Starting a webshop? Partnership or sole proprietorship?

Questioner

I want to start a webshop with my sister. Logically, we would both become owners and the legal form would be a general partnership. I just wonder if it might be more advantageous for a starter to start as a sole proprietorship and, for example, employ my sister. Is there a difference between the two legal forms in terms of tax benefits?

Lawyer

I mainly recommend that you consult a financial advisor, as the tax impact mainly depends on both your private situations. From a legal perspective, I would advise you to work as a partnership, not as a sole proprietorship with the other person employed. Besides the fact that this can lead to conflicts (who is actually the boss?), it also brings skewed rights and obligations into the world (after all, the employee is very protected by labor law). The employee also cannot use, for example, self-employed persons' deduction, but a financial advisor can also provide better information about this. When you set up a VOF, put all agreements in writing for the protection of both of you. Preferably under the guidance of a lawyer, so that everything is clearly and correctly recorded. This is certainly advisable in family circumstances, because disagreement can be disastrous (you will not be the first family to fall apart due to bad and unclear agreements).