Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a sole trader?

A sole trader is a business owned and operated by a single individual. One of the key characteristics of this form of business is exclusive ownership, which means the owner has complete control over the business operations and decisions. This also leads to full control over business decisions, as there is no requirement to consult with partners or shareholders.

Another important aspect of a sole trader is unlimited liability. This means that the owner is personally responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. If the business fails, creditors can pursue the owner's personal assets to settle debts.

In contrast, a sole trader does not have a legal distinction from their business. This indicates that the individual and the business are considered one entity for legal and tax purposes, which is a fundamental feature of sole traders. As a result, the option referring to "legal distinction from owners" is indeed not a characteristic of a sole trader, as the absence of this legal distinction is what defines the structure of sole trading.