If sole proprietors work additional hours, they receive the additional income. The benefit for sole proprietors lies in tax deductions. A more common approach today for sharing office overhead expenses, association agreements stipulate, in a formal contract, the expense-sharing arrangements between two or more physicians. Billings and revenues are not pooled but are each physician's responsibility. The joint liability issues associated with partnership agreements usually don't exist in association arrangements.
Some physicians form partnerships with their colleagues.
As well, salaries and other overhead costs may be split among all partners. The specifics of each partner's share of income, expenses and the extent of his or her duties must be detailed in a Partnership Agreement. Once a new partner is accepted or a previous partner departs, the partnership is dissolved and a new or amended Agreement must be drafted. However, dissolution of the partnership can create potential hardships. So each partner is responsible for the actions of all other partners.