According to NCFTN's 2005 survey, 87% of North Carolina farm businesses are organized as sole proprietorships, the simplest form of a business entity.  In appropriate cases, a more complex form of business entity can address certain risks of sole ownership and also serve as an effective farm transfer tool. 

The resources below discuss various forms of business entities. 

Business Entity Questions.  This handy checklist of questions explores many issues involved in forming a business arrangement (joint venture, partnership, corporation) with other people. 

Related Articles

Deciding How to Structure Your Business (North Carolina State University)

Important Farm Business Structure Terms Defined (Kansas State Univesity, 2005)

Cooperatives  (Penn State University, 2005)

Ownership Structures for your Farm or Ranch:  Some Basic Considerations (Center for Rural Affairs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Piercing the Corporate Veil:  How Limited is the Liability of Doing Business as a Corporation? (Center for Rural Affairs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln)