Top Things You Need to Know About Professional Corporations

employees working

Establishing a professional corporation is a good way for licensed professionals to receive legal assurance while planning with their colleagues to start a company.

 In some cities and states, creating a professional corporation is a necessity rather than an option. Suppose an organization of licensed professionals chooses to create a professional corporation or another type of professional business. In that case, they may be expected to file with the state they want to build their business in. 

Every business corporation has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it’s a good idea to speak with a professional company formation attorney before making their decision.

What is it composed of?

Putting the two terms together, you have a professional corporation. That is when people practicing in the same field get together that all have the same goal. In this case, the people referred to are professionals you often hear about, like architects, doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and others. Each professional corporation is explicitly created to the type of profession of the group of people to offer a service linked to their line of work.

Professional corporations implement many of the same privileges as regular corporations, including individual asset security, the capacity to distribute stock, and tax benefits.

 Laws and legality

Professional corporations should be formed in accordance with the legislation with their respective place in which they will operate. Since each city or state has different laws and restrictions. People should research the laws that would affect how the professional corporation would operate and its effects on the shareholders or professionals involved. 

lawyer writing

License

Since a group is considered a professional corporation, it is required that the people who operate are licensed. An example would be if the professional corporation is for a group of architects. These people must have finished the proper education and have acquired the license to practice in this field in the place or state where the professional corporation is operating.

Another thing there is to know is that when a professional corporation is established to provide a specific practice, that is the only field they are limited to offer their services. From the example above, if it is a professional corporation made up of architects and provides such services, then, in any case, an individual might be licensed to practice architecture and the law. Then this individual can only offer his services as an architect when under a professional corporation.

Liabilities        

When a professional corporation is under some debts and needs to be paid, the professionals or shareholders of the corporation are protected from the liability of the debts. As a result, the corporation’s shareholder’s or the professionals’ assets cannot be liquidated and sold to compensate for the corporation’s debts. The professionals can obtain the liabilities only up to the extent of their investment in the corporation.

In another case, the professional corporation protects the liabilities of the professionals from each other. For example, one of the corporation engineers was working on a project and mishandled it, which caused problems and inconvenience to the clients. This specific engineer will be the only one responsible for their actions and have personal liability. But if in an extreme case where the whole corporation is behind the mishandling of the project, then all the shareholders are liable for their action.

Earning Preservation

Professional corporations are authorized to preserve a share of their earnings to reinvest in the extension of their businesses under the corporate tax structure.

Professional corporations can use the earnings to fund various projects, such as building restorations, real estate properties, and supplies purchases. 

What are the benefits of a professional corporation?

For qualified small business owners, forming a professional corporation has several benefits that they can examine. Some of the most significant benefits are tax breaks that are not open to companies that are not a corporation. In professional corporations, they can set up retirement plans for their workers with higher contribution limits than those readily available to people or unincorporated companies, to be exact. 

In addition, professional corporations can contribute their workers with health and life insurance as a tax-free benefit. They can also demand tax deductions for uses such as insurance, dependent care, and other fringe benefits provided to their workers. In most cases, such privileges are tax-deductible for the corporation, and they are not considered taxable income for the employees who receive them.

Professional corporations can proceed to work even if one or more partners die or decide to withdraw from the corporation. Professional corporations can also exist in continuance and persevere with fewer constituents than other types of organizations.

Scroll to Top