Business Ownership in the Private Sector

1. Business Ownership in the Private Sector Is this man associated with public or private sector?

2. Structure - Hierarchical Group Managing Director Robin Hill Park Manager Assistant Park Manager Head of Maintenance Head of Catering Head of Rides Administration Staff Maintenance Team Catering Staff Ride Staff • Is the structure : • tall or flat? • wide or narrow? • Centralised or decentralised? Human Resource Department (Based at Blackgang)

3. The Private Sector – Business Ownership Most businesses in Britain are owned by private individuals. They range from small enterprises like a taxi firm to large organisations such as British Airways. They can be owned in the following ways: • A sole trader – Generally smallest type of business. Owned by one single owner, but may have several employees. The owner has complete control over every aspect. Examples of sole traders are plumbers, florists, decorators and market traders. • A partnership is owned by two or more people who are jointly responsible. Examples include architects, doctors and solicitors.

4. The Private Sector – Business Ownership • A private limited company – Name of the company ends in ‘Ltd’. The owner(s) are the shareholders and often also run the business. Many family businesses are private companies. • A public limited company – generally the largest type of business. The name ends in ‘plc’. The shares are traded on the stock market, meaning the owners are members of the public. The owners (shareholders) do not run the business, instead they will appoint directors who are responsible. Selling shares raises lots of money that the business can use to expand with. • A franchise – In this case established businesses appoint franchisees to run outlets. The franchisee must be pay to be able to trade under that brand name. Examples include Subway, McDonald’s, The Body Shop.

5. Businesses with Unlimited Liability Unlimited companies include: Sole Traders and Partnerships. • Unlimited liability means that the finances of the business are treated as inseparable from the finances of the business owner. • If the business owes £1,000,000, the owner owes £1,000,000 and can be forced by court to pay for it themselves. This means selling their own private houses and cars etc.

6. Businesses with limited liability Limited companies include: Private Limited companies and Public limited companies. • Limited liability means that the legal duty to pay debts run up by the business stay with the business. • The debt is not the owners personally. • If the company owes £1,000,000 that the company cannot pay. The courts can order the business to sell all of its assets and if that is not enough the business will then be closed. • The owner will have no personal liability for those debts.

7. Your Task – Advantages and disadvantages of the different types of business ownership For all 5 types of ownership complete 2 tasks: Task 1 – Create a table of advantages and disadvantages of that form of business. Task 2 – Find an example business of that form. Task 3 – Why is that Business a sole trader (or whatever form of ownership they may be)? See sole trader example below.

8. Example - Ownership Vectis Ventures Ltd – Private Limited Company Features of Ltd’s: • Owned by 1-50 shareholders (family in this case) • Documentation required for registering a limited company: • Memorandum of Association -Details of the nature, purpose and structure of the company • Articles of Association - Details of the internal rules of the company Shareholders have limited liability – can only lose what they agreed to put into the company – no personal liability • shares only bought and sold with agreement of existing shareholders • Must publish accounts (annual report)

9. Exam questions Green: 1a, b, f (use Vectis Ventures Ltd), Blue: 1a Pink: 1c