Which business structure allows owners to make decisions and keep profits?

The most suitable business structure that allows owners to make decisions and retain profits is the partnership. In a partnership, two or more individuals come together to manage a business and share its profits and losses. Partnerships are characterized by a level of flexibility in management, meaning that the partners can directly influence the operations and strategic direction of the business. They also share in the profits according to the terms agreed upon in their partnership agreement, which is typically straightforward and allows for direct distribution of income to the partners.

This structure stands in contrast to other entities like corporations, where ownership is represented by shares that can significantly distance ownership from management. In a corporation, decisions are made by a board of directors and profits are distributed as dividends, if at all, whereas in a partnership, the owners are closely involved in the day-to-day operations. Franchises and cooperatives have their own operational complexities that also diminish the direct decision-making control and profit retention available to individuals compared to partnerships. Thus, partnerships embody both the decision-making power and the ability to reap the rewards of the business.