How to Become a Vermont General Partnership (2023)

How to Become a Vermont General Partnership

If you want to start a general partnership in the state of Vermont, there is no formal business registration process to complete.

To form a Vermont general partnership, you simply need to start working with your partner or partners. In addition, unlike corporations or LLCs, there aren’t any formation fees or ongoing maintenance fees associated with filings like annual reports.

While the actual legal requirements are incredibly simple, there are still some other steps that you might want to take, depending on your preferences and your goals for the company. Let’s discuss the additional steps that may or may not suit your business needs.

DBA Obtainment

If you don’t want to use your personal name as your official business name, you can acquire a doing business as (DBA) name from the state of Vermont. With a DBA, you can use an assumed name in an official capacity, which is a great way to attract customers, as most people find that a business name adds legitimacy and professionalism to a business, as opposed to simply using the owners’ own names.

With a DBA (which is sometimes referred to in Vermont as a “trade name”), your general partnership can also open business bank accounts using the assumed name, which is another way to increase the professional aspect of your company. After all, it looks much better to have your company name on your checks, rather than just writing checks from your personal accounts.

If you’d like to register a Vermont trade name, you must first ensure it meets all trade name regulations. The name must also be confirmed as available for use by searching the online business database.

When these requirements are met, you may register your DBA/trade name online with the Vermont Secretary of State. Once registered, the name is valid for five years.

Do you want more information on DBA registration in Vermont? Take a look at our full article on the subject.

Register for Taxes

Other than the fact that general partnerships have more than one owner, the other major difference between a sole proprietorship and a partnership is the fact that a general partnership needs to acquire a federal tax ID number, otherwise known as an EIN.

While sole proprietors can get away with just using their personal social security number, the partnership needs an EIN because ― even though partnerships do not file business tax returns ― it needs to file an annual information return with the IRS.

In addition to the EIN, your business may need to register for state or local taxes.

To discover which state taxes apply to your general partnership, you’ll need to register your business through Vermont’s Online Business Service Center. After you’ve completed the registration process and applied for all necessary licensing and insurance, you’ll be prompted to create a business tax account.

Through this account, you can pay some of the most common state taxes, such as sales and use tax, meals and room tax, and employer withholding taxes. You may also register for any other miscellaneous taxes your business may be liable for.

Determine License and Permit Requirements

The state of Vermont does not have a general business license that all general partnerships are required to obtain. However, depending on what industry you operate in, your business may need licenses or permits to enable you to run your company in a compliant fashion.

To discover your Vermont licensing needs, you’ll need to register your business through the state’s Online Business Service Center. Besides helping aid in your business’s taxes and insurance, it will also help you apply for the licenses your general partnership needs to conduct business in the state.

Depending on the nature of your business, you may also need to apply for industry-specific licenses from various government agencies. For example, if your general partnership deals in housing, hotels, or any type of food vending or preparation, you’ll need to consult with the Vermont Department of Health in order to obtain additional licenses. Further information on Vermont’s licensing and permits can be found on the Licensing and Permits page of the state website.

In addition to state requirements, local municipalities may also have their own licensing regulations. Be sure to check with the town clerk of the county in which your business operates in order to define your general partnership’s local obligations. Help identifying and contacting the appropriate office can be found in this Guide to Vermont Town Clerks.

What Is a General Partnership?

At its core, the general partnership bears the most similarities with the sole proprietorship. Both are unincorporated business entities that are viewed as extensions of their owners as people, rather than as separate legal entities. General partnerships often don’t even have business names, as they can be operated using the owners’ personal names.

Let’s take a look at two of the most important differences between general partnerships and formal business entities:

1) Taxation and Signature Requirements

Due to the lack of legal distinction between the general partnership and its owners, the “pass-through” model of taxation applies to this type of company. This means that the profits and losses of a partnership are claimed on the owners’ personal tax returns. Along those same lines, general partnership owners can sign business contracts using their own names instead of signing on behalf of the company, and customers are also welcome to write checks to the owners personally.

2) No Asset Protection

The most important distinction between general partnerships and formal business structures like corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs) is the issue of personal asset protection. In a general partnership, if your business is sued, your creditors are free to pursue your personal assets, including but not limited to your house, car, and even the contents of your personal checking account.

On the other end of the spectrum, owners of LLCs and corporations enjoy limited liability protection, which means that for the most part, creditors can only go after business assets, and the personal assets of the ownership group are left intact.

Conclusion

The general partnership is a much simpler business for multiple owners than a corporation or a limited liability company.

The state of Vermont doesn’t require any official formation for general partnerships, and they’re also not required to pay any formation fees or participate in ongoing maintenance filings like annual reports. However, the general partnership as a business structure has some serious weaknesses as well, like the lack of personal asset protection that leaves owners’ assets exposed to potential lawsuits.

We hope this article helped you determine whether you’d like to form a Vermont general partnership, or if there’s another business type that would better suit your needs. As always, we wish you a successful business future!