profits, stakeholders and shareholders, appropriateness of different forms of ownership
- Understand different forms of business organisation: franchises, social enterprises, multinationals
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Flashcards
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Types Of Organisations. Now that you've explored the key concepts and ideas, it's time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which type of business ownership has unlimited liability? A) Private limited company B) Public limited company C) Sole trader D) Public corporation Answer: C
- What document must be filed to form a limited company? A) Deed of partnership B) Franchise agreement C) Memorandum of association D) Business plan Answer: C
- Which of the following is a feature of a public limited company? A) Shares can only be sold to family members B) The owner has unlimited liability C) Shares are traded on the stock exchange D) The business is owned by the government Answer: C
- In a franchise arrangement, the franchisee: A) Owns the brand name B) Sets up a completely new brand C) Pays to trade under the franchisor's brand D) Has no financial risk Answer: C
- A social enterprise differs from a regular business because it: A) Cannot make any profit at all B) Prioritises social or environmental goals over profit C) Is always owned by the government D) Has unlimited liability Answer: B
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Recommended Books
Further learning from open sources
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Textbook section
Corporations: Limiting Your Liability
How does the corporate structure provide advantages and disadvantages to a company, and what are the major types of corporations?
"Introduction to Business: Corporations: Limiting Your Liability" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/4-3-corporations-limiting-your-liability. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/1-introduction
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Textbook section
Franchising: A Popular Trend
What makes franchising an appropriate form of organization for some types of business, and why does it continue to grow in importance?
"Introduction to Business: Franchising: A Popular Trend" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/4-5-franchising-a-popular-trend. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/1-introduction
Published by other organisations under open licences, credited as they ask. Links open their websites.
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