Can a sole proprietorship issue and sell stock to raise capital?

A sole proprietorship cannot issue or sell stock to raise capital because it is not a separate legal entity like a corporation. In a sole proprietorship, the business and the owner are considered the same legal entity. The owner is personally responsible for all debts and obligations of the business and directly retains all profits.

In contrast, corporations and partnerships have mechanisms that allow them to raise capital through the sale of stock or partnership interests. Corporations are specifically structured to issue shares, which can then be sold to investors, while partnerships can attract capital by bringing in additional partners who contribute funds in exchange for an ownership interest. This structural difference highlights why options that involve incorporating or forming partnerships are not applicable to a sole proprietorship.