Selecting the right business entity for your farm is like building the foundation of a house. Without the right foundation, the house will falter. Choosing an appropriate business structure encourages you to follow good business practices in accounting and decision-making, and it protects your personal assets should your farm get into financial trouble. Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures, the newest book from Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), provides practical tools to help you choose the best business entity for your operation.
Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures describes the fundamentals of sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited liability companies and C, S and B corporations in straightforward language. The pros and cons of nonprofit and cooperative business models are addressed, and the guide includes checklists, sample operating agreements and bylaws to help farmers draft organizing documents.
The book is available in print for $26 plus shipping and handling or as a free download in PDF, MOBI and EPUB formats. Call (301) 779-1007 or visit SARE’s web store to order. Discounts are available for orders of 10 items or more.
Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures is published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and was written by Farm Commons with support from North Central Region SARE. Farm Commons believes that strong, resilient sustainable farm businesses are built on a solid legal foundation, and provides proactive legal resources that farmers need to become the stable, resilient foundation of a community-based food system. Learn more at www.farmcommons.org.
Please note: This guide does not provide legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship between the reader and author. Always consult an attorney regarding your specific situation. Farmers will take best advantage of the resources offered here by working with an attorney, accountant and tax preparer and encouraging clear communication with partners, heirs and peers.
Order or download Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures here.