Every business has to have insurance of some kind, but what about partnerships? If you have partial ownership of a business arrangement, you should only be responsible for insuring your share. This is what limited liability insurance for small businesses is for. Why should you be liable for everything? If you have a limited role in daily business practices and operations, you should only have to pay for coverage of your own assets.
The term “limited partnership” refers to a partnership in which there is at least one general partner and one limited partner. The general partner typically has the same role as in a general partnership, as someone who controls the business’s daily operations and is considered personally liable for business-associated debts.
The “limited partner,” as mentioned above, doesn’t have a lot of say in the daily operations and decisions of the business. There can be more than one limited partner involved in a small business. To make up for not getting an active role in decisions, you get the benefit of not having to pay off claims or business debts with personal assets. However, depending on the circumstances, the limited partner can still potentially lose his / her financial investment in the company.
What Else to Look for in Limited Liability Insurance for Small Business
Another thing to consider when looking for limited liability insurance for small businesses is that the tax rules differ somewhat. All partners are required to report and pay taxes individually on their share of the yearly profits. You probably won’t have to pay self-employment taxes since your status in the business is not “active.” Thus, your share of the partnership isn’t considered “earned income.” The general partner(s), on the other hand, do control the business’s day-to-day operations and are therefore liable for business debts.
Another type of partnership is referred to as a “limited liability partnership” or LLP, in which all owners are provided with limited personal liabilities. In this kind of situation, LLPs tend to be professionals such as accountants or lawyers. In certain states, only professionals are allowed to be LLPs.
An LLP requires less paperwork than corporations and LLCs. Learn about the rules in your state, pay the relevant filing fee, and create the partnership agreement.
This is only a short overview of limited liability insurance for small businesses. To learn more about your options, look into Hiscox Business Insurance and the benefits this company offers. There are a variety of custom small business insurance plans tailored to your needs.