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Specialty Entities
Simple · unlimited liability

Form a General Partnership. Simple. Unlimited liability.

A General Partnership (GP) is the simplest multi-owner business structure: two or more people doing business together. No state filing required to form (in most states); the partnership exists from the moment partners start operating jointly. Critical drawback: all partners have unlimited personal liability for partnership debts and other partners' actions. Modern alternatives (LLC, LP) almost always preferred. We form when GP is specifically needed.

Form partnership
All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle General Partnership, end-to-end.

A General Partnership (GP) is the simplest multi-owner business structure: two or more people doing business together.

1

Should you actually use a GP?

For most modern uses, LLC or LP is better (limited liability for owners). GP makes sense for: regulated professional partnerships in states limiting alternatives, very small temporary projects, situations where partners genuinely want unlimited shared liability.

2

Partnership agreement

Without a written agreement, RUPA (Revised Uniform Partnership Act) default rules apply: 50/50 split regardless of contribution, every partner has veto, partnership dissolves when one partner leaves. Defaults are usually not what partners want.

3

EIN + tax setup

GP files Form 1065 (Partnership Return). Each partner receives Schedule K-1 reporting their share of income. Need an EIN.

4

DBA filing (optional)

If operating under a name other than partners' names, file DBA in operating jurisdiction. We coordinate.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent general partnership pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Partnership agreement only

$199
Agreement for existing GP.

Partnership agreement drafted for partners already operating as a general partnership. Replaces RUPA defaults with what partners actually want. EIN included.

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GP + LLC conversion

$599
Convert GP to LLC instead.

Take an existing GP and convert to multi-member LLC. Better liability protection. State law transition. Partnership tax treatment preserved. Strongly recommended over staying as GP.

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Professional partnership

$999
Regulated professional GP.

For licensed professionals (lawyers, accountants, doctors) in states limiting LLC use. State-specific filings and bar/licensing coordination.

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FAQ

About the General Partnership Formation Service.

What is a general partnership?
A general partnership is a business owned by two or more people who share management, profits, and, importantly, unlimited personal liability for the partnership's debts and obligations. It can form automatically when partners do business together, often without any filing. Because of the liability exposure, we usually help partners form an LLC instead.
Do I have to register a general partnership?
Often not to exist: a general partnership can arise simply from two people running a business together, though you may register a trade name and need local licenses. The lack of a filing is part of the risk, since there is no liability shield. We flag whether an LLC or LP would serve you far better.
What is the biggest risk of a general partnership?
Unlimited personal liability: each partner is personally responsible for the partnership's debts and can be liable for the actions of the other partners, so one partner's mistake can reach your personal assets. This is the main reason most partners choose an LLC instead, which we can form for you.
How is a general partnership taxed?
As a pass-through: the partnership files an information return, and profits and losses flow to the partners' personal returns where they pay income and self-employment tax. It does not pay entity-level tax. We flag how the tax treatment compares to an LLC or corporation for your situation.
Do we need a partnership agreement?
Strongly: without a written agreement, state default rules govern profit splits, decisions, and what happens if a partner leaves, often unfavorably. A clear agreement prevents most partner disputes. We can draft a partnership agreement or form an LLC with an operating agreement instead.
Should I form an LLC instead of a general partnership?
Usually yes: an LLC gives the same pass-through taxes and shared management but adds the liability shield a general partnership lacks, for a modest cost. For most multi-owner businesses the LLC is the better structure, and we help you form it.
Can a general partnership be converted to an LLC?
Yes: partners commonly convert a general partnership to an LLC to gain liability protection, moving the business, assets, and agreements into the new entity. We handle the formation and help transition the partnership's operations into the LLC cleanly.
How do partners share profits and losses?
However the partnership agreement specifies, or, if silent, equally under state default rules regardless of contribution, which often surprises partners. Setting the splits explicitly matters. We help document the economics, in a partnership agreement or an LLC operating agreement, so they match your intent.
Can File.Business help me set up a partnership or LLC?
Yes: we explain the trade-offs, and if you want liability protection we form an LLC with a custom operating agreement, obtain the EIN, and provide the agent, so your multi-owner business has both the structure and the protection a general partnership lacks.

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220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.
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Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.

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