Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-4-unlimited-vs-limited-liability [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse.md) › [Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business.md) › [Edexcel IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse.md) › Unlimited vs Limited Liability # Unlimited vs Limited Liability Business: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 1.2.4 ## Unlimited vs Limited Liability Businesses with unlimited liability (sole traders and partnerships) are much easier to set up because you don’t need to incorporate. The process of incorporating can be expensive and time consuming. ### Can change legal structure ![Can change legal structure](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/d69550cd-1f57-4700-a9f7-ba191cff67b8/shutterstock_184487681.jpg) - As businesses grow, their legal structure often changes. This is because businesses often need more capital (money) to grow. - Most private limited companies become public limited companies because selling the shares on the stock exchange allows them to raise finance to fund their company’s expansion. ### Access to finance ![Access to finance](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/f81195b2-b638-4de4-9008-22c4b897084e/shutterstock_572340157.jpg) - It is normally easier for limited companies to get bank loans than sole traders or partnerships. - This will help them raise more capital to grow. Because of this, sole traders and partnerships often decide to incorporate the business. ## Test yourself on Unlimited vs Limited Liability - Why do most private limited companies become public limited companies? - Why do most companies try to become incorporated? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/842fa0dc-132a-4180-9456-45b3931aca6b/section/dc14c711-7c54-40a8-9d8c-8047a0a2ad44/session) - Previous topic: [1.2.3 Limited Liability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-3-limited-liability.md) - Next topic: [1.2.5 Not For Profit & Franchises](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-5-not-for-profit-and-franchises.md) ## Business: Edexcel IGCSE contents ### 1 Business Activity & Influences on Business - 1.1 Business Objectives - [1.1.1 Business Aims](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-1-1-business-aims.md) - [1.1.2 Business Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-1-2-business-objectives.md) - [1.1.3 Business Objectives Change Over Time](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-1-3-business-objectives-change-over-time.md) - [1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Business Aims](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-1-4-end-of-topic-test-business-aims.md) - [1.1.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Profit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-1-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-profit.md) - 1.2 Types of Organisations - [1.2.1 Sole Traders & Partnerships](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-1-sole-traders-and-partnerships.md) - [1.2.2 Limited Companies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-2-limited-companies.md) - [1.2.3 Limited Liability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-3-limited-liability.md) - [1.2.4 Unlimited vs Limited Liability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-4-unlimited-vs-limited-liability.md) - [1.2.5 Not For Profit & Franchises](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-5-not-for-profit-and-franchises.md) - [1.2.6 Multinational Companies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-6-multinational-companies.md) - [1.2.7 End of Topic Test - Business Ownership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-7-end-of-topic-test-business-ownership.md) - [1.2.8 Application Questions - Business Ownership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-8-application-questions-business-ownership.md) - [1.2.9 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Company vs Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-9-diagnostic-misconceptions-company-vs-business.md) - [1.2.10 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Owners vs Shareholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-2-10-diagnostic-misconceptions-owners-vs-shareholders.md) - 1.3 Classification of Businesses - [1.3.1 Sectors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-3-1-sectors.md) - 1.4 Decisions on Location - [1.4.1 Location](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-4-1-location.md) - 1.5 Business & the International Economy - [1.5.1 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-5-1-globalisation.md) - [1.5.2 Exchange Rates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-5-2-exchange-rates.md) - 1.6 Government Objectives & Policy - [1.6.1 Government Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-6-1-government-objectives.md) - [1.6.2 The Government & Business Activity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-6-2-the-government-and-business-activity.md) - [1.6.3 Interest Rates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-6-3-interest-rates.md) - [1.6.4 Interest Rates - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-6-4-interest-rates-calculations.md) - [1.6.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Recessions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-6-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-recessions.md) - 1.7 External Factors - [1.7.1 External Factors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-7-1-external-factors.md) - 1.8 What Makes a Business Successful? - [1.8.1 Measuring Success](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-8-1-measuring-success.md) - [1.8.2 Reasons for Failure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/1-8-2-reasons-for-failure.md) ### 2 People in Business - 2.1 Internal & External Communication - [2.1.1 Communication](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-1-1-communication.md) - 2.2 Recruitment & Selection Process - [2.2.1 Types of Employment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-2-1-types-of-employment.md) - [2.2.2 Recruitment Stages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-2-2-recruitment-stages.md) - [2.2.3 Effective Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-2-3-effective-recruitment.md) - [2.2.4 Legal Controls Over Employment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-2-4-legal-controls-over-employment.md) - [2.2.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Internal Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-2-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-internal-recruitment.md) - 2.3 Training - [2.3.1 Training](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-3-1-training.md) - 2.4 Motivation & Rewards - [2.4.1 Motivation in the Workplace](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-4-1-motivation-in-the-workplace.md) - [2.4.2 Financial & Non-Financial Methods](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-4-2-financial-and-non-financial-methods.md) - [2.4.3 End of Topic Test - The Workforce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-4-3-end-of-topic-test-the-workforce.md) - [2.4.4 Application Questions - The Workforce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-4-4-application-questions-the-workforce.md) - [2.4.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Money](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-4-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-money.md) - 2.5 Organisation Structures - [2.5.1 Organisational Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-5-1-organisational-structures.md) - [2.5.2 Centralised vs. Decentralised Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-5-2-centralised-vs-decentralised-structures.md) - [2.5.3 Tall & Flat Organisations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-5-3-tall-and-flat-organisations.md) - [2.5.4 Functional Areas Within a Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-5-4-functional-areas-within-a-business.md) - [2.5.5 End of Topic Test - Org Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/2-5-5-end-of-topic-test-org-structure.md) ### 3 Business Finance - 3.1 Sources of Finance - [3.1.1 Internal & External Sources of Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-1-1-internal-and-external-sources-of-finance.md) - [3.1.2 Factors Affecting Sources of Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-1-2-factors-affecting-sources-of-finance.md) - 3.2 Cash Flow Forecasting - [3.2.1 Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-2-1-cash-flow.md) - [3.2.2 Consequences of Cash Flow Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-2-2-consequences-of-cash-flow-problems.md) - [3.2.3 Cash Flow - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-2-3-cash-flow-calculations.md) - [3.2.4 Solutions to Cash Flow Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-2-4-solutions-to-cash-flow-problems.md) - [3.2.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-2-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-cash-flow.md) - 3.3 Cost & Break-Even Analysis - [3.3.1 Costs, Revenue & Profit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-1-costs-revenue-and-profit.md) - [3.3.2 Profit, Average Unit Cost & Interest](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-2-profit-average-unit-cost-and-interest.md) - [3.3.3 Costs - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-3-costs-calculations.md) - [3.3.4 Revenue - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-4-revenue-calculations.md) - [3.3.5 Break-Even Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-5-break-even-analysis.md) - [3.3.6 Profit & Losses - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-6-profit-and-losses-calculations.md) - [3.3.7 End of Topic Test - Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-7-end-of-topic-test-finance.md) - [3.3.8 Grade 9 - Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-8-grade-9-finance.md) - [3.3.9 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fixed Costs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-9-diagnostic-misconceptions-fixed-costs.md) - [3.3.10 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Break-even](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-3-10-diagnostic-misconceptions-break-even.md) - 3.4 Financial Documents - [3.4.1 Financial Statements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-4-1-financial-statements.md) - [3.4.2 Income Statement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-4-2-income-statement.md) - [3.4.3 Understanding Business Performance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-4-3-understanding-business-performance.md) - 3.5 Account Analysis - [3.5.1 Business Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-5-1-business-calculations.md) - [3.5.2 Gross Profit - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-5-2-gross-profit-calculations.md) - [3.5.3 Net Profit - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-5-3-net-profit-calculations.md) - [3.5.4 Business Calculations 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-5-4-business-calculations-2.md) - [3.5.5 Business Calculations 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-5-5-business-calculations-3.md) - [3.5.6 Liquidity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/3-5-6-liquidity.md) ### 4 Marketing - 4.1 Market Research - [4.1.1 Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-1-1-market-research.md) - [4.1.2 Forms of Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-1-2-forms-of-market-research.md) - 4.2 The Market - [4.2.1 Customer Needs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-1-customer-needs.md) - [4.2.2 Satisfying Customer Needs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-2-satisfying-customer-needs.md) - [4.2.3 Market](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-3-market.md) - [4.2.4 The Competitive Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-4-the-competitive-environment.md) - [4.2.5 Market Segmentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-5-market-segmentation.md) - [4.2.6 Market Mapping - Price vs Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-6-market-mapping-price-vs-quality.md) - [4.2.7 End of Topic Test - Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-7-end-of-topic-test-marketing.md) - [4.2.8 Application Questions - Marketing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-8-application-questions-marketing.md) - [4.2.9 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Competition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-2-9-diagnostic-misconceptions-competition.md) - 4.3 The Marketing Mix - [4.3.1 Price](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-1-price.md) - [4.3.2 Price Penetration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-2-price-penetration.md) - [4.3.3 Other Forms of Pricing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-3-other-forms-of-pricing.md) - [4.3.4 Product Design](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-4-product-design.md) - [4.3.5 The Product Life Cycle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-5-the-product-life-cycle.md) - [4.3.6 Extending Existing Products](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-6-extending-existing-products.md) - [4.3.7 New Products](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-7-new-products.md) - [4.3.8 Benefits and Risks of New Products](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-8-benefits-and-risks-of-new-products.md) - [4.3.9 Promotion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-9-promotion.md) - [4.3.10 Public Relations and Sales Promotion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-10-public-relations-and-sales-promotion.md) - [4.3.11 Sponsorship & Social Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-11-sponsorship-and-social-media.md) - [4.3.12 Product Placements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-12-product-placements.md) - [4.3.13 Promotional Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-13-promotional-mix.md) - [4.3.14 Place](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-14-place.md) - [4.3.15 Place 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-15-place-2.md) - [4.3.16 Place 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-16-place-3.md) - [4.3.17 M-Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-17-m-commerce.md) - [4.3.18 Benefits & Drawbacks of M-Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-18-benefits-and-drawbacks-of-m-commerce.md) - [4.3.19 End of Topic Test - Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-19-end-of-topic-test-marketing-mix.md) - [4.3.20 Grade 9 - Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-20-grade-9-marketing-mix.md) - [4.3.21 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Decreasing Price](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-21-diagnostic-misconceptions-decreasing-price.md) - [4.3.22 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Advertise vs Promote](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-22-diagnostic-misconceptions-advertise-vs-promote.md) - [4.3.23 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Social Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/4-3-23-diagnostic-misconceptions-social-media.md) ### 5 Business Operations - 5.1 Economies & Diseconomies of Scale - [5.1.1 Economies of Scale](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-1-1-economies-of-scale.md) - [5.1.2 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Economies of Scale](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-1-2-diagnostic-misconceptions-economies-of-scale.md) - 5.2 Production - [5.2.1 Production Processes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-2-1-production-processes.md) - [5.2.2 Flow and Batch Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-2-2-flow-and-batch-production.md) - [5.2.3 Production Efficiency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-2-3-production-efficiency.md) - [5.2.4 Technology & Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-2-4-technology-and-production.md) - [5.2.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - JIT vs JIC](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-2-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-jit-vs-jic.md) - 5.3 Factors of Production - [5.3.1 Factors of Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-3-1-factors-of-production.md) - 5.4 Quality - [5.4.1 Importance of Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-4-1-importance-of-quality.md) - [5.4.2 Identifying Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-4-2-identifying-quality.md) - [5.4.3 Total Quality Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-4-3-total-quality-management.md) - [5.4.4 End of Topic Test - Operational Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/business/edexcel-igcse/5-4-4-end-of-topic-test-operational-decisions.md)