Business Structure Resources

The structure of a business is important for many reasons. While taxation is often a prime concern for business owners, it should not be the only reason to consider a particular legal structure. Each kind of business structure has advantages and disadvantages. As a business grows or business goals change, a particular business structure may become more or less attractive.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
Agricultural Information Contact Centre
Tel. 1-877-424-1300
Northern Ontario Regional Office toll free 1-800-461-6132
www.ontario.ca/agbusiness

Legal Structures

OMAFRA Factsheet 02-069 Farm Business Joint Ventures
The joint venture is an ideal business structure when an arrangement that is flexible and less formal than either a partnership or corporation is needed.

OMAFRA Factsheet 01-057 Farm Corporations
This Factsheet will help farm business owners to understand the corporate structure and to decide if incorporation makes sense for their farm business.

OMAFRA Factsheet 02-047 Farm Business Partnerships
This Factsheet will help farm business owners understand the partnership structure and decide if a partnership arrangement makes sense for their farm business.

OMAFRA Factsheet 02-019 Forming a Co-operative
The cooperative business structure is only one of a number of structures that businesses can use.

OMAFRA Factsheet 02-017 New Generation Co-operatives
New Generation Cooperatives are a variation on the traditional co-op structure. They have been successfully used in a variety of situations, most notably where agricultural producers wish to gain ownership in value-added and further processing activities.

Business Agreements

OMAFRA Factsheet 01-065: Land Lease Arrangements
This Factsheet addresses the general issues that a landlord and tenant should consider when entering into a leasing agreement.

OMAFRA Factsheet 01-071: Cash Lease Agreements for Cropland
This lease is a guide for landlords and tenants to develop an agreement to fit their individual situation.

OMAFRA Factsheet 01-067: Crop Share Lease Agreements
The purpose of this Factsheet is to help tenants and landlords develop fair crop share lease agreements and assist them in making sound decisions.

OMAFRA Factsheet 03-101:Crop Share Lease
This lease is a guide for landlords and tenants to develop an agreement to fit their individual situation.

OMAFRA Factsheet 01-069:Flexible Cash Lease Agreements
This Factsheet is one of a series on leasing agreements. The first Factsheet details the legal, tax and management considerations of leasing land.

OMAFRA Factsheet 03-099:Flexible Cash Lease for Cropland
A blank lease form to aid in the development of a flexible cash lease arrangement.

OMAFRA Factsheet 03-095:Lease Agreements for Farm Buildings
This Factsheet examines the major considerations in developing a lease agreement for crop and livestock facilities from both the landlord and tenant's points of view.

OMAFRA Factsheet 03-093: Farm Building Lease
A lease form to aid in the development of a lease arrangement.

OMAFRA Factsheet 03-091:Pasture Lease Agreements
The purpose of this Factsheet is to help tenants and landlords develop fair pasture lease agreements and assist them in making sound decisions.

OMAFRA Factsheet 03-089:Pasture Lease
A blank lease form to aid in the development of a pasture lease.

Other Business Structure Resources

University of Guelph
www.uoguelph.ca

Certified General Accountants of Ontario
www.cga-ontario.org

Certified Management Accountants
www.cma-ontario.org

Canadian Farm Business Management Council
www.farmcentre.com

• Agriculture and Agri-Business Structures: A Practical Guidebook
• Agribusiness Operating Agreements
  
  

Agribusiness eCampus
www.agribusinessecampus.com


The following OMAFRA staff contributed to the development of the Growing Your Farm Profits Business Structure section:


Rob Gamble
Finance and Business Structures
rob.gamble@ontario.ca

John Molenhuis
Business Analysis and Cost of Production
john.molenhuis@ontario.ca

www.ontario.ca/agbusiness