Partnerships are very common in business. They are used to combine the resources, skills and knowledge of multiple people for maximum benefit. A partnership can be a great way to start a business and allows for a great amount of flexibility.

Partnerships can take several different forms depending on the type of business, and the partners’ individual circumstances. The most common form of partnership is a general partnership, which involves two or more people and requires the partners to share both the profits and losses of the business. This means that each partner is legally liable for the debt, liabilities and obligations of the business.

Another popular form of partnership is a limited liability partnership, which is most often found with professionals such as lawyers and doctors. In this type of partnership, the members are only exposed to the risk of the business to the extent of the money they've invested in it, meaning they are not responsible for the debts or liabilities of the partners’ individual action.

Partnerships also usually come with tax benefits when compared to other entity forms such as a corporation. Partnerships generally do not pay corporate income tax and instead the income passes through to the partners and is taxed by the individuals. This pass-through factor allows partners to take advantage of losses to reduce the amount of taxes paid.

In summary, partnerships are a great way to start a business by combining multiple people's resources, skills and knowledge. There are several different forms of partnerships, with the most popular being the general partnership and the limited liability partnership. Finally, as a form of business, tax benefits can often be gained by taking advantage of pass-through taxation.