Class 11 Exam  >  Class 11 Questions  >  What are the features of sole proprietorship? Start Learning for Free
What are the features of sole proprietorship?
Verified Answer
What are the features of sole proprietorship?
Features of Sole Proprietorship
The salient features of sole proprietorship form of organization are as under:

1.    Single Ownership. A sole trading concern is owned by one individual. It is run entirely at his risk of loss. The sole trader provides both capital and management to the business.

2.    Personal Organization or Common Identity. A sole tradership concern has no separate legal entity independent of the owner. The owner and the business concern are one and the same. The owner owns everything the business owns and he owes everything the business owns.

3.    Capital. In sole tradership, the capital is employed by the owner himself from him personal resources. He may also borrow money form his friends and relatives if he cannot depend solely on his personal resources.

4.    Unlimited Liability. The liability of the proprietor for the debts of the business is unlimited. The creditors have the right to recover their dues even from the personal property of the proprietor in case the business assets are not sufficient to pay their debts.

5.    One Man Control. Sole tradership is one-man show. The sole trader provides management to the business. He takes all the decisions, procures material resources, employs persons and directs and controls the affairs of the enterprise. He is not required to consult anyone else in taking any decision. Though the sole trader may delegate some of his authority to his assistants but the ultime authority to manage and control rests with him.

6.    Profits and Losses. The surplus arising in the business of the sole trader entirely belongs to him and similarly all the business losses and risk are to be borne by him alone. 

7.    No Special Legislation. Sole tradership is not governed by any special legislation. A partnership firm is governed by the Partnership Act, a joint stock company is governed by the Companies Act and co-operative society by the Co-operative Societies Act. Any person who is competent to contract can start his business as a sole trader. However, he is subject to the common law, the law of contract and the law of insolvency.

Concept of Unlimited Liability. The liability of a shareholder or member of a company or a co-operative society is limited to the extent of the face value of the shares held by him. For example, if Mr. X subscribes to 100 shares of Rs. 10 each, his total liability is unto Rs. 1,000 only. If he has already paid Rs.5 per share, his liability will be restricted to the unpaid portion of his shares, i.e., Rs. 500 only. Thus, there is limit to the extent of liability of shareholder of a company.

However, the liability of a sole trader or partners in a partnership firm is unlimited. In other words, their liability is not restricted or limited ot the amount of capital invested by them. For instance, a sole trader stats his business with Rs. 10,000 and in the course of his business he incurs heavy losses and he has to stop his business. In this case, if the amount payable to creditors is more than the value to the assets of the business, the creditors can claim their amount even form the personal property of the sole trader. So is the case of partners in a firm. It may be noted that the partners of a firm are both individually and jointly liable for the debts of the firm. There is no limit to their liability.
This question is part of UPSC exam. View all Class 11 courses
Most Upvoted Answer
What are the features of sole proprietorship?
1.Single ownership 2.Individual risk bearing 3.No separate legal entity 4.Free of operation 5.Unlimited liability 6.One man control
Community Answer
What are the features of sole proprietorship?
Features of Sole Proprietorship:

Sole proprietorship is a popular form of business ownership where a single individual owns and operates the business. It is the simplest and most common type of business structure, characterized by several key features:

1. Single Ownership:
Sole proprietorship is owned and managed by a single individual who has complete control and authority over the business. The owner is responsible for making all the decisions and assumes all legal and financial liabilities associated with the business.

2. Easy Formation and Dissolution:
One of the primary advantages of a sole proprietorship is its ease of formation. There are no complex legal procedures or formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship. The business can be started by simply obtaining the necessary licenses and permits. Similarly, dissolving a sole proprietorship is relatively simple as the owner can cease operations whenever desired.

3. Unlimited Liability:
In a sole proprietorship, the owner has unlimited personal liability for all the debts and obligations of the business. This means that in case of any financial loss or legal claims, the owner's personal assets can be used to settle the business debts. This is a significant drawback as it puts the owner's personal assets at risk.

4. Direct Decision Making:
As the sole proprietor, the owner has complete control and autonomy over all business decisions. This allows for quick and direct decision-making without the need for consultations or consensus with partners or shareholders. It enables the owner to respond promptly to market changes and customer needs.

5. Sole Profit Receiver:
All profits generated by the business belong exclusively to the owner. Unlike other business structures, there is no need to share the profits with partners or shareholders. This provides a direct financial benefit to the proprietor and allows for greater flexibility in the use of profits.

6. Minimal Government Regulation:
Sole proprietorships generally have fewer government regulations and legal formalities compared to other business entities. This reduces the administrative burden and allows the owner to focus more on the core operations of the business.

7. Limited Financial Resources:
Sole proprietorships often face limitations in accessing financial resources. Since the business relies solely on the owner's personal funds or loans, it may be challenging to raise substantial capital for business expansion or investment purposes.

Overall, sole proprietorship offers simplicity, autonomy, and straightforwardness in business ownership. However, it also carries the risks of unlimited liability and limited access to resources. Entrepreneurs considering this form of business structure should carefully evaluate the pros and cons based on their specific circumstances.
Attention Class 11 Students!
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed Class 11 study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in Class 11.
Explore Courses for Class 11 exam

Top Courses for Class 11

What are the features of sole proprietorship?
Question Description
What are the features of sole proprietorship? for Class 11 2024 is part of Class 11 preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the Class 11 exam syllabus. Information about What are the features of sole proprietorship? covers all topics & solutions for Class 11 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for What are the features of sole proprietorship?.
Solutions for What are the features of sole proprietorship? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Class 11. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Class 11 Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of What are the features of sole proprietorship? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of What are the features of sole proprietorship?, a detailed solution for What are the features of sole proprietorship? has been provided alongside types of What are the features of sole proprietorship? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice What are the features of sole proprietorship? tests, examples and also practice Class 11 tests.
Explore Courses for Class 11 exam

Top Courses for Class 11

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev