A single-owner business is one that is owned by one person. It’s distinct from a multiple-owner business structure, like an LLC or partnership that is a type of business, but more structured and taxed in a different way.
Individual businesses are not required to register with the federal authorities, but they might require a DBA or other licenses and permits. They’re not subject to the same tax rules as corporations and are exempt from liability, meaning that a lawsuit brought against a private business could end up costing the company everything.
This article explores an under-explored type of business model: the individual business model. Based on a thorough longitudinal inductive case study of chef and gastronomic pioneer Ferran Adria, the article identifies the triggers, mechanisms and shifts in his own evolving business model.