General partnership
Two or more persons carrying on business in common with a view of profit. It is not registered with the General Registry, has no separate legal personality, and its partners have unlimited liability for its debts.
- Entiva fee to form
- Quoted before it starts
- Government fees to form
- None listed
- Run plan
- $219 a month
- Steps to form
- 3
- Ongoing filings
- 2
- Ways to close
- 3
Who it suits, and what defines it.
Governed by the Partnership Act (2025 Revision), Parts 2-5.
Who it suits
- Two or more people who want to run a business together without registering anything.
Key facts
- Legal status
- No separate legal personality
- Liability
- Unlimited for the partners
- Partners
- Two or more
- Registration
- None with the General Registry
- Formation
- By agreement or conduct
- Registry annual fee
- None
- Trading licence
- Needed to trade in or from the Islands
- Statute
- Partnership Act (2025 Revision), Parts 2-5
What the law requires.
3 rules, each in plain words.
No registry filing
The partnership is formed by agreement or conduct under sections 3 to 5 of the Partnership Act.
A Trade and Business Licence to trade in or from the Islands
The ownership conditions of the Trade and Business Licensing Act also apply.
Dissolution by expiry, notice, an event or court order
Any partner may publicly notify the dissolution (s.37).
How Entiva forms it.
3 steps. Entiva prepares and files each one, and collects every signature the law needs.
The steps
3 steps- 1Form the partnership
This is a written or oral partnership agreement, with no registry filing and no government fee.
- 2Apply for a Trade and Business Licence
It is needed to carry on business in the Islands.
- 3Register as a non-profit organisation (NPO)Only if needed
Only if the partnership solicits contributions from the public as an NPO.
Documents
4- Written partnership agreement
- Authority for a corporate partner's signatory
- Trade and Business Licence, if the partnership trades in the Islands
- Agreement signed by every partner, kept by Entiva as the only formation record
Who takes part
5- Every individual partner is verified
- A corporate partner is verified, with the individuals who control it
- Anyone holding 10% or more of the profits or capital is verified
- The person who applies on behalf of the partnership is verified
- Politically exposed persons (senior public figures) get enhanced checks
What has to be filed, and when.
Entiva tracks every deadline from the day it is formed, and files before each one.
Every year, and as things happen
2 filings- File a non-profit organisation's annual return
Within 6 months of year end, extendable by 2 months, for registered NPOs
- File an NPO's independent review report
Within 9 months of year end, extendable by 3 months, where the threshold applies
The changes Entiva handles.
Each change is prepared, approved, signed and filed.
The most common changes
4 changes- Notify the NPO Registrar of changes
- Ask for more time to file an NPO return
- Cancel or suspend the NPO registration
- Convert into a limited liability partnership (LLP)
How it closes.
3 routes. The right one depends on whether it can pay its debts, and who starts it.
Dissolution by event or notice
A term expires, a partner gives notice, a partner dies or goes bankrupt, the business becomes illegal, or the partners agree.
- 1
Record the dissolution
- 2
Give public notice of dissolution
- 3
Settle accounts and apply the assets
- 4
Cancel any NPO registration
Dissolution by Grand Court order
When partners are in dispute or the court finds dissolution just (ss.35, 39).
- 1
Apply to the Grand Court for a dissolution order
- 2
The court directs the settlement of accounts
Conversion to a limited liability partnership (LLP)
For partners who want limited liability while the partnership continues.
- 1
Convert into a limited liability partnership (LLP)
What Entiva does for you.
From the first filing to the last.
General partnership
- Verifies each partner, drafts the partnership agreement and collects signatures.Formation
- Registers the partnership as a non-profit organisation if it raises funds from the public.Formation
- Prepares the notice of dissolution and final accounts, and closes the Trade and Business Licence.Closing
- Converts the partnership into a limited liability partnership after all partners consent and a 28-day Gazette notice.Restructuring
Build it with the API.
Every step on this page is an action in the Entiva API, with its documents, signatures and filing.
What it costs, item by item.
Every Entiva fee and every government fee, from forming it to closing it.
Forming it
Quoted before it starts
- Government fees
- None listed
Steps marked only if needed are not counted.
Closing it
Quoted before it starts
- Entiva fee
- Fixed, quoted first
- Government fees
- At cost
Included in the Run plan
- File a non-profit organisation's annual return
- File an NPO's independent review report
- Routine changes
- Every deadline tracked
Extra, at a fixed fee
- Apply for a Trade and Business Licence
- Register as a non-profit organisation (NPO)Only if needed
- Convert into a limited liability partnership (LLP)
Each extra is quoted before it starts, and nothing is done until you approve it.
Forming it
Formation is quoted before it starts. Government fees are passed through at cost.
Later filings: CI$25 per list or.
Excludes steps marked only if needed.
Every year
The Run plan costs $219 a month ($2,628 a year).
An extension request costs CI$25. Penalty if late: up to CI$3,000 plus up to CI$100 a day.
Late: up to CI$3,000 plus CI$100 a day.
Changes
Routine changes are included in the Run plan.
Express CI$500.
Closing it
Closing is a fixed-fee project, quoted before it starts.
Cayman Gazette insertions cost CI$0.65 per word and are payable with the submission.
A partnership carrying on mutual fund business is heard in the Financial Services Division and pays CI$5,000 on issuing.
Express CI$500.
Entiva fees are in US dollars. Government fees are in the currency each authority charges, passed through at cost when the filing is made. Taxes are separate.
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