Sole ProprietorshipWe go to the market to buy items of our daily needs - PDF document

Sole ProprietorshipWe go to the market to buy items of our daily needs. In the market we find a variety ofshops- some of them small and some of them big. We may find some persons sellingvegetables, peanuts, newspapers etc. on the roadside. We may also find cobblerrepairing shoes on the footpath. Everyday you come across such types of shops inyour locality. But have you ever tried to know how these businesses are run? Who arethe owners of these businesses? What exactly does an owner do for any business?You may say, the owner invests capital to start the business, takes all decisions relatingto business, looks after the day to day functioning of the business and finally, isresponsible for the profit or loss. Yes, you are right. The owner does exactly all thesethings. If you go a bit further, you will find that in some businesses a single individuallet us find out more about the business in which a single individual takes all initiatives to6.1Objective6.2Meaning of Sole Proprietorship'Sole' means single and 'proprietorship' means ownership. It means only one person orwhich a single person owns, manages and controls all the activities of the business is and runs the sole proprietorship business is called a ‘sole proprietor’ or ‘sole trader’.A sole proprietor pools and organises the resources in a systematic way and controlsthe activities with the sole objective of earning profit.some of the commonly found sole proprietorship form of business organisation. Apartfrom trading business, small manufacturing units, fabrication units, garages, beautyparlors, etc., can also be run by a sole proprietor. This form of business is the oldestand most common form of business organisation.We can now define sole proprietorship as–person with all authority, responsibility and risk. True or i)The business is started by one person.ii)It is managed by employees of the business.iii)It is suitable for manufacturing of steel.iv)Sole proprietorship business includes only shopkeepers. v)The risk of the business is shared with the employees of the business.6.3Characteristics of Sole Proprietorshipi.Single Ownershipii.No sharing of Profit and LossOne-man’s Capitaliv.One-man Controlv.Unlimited Liabilityvi.Less legal formalitiesi.Single Ownership: business organization. That individual owns all assets and properties of the busi-ness. Consequently, he alone bears all the risk of the business. Thus, the businessii.No sharing of Profit and Loss : The entire profit arising out of sole proprietor- ship business goes to the sole proprietor. If there is any loss it is also to be borneness with the sole proprietor.One man’s Capital : business organisation is totally arranged by the sole proprietor. He provides itiv.One-man Control: always remains with the owner. The owner or proprietor alone takes all thev.Unlimited Liability: vi.Less Legal Formalities: require to be registered. However, for the purpose of the business and dependingon the nature of the business, the sole proprietorship has to have a seal. He maydepartment of the government, whenever necessary. i)The owner of the business owns the properties and assets and bears all the ________ii)All decisions for running the business are taken by the _______ .iv)The liability of the owner in the business is __________ . v)The business does not require registration and almost no _______ formalities.6.4Advantages of Sole ProprietorshipThe sole proprietorship form of business is the most simple and common in our country.i.Easy to Form and Wind up: to form. With a very small amount of capital you can start the business. There isii.Direct Motivation: In a sole proprietorship business the soleproprietor alone is responsible for all decisions. Of course, he can consult others.But he is free to take any decision on his own. Since no one else is involved indecision making it becomes quick and prompt action can be taken on the basis ofiv.Better Control: organiser, who co-ordinates every activity in an efficient manner. Since thev.Maintenance of Business Secrets: vi.Close Personal Relation: The sole proprietor is always in a position to maintainemployees and thus, business runs smoothly. The sole proprietor is free to change the nature anditems like pen, pencil, register, etc. If you are running an STD booth, you canviii.Encourages Sole proprietorship form of business organisationself-employed, sometimes he also creates job opportunities for others. You mustunemployment in the country. Intext Questions6.3i)Since the sole proprietor has to bear the risk of loss alone, there is no motivation toii)Information about the customer’s likes and dislikes is easily available to the soleproprietor. iv)The business becomes rigid as changes in the nature of activities cannot be easilyv)Such businesses generate employment opportunities for other people also, apart from the owner.6.5Limitations of Sole Proprietorshipi.Limited Capital: In sole proprietorship business, it is the owner who arrangesraise a huge amount of capital. The owner’s own funds as well as borrowed fundsii.Unlimited Liability: In case the sole proprietor fails to pay the business The existence of sole proprietorship business is linked tothe life of the proprietor. Illness, death or insolvency of the owner brings an end toiv.Limited Size: beyond which it becomes difficult to expand its activities. It is not always possiblev.Lack of Managerial Expertise: A sole proprietor may not be an expert inresources it is also not possible to employ a professional manager. Thus, thebusiness lacks benefits of professional management.•Easy to form and wind up•Direct Motivation•Quick Decision and Prompt•Better Control•Maintenance of Business Secrets•Close Personal Relation•Flexibility in Operations•Limited Capital•Unlimited Liability•Lack of Continuity•Limited Size•Lack of Managerial 6.6Suitability of Sole Proprietorship Form of BusinessWhere the market for the product is small and local. For example, selling groceryitems, books, stationery, vegetables, etc.Where the nature of business is simple. For example, grocery, garments business,Where capital requirement is small and risk involvement is not heavy. For ex-ample, vegetables and fruits business, tea stall, etc.Where manual skill is required. For example, making jewellery, haircutting or tai- Intext Questions 6.4i)The sole proprietor may not be able to raise adequate __________ for the expansionii)The life of the business depends on the life of the ________ .Due to limited financial resources and limitation of the expertise of the owner, theiv)The business is suitable for simple business where __________ skill is required.v)Sole proprietorship caters best to the needs of customers where the market for the 6.7What You Have Learntmanages and controls the business enterprise with all authority, responsibility and risk.The individual who owns and runs the business is called the ‘Sole proprietor’.the business and his/her liability is unlimited. The proprietor bears the profit or lossand invests the capital from own sources. He/she may borrow it from friends andrelatives or may take loan from banks and other financial institutions. Starting andSole proprietorship business is easy to form and wind up. In this business, decisionsare taken quickly, better control can be exercised over the business activities and Personal contact with customer and flexibility in operations is possible. Employmentlife of the proprietor which leads to uncertainty in its continuity. This form of businesstal and low risk. Business requiring manual skill or personal attention to customers aregenerally organised in the form of sole proprietorship.6.8Terminal Exercise1.Define ‘Sole proprietorship’.2.What is meant by Sole Proprietorship form of business organisation?3.What is meant by one-man control in sole proprietorship form of business?4.Can a sole proprietorship business exist forever? Justify your answer.5.Describe how sole proprietorship facilitates employment generation.6.In which conditions is sole proprietorship a suitable form of business organization?7.State the main characteristics of sole proprietorship.8.State four advantages and four limitations of sole proprietorship business.9.How does unlimited liability lead to risk for the sole proprietor? Explain with the help10.Explain how sole proprietorship business gives better control and prompt action.11.Define ‘Sole Proprietorship’. Explain any four characteristics of this form of business12.Describe any six advantages of sole proprietorship form of business organization.13.What is meant by sole proprietorship? Discuss any four limitations of sole proprietor-14.‘Sole proprietorship form of business is the best form of business’. Do you agree withthis statement? Justify your answer.6.9Key to Intext Questionsi) True, ii) False, iii) False, iv) False, v) Falsei) risks, ii) proprietor, iii) personal, iv) unlimited, v) legali) False, ii) True, iii) True, iv) False, v) Truei) Capital, ii) Proprietor/owner, iii) Management, iv) Manual, Activity For Youi.Survey the shops in your nearby market and make a list of different shops. Iden-ii.Ask any shopkeeper of a small shop in your locality about the problems faced by