When you open a business, you decide what业务结构你想拥有。而且，该决定决定了您公司的法律要求。但是，您的业务是单独的法律实体（SLE）吗？而且，什么是独立的法律实体？
What is a separate legal entity of a company?
那么，单独的法律实体的含义是什么？一个单独的法律实体是您和公司参与的任何人都出于法律目的与您的业务分开。基本上，SLE意味着，如果某人对您的业务采取法律诉讼，那么您的个人财务将与法律诉讼分开且安全。而且，任何投资者，利益相关者，股东和合作伙伴也受到个人保护。
But, only certain business structures are legally separate from personal assets, including:
- Ccorporations
- S公司
- Limited liability companies (LLCS）
- Limited partnerships
If your business is an SLE, you have personal liability protection. Examples of personal protection include:
- Individuals or businesses cannot hold shareholders liable for the business’s actions
- Separation of business and personal accounting andassets
- Creditors cannot seek repayment from or take action against shareholders
Benefits of a separate legal entity
那么，为什么独立的法律实体很重要？除了个人保护对法律诉讼中的个人责任外，成为一个单独的法律实体还具有其他一些好处。当企业是一个独立的法人实体时，它具有根据法律的自身权利。
A business organized as a separate legal entity is a structure able to:
- Enter into contracts
- 自己的财产
- 圣art legal proceedings against another entity
What is a separate entity?
现在你知道一个分开的legal实体是，您可能会问，What is a separate entity？好问题！所有企业都应与公司的所有者，成员，利益相关者等分开。一个单独的实体只是意味着企业将其财务状况与拥有公司股份的任何人的个人资产分开。
When you start your business, you should create separate:
- 银行账户
- Credit card accounts
- 税收标识号（锡）
但是，如果诉讼对您的业务，您的业务是一个独立的实体，并不一定在法律上保护您的个人资产。有两种业务类型是独立的实体，但是不是separate legal entities:
- 独资企业
- 伙伴ships*
*Generally, federal law does not separate partnerships from individuals. However, many states have adopted laws that legally separate partnerships from the partners’ personal assets. So depending on the type of partnership, one, some, none, or all of the partners may be personally and legally liable for any lawsuits brought against the partnership. Check your state laws regarding the legal liabilities for your type of partnership.
伙伴ships as separate legal entities
有几个types of partnerships, and the legal liabilities of the partnership depend on the type your business chooses. Here are the types of partnerships and their liabilities:
- General partnership:所有合作伙伴对企业均均等法律和财务责任。书面协议可以决定每个合伙人的责任金额。
- 有限责任合伙：限制每个成员的个人责任，因此，如果在诉讼中寻求一个成员，则不会影响其他伴侣。这种类型的伙伴关系降低了任何争议的未涉及当事方的风险。
- 有限合伙:结合了一般和有限责任合作伙伴关系。至少有一名成员对企业及其债务负有法律和个人责任。合伙企业的一个或多个成员是沉默的合作伙伴，其责任仅限于他们对业务的投资数量。通常，沉默的合作伙伴不会参加业务的日常运营。
- LLC合作伙伴关系：As a multi-member LLC, LLC partnerships are legally treated as LLCs.
同样，州法律可以决定合作伙伴的真正法律责任，并将合作伙伴分开为SLE与合作伙伴本身。
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How does being a separate legal entity help business owners?
When your business is separate from your personal assets, you are legally protected from individuals or companies receiving personal assets in judgments against your business. Legal protections can save you from:
- Creditors seizing your assets to pay off your debts
- 个人责任诉讼
- Personal bankruptcy
- 出售个人财产或其他资产以支付诉讼
让我们看一些单独的法律实体示例场景以及SLE如何帮助企业。
示例1
您是经营小面包店的独资老板。作为唯一的员工和所有者，您对经营业务所涉及的一切都承担了个人法律责任。
Your business is growing, so you take out a loan to purchase equipment. Because your business is a sole proprietorship, the lender may seize personal assets, such as your car or home, if you fail to repay the loan.
奖励例子！Say you have a customer who comes into your business and gets an injury. The customer may choose to sue your business for any injuries they get at your business. As a sole proprietor, the court may require you to sell personal assets to cover the costs associated with the lawsuit if you are found liable.
示例2
假设您是建立合作伙伴关系的，您是一个沉默的合作伙伴（即有限的合作伙伴），拥有25％的业务股份。该公司制造电子产品，该公司面临诉讼。
Your personal liability in the lawsuit is limited to the amount of your investment, 25%. Your partner carries 75% of the liability in the lawsuit and may have assets seized to pay for it. Or, your partner may need to use personal funds to cover the costs of the legal proceedings.
如果诉讼费用为25,000美元，您的股份包括法律程序的6,250美元（25,000美元x 25％）。
示例3
您的业务是提供狗美容服务的S公司。您的企业决定购买新建筑物和一辆公司面包车进行移动修饰。作为S公司，您的企业可以根据业务信息合法购买财产。您不必根据个人信息购买该物业。
相反，您可以使用业务姓名，TIN和银行信息开始财产购买过程。当您完成文书工作时，该物业的契据以业务名称为单位。
这不是法律建议；有关更多信息，请click here.