Business Organizations Chapter 3 Business Organizations

Types of Firms Sole proprietorship – a business owned and run by one person. In 2000, 73% of all businesses in the U.S. were sole proprietorships. Advantages of sole proprietorships: -easy start-up -flexible (can make decisions quickly)  management is all you -the profits are yours -you are your own boss -no business taxes; all income for you -easy exit  pay your bills and stop working

Disadvantages of sole proprietorships -unlimited liability  you are responsible for everything -it’s hard to borrow money - Size and efficiency—you have to do everything yourself. You may be good at some things (making the product) but not at others (keeping the financial records, doing the insurance paperwork) -limited management experience -hard time finding qualified employees -limited life – business dies when you die

Partnerships Partnerships – business jointly owned by two or more persons. In 2000, partnerships accounted for 7.1% of business organizations in the U.S. There are two types of partnerships: *general partnerships – all partners actively run the business *limited partnership – at least one partner is not active in running the business and has limited responsibility for the debts & obligations of the business.

Advantages of partnerships: -easy to start -easy to manage -you get your share of the profits -can attract financial capital easier than sole proprietorships -larger, so some economies of scale present  More efficient operations (people can specialize) -easier to attract qualified employees

Disadvantages of partnerships: -responsible for the acts of all the other partners -if you are a limited partner, not involved in daily activity, you only lose your original investment - limited life  when a partner dies or leaves, it ends. It must be dissolved legally and reorganized with the remaining partners. (They usually want to keep the old name.) -conflict between partners -bankruptcy – if you’re not a limited partner, you have to pay any debts!

Corporations Corporation – a form of business organization that is recognized by the law as having all the legal rights of an individual. They have the right to buy & sell property, enter into legal contracts, and to sue & be sued. In 2000, corporations were 19.9% of business organizations, but were responsible for 88.8% of all sales.

Stock? Stock – a certificate of ownership in a firm. Stockholders – a.k.a. – shareholders – investors in a corporation (they own stock). The money from the stockholders (investors) is used to set up the firm. This money is called financial capital.

Advantages of Corporations Easy to raise financial capital 1.) sell stock 2.) issue bonds  a written promise to repay the amount borrowed in the future Hire professional managers Limited liability for the corporation’s owners: the corporation itself is responsible for all debts, not the owners. If it goes out of business, stockholders do not have to repay the corporation’s debts. Unlimited life – the firm doesn’t die when a shareholder does.

Advantages of Corporations Ease of transferring ownership:  If you don’t want to be part owner any more, you just sell your stock.  Much easier than a sole proprietorship trying to find someone to buy the entire business.

Disadvantages of Corporations Difficult to start Shareholders have little say about how the business is run Double taxation – the firms profits are taxed and then the profit that is distributed to shareholders is also taxed. Subject to government regulation.

The Role of Government The state governments began regulating corporations in the mid-1800’s. Corporations in states with a lot of regulation moved to states with less, so as a result state regulations began to be lifted. In the early 1900’s, consumer groups demanded regulation of giant corporations. SEC Security Exchange Committee regulates selling of stocks.

Business Growth Businesses can grow in the following ways: 1.) Reinvestment 2.) Merger Income statement – shows how much money the business makes and spends.

Growth through Re-Investment If you have a positive cash flow, you can: issue dividends to your stockholders; and/or reinvest those profits by using them to buy new equipment, new technology, a new factory (plant), or some other improvement to your business. This is called “growth by reinvestment.” Interests- money that you pay back when you borrow.

Why Merge? Merger: combining two or more businesses to form a single firm. 1.) Grow faster 2.) Become more efficient 3.) Acquire or deliver a better product 4.) Eliminate a rival 5.) Change image

Types of Mergers Horizontal merger – when two or more firms that make the same product join forces. Example: Nextel + Sprint = Sprint-Nextel Vertical merger – when firms involved in different steps of the manufacturing or marketing join together. Example: Time Warner Incorporated (a major cable operation) + Turner Corporation (which produces CNN, TBS and other programming) = Time Warner/AOL

Mergers Conglomerate: a firm that has at least four businesses, each making unrelated products (no product has the majority of sales). These companies don’t have “all their eggs in one basket” and so can take some risks with new products. (Panasonic, Sony, GE…) Daewoo

Multinational Multinational - can be an ordinary corporation or a conglomerate, but it has manufacturing or service operations in several different countries. Multinationals introduce new technology, generate jobs, and produce tax revenues for the host countries. Pay taxes in each country / must follow the law of each country

Nonprofits Other organizations operate on a “not-for-profit” basis A nonprofit organization operates like a business to promote the collective interests of its members rather than to seek financial gain for its owners

Nonprofits Examples: schools, churches, hospitals, welfare groups, and adoption agencies. Many of these organizations are legally incorporated to take advantage of unlimited life and limited liability. They are similar to profit-seeking businesses, but do not issue stock, pay dividends, or pay income taxes. The profits they produce are used to further the goals of the group.

Credit Unions An example of a cooperative is a credit union It is a financial organization that accepts deposits from, and makes loans to, employees of a particular company or government agency.

Labor Unions A labor union is an organization of workers in the same industry. Examples are: UAW Teachers’ Unions like NEA Firefighters’ unions Screen Actors’ Guild

What is the purpose of labor unions? To negotiate with management to get the best working conditions they can, including: pay working hours (lunches & breaks) health plan coverage & other benefits vacation days clean air and other environmental issues This is called “collective bargaining”

What can labor unions do if they don’t get their way? Strike!

Professional Associations Many workers belong to professional societies, trade associations, or academies. For example: ABA, AMA, etc… Professional associations are similar to unions, but the goal is usually keeping high standards for the skill level and public perception of their profession. Membership requires keeping their standards. These associations also seek to influence government policy on issues that are important to them.

Business Organizations Chamber of Commerce: promotes the welfare of its businesses by lobbying and education Better Business Bureau: provides info on local companies, keeps records of complaints, offers consumer education programs. Industry or Trade Associations: try to influence government policy on imports, tariffs, minimum wage, new construction, and regulations on free enterprise

Direct & Indirect Role of Government The role is direct because the government supplies a good or service that competes with private businesses OR that could be provided by private companies instead. Many federal agencies are organized as government-owned corporations. (USPS, FDIC, TVA) The government plays an indirect role when it acts as an umpire to make sure the market economy operates smoothly and efficiently. One such case is the regulation of public utilities, investor- or municipal-owned companies that offer important products to the public, such as water or electric service. They have few competitors because the cost of doing this business is SO high (laying pipe, wire, or cable for an entire city).

One last thing! The government also acts in the economy when it provides money to people who wouldn’t otherwise have it: Social Security checks Welfare Veterans’ Benefits College Student Financial Aid (loans & grants) Unemployment insurance The money these people spend influences the goods and services offered in the economy.