Unit 5 Vocab

Franchise

A right conferred or established by a government, such as the right to vote (exercise one's franchise) in a local or national election.

Dividend

A share of the after-tax profit of a company, distributed to its shareholders according to the number and class of shares held by them. Smaller companies typically distribute dividends at the end of an accounting year, whereas larger, publicly held companies usually distribute it every quarter. The amount and timing of the dividend is decided by the board of directors, who also determine whether it is paid out of current earnings or the past earnings kept as reserve. Holders of preferred stock receive dividend at a fixed rate and are paid first. Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive any amount of dividend, based on the level of profit and the company's need for cash for expansion or other purposes.

Partnership

A type of business organization in which two or more individuals pool money, skills, and other resources, and share profit and loss in accordance with terms of the partnership agreement. In absence of such agreement, a partnership is assumed to exit where the participants in an enterprise agree to share the associated risks and rewards proportionately .

Shares

A unit of ownership that represents an equal proportion of a company's capital. It entitles its holder (the shareholder) to an equal claim on the company's profits and an equal obligation for the company's debts and losses. Two major types of shares are (1) ordinary shares (common stock), which entitle the shareholder to share in the earnings of the company as and when they occur, and to vote at the company's annual general meetings and other official meetings, and (2) preference shares (preferred stock) which entitle the shareholder to a fixed periodic income (interest) but generally do not give him or her voting rights.

Stockholders

An individual, group, or organization that holds one or more shares in a company, and in whose name the share certificate is issued. Also called shareholder.

Virtual Business

Employs electronic means to transact business as opposed to a traditional brick and mortar business that relies on face-to-face transactions with physical documents and physical currency or credit.

Corporation

Firm that meets certain legal requirements to be recognized as having a legal existence, as an entity separate and distinct from its owners. Corporations are owned by their stockholders (shareholders) who share in profits and losses generated through the firm's operations, and have three distinct characteristics (1) Legal existence: a firm can (like a person) buy, sell, own, enter into a contract, and sue other persons and firms, and be sued by them. It can do good and be rewarded, and can commit offence and be punished. (2) Limited liability: a firm and its owners are limited in their liability to the creditors and other obligors only up to the resources of the firm, unless the owners give personal-guaranties.

Unlimited Liability

Indefinite extent of liability to pay a firm's debts or obligations, extending beyond the investments of the firm's owner(s), partners, or shareholder(s) to their personal assets. This extent of liability is assumed in an unlimited liability company such as a sole-proprietorship or a general partnership.

Limited Partner

One of the co-owners of a business organized as limited partnership who (unlike a general partner) does not participate in the management of the firm and has limited personal liability for the firm's debts. Also called nominal partner.

General Partner

One of the co-owners of an unincorporated business (organized as a general partnership) who has control of the firm and, unlike limited or nominal partner, has unlimited personal liability for the firm's debts. Actions taken by one general partner are binding upon the other general partners. Also called full partner. See also limited partner.

Franchisee

One who purchases a franchise. The franchisee then runs that location of the purchased business. He or she is responsible for certain decisions, but many other decisions (such as the look, name, and products) are already determined by the franchisor and must be kept the same by the franchisee. The franchisee will pay the franchisor under the terms of the agreement, usually either a flat fee or a percentage of the revenues or profits, from the sales transacted at that location.

Nonprofit Corporation

Organization created to serve a purpose other than the generation of profit (for distribution among stockholders) and usually given a tax exempt status. Also called not for profit corporation.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Relatively recent type of US business structure that combines the limited personal liability feature of a corporation with the single taxation feature of a partnership or sole-proprietorship firm. Its profits and tax benefits are split any way the stockholders/ shareholders (whether individuals or other firms) choose. Tax return for a LLC is filed with the taxation authorities only for the purpose of information, and each shareholder files own tax return separately. Also called company limited by share. See also limited company.

Business Plan

Set of documents prepared by a firm's management to summarize its operational and financial objectives for the near future (usually one to three years) and to show how they will be achieved. It serves as a blueprint to guide the firm's policies and strategies, and is continually modified as conditions change and new opportunities and/or threats emerge. When prepared for external audience (lenders, prospective investors) it details the past, present, and forecasted performance of the firm. And usually also contains pro-forma balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, to illustrate how the financing being sought will affect the firm's financial position.

Sole Proprietorship

Simplest, oldest, and most common form of business ownership in which only one individual acquires all the benefits and risks of running an enterprise. In a sole-proprietorship there is no legal distinction between the assets and liabilities of a business and those of its owner. It is by far the most popular business structure for startups because of its ease of formation, least record keeping, minimal regulatory controls, and avoidance of double taxation

SWOT Analysis

Situation analysis in which internal strengths and weaknesses of an organization, and external opportunities and threats faced by it are closely examined to chart a strategy. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. See also PEST analysis

Entrepreneur

Someone who exercises initiative by organizing a venture to take benefit of an opportunity and, as the decision maker, decides what, how, and how much of a good or service will be produced. An entrepreneur supplies risk capital as a risk taker, and monitors and controls the business activities. The entrepreneur is usually a sole proprietor, a partner, or the one who owns the majority of shares in an incorporated venture. According to economist Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883-1950), entrepreneurs are not necessarily motivated by profit but regard it as a standard for measuring achievement or success.

Franchisor

The company that allows an individual (known as the franchisee) to run a location of their business. The franchisor owns the overarching company, trademarks, and products, but gives the right to the franchisee to run the franchise location, in return for an agreed-upon fee. Fast-food companies are often franchised.

Limited Liability

The legal protection available to the shareholders of privately and publicly owned corporations under which the financial liability of each shareholder for the company's debts and obligations is limited to the par value of his or her fully paid-up shares. The company itself, as a legal entity, is liable for the rest. Also called limited personal liability.

Subchapter S-corporation

Type of the US corporate structure in which the firm's income is passed through its stockholders (shareholders) in proportion of their investment, and taxed at personal income tax rates. S corporations ('S' stands for 'small') can have only one type of stock and only a limited number of stockholders. Also called subchapter S corporation.

C-corporation

US business organization structure that provides several non-tax benefits (such as limited liability for the owners) and is popular as a staging base for raising large amount of investment capital by going public. Unlike in a S corporation, however, the entity's income is taxed twice first as corporate income, then as shareholder (dividend) income.