What Is A Limited Partnership? Definition, Pros And Cons

A seasoned small business and technology writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience, Shweta excels in demystifying complex tech tools and concepts for small businesses. Her work has been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post and more.

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A seasoned small business and technology writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience, Shweta excels in demystifying complex tech tools and concepts for small businesses. Her work has been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post and more.

Written By Shweta Small Business Writer

A seasoned small business and technology writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience, Shweta excels in demystifying complex tech tools and concepts for small businesses. Her work has been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post and more.

Shweta Small Business Writer

A seasoned small business and technology writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience, Shweta excels in demystifying complex tech tools and concepts for small businesses. Her work has been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post and more.

Small Business Writer

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.

Written By

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of.

Brette Sember, J.D. contributor

Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.

Brette Sember, J.D. contributor

Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.

Brette Sember, J.D. contributor

Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.

Brette Sember, J.D. contributor

Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that.

Updated: Jun 18, 2024, 8:46am

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What Is A Limited Partnership? Definition, Pros And Cons

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Table of Contents

A limited partnership (LP) is a business entity with at least one general partner (who has unlimited personal liability) and one limited partner (whose liability is limited to their investment in the company). The general partners are responsible for managing the business and making business decisions to achieve the stated business goals. The limited partners, also sometimes called silent partners, are responsible only for investing in the business, not running it.

In this article, we will cover what a limited partnership is, when you should consider forming a limited partnership, how to form one, how limited partnerships are taxed and what their compliance requirements are.

Business acumen and money are the two most important ingredients of any successful business. A limited partnership allows you to access the skills of a general partner and the financial investment of a limited partner. A limited partnership must have these two types of partners—general and limited.

The general partners bring the required business skills to the table, managing the business and making both big and small decisions to ensure its success. The limited partners invest in the business but are not responsible for managing it. An individual or a business could be a general or limited partner in an organization.

The liabilities of the partners depend on the management control they exercise. The general partners have unlimited liability for business debts and obligations while limited partners have a liability limited only to the amount they invested in the business. The general partners are responsible for their own actions and business decisions as well as those of other general partners.

However, don’t confuse limited partnerships with limited liability partnerships where all partners have limited liability. They can assume management activities but still have limited liability for business debts and obligations.

Pros and Cons of Limited Partnerships