A sole proprietorship's continuity is tied directly to the ____ of the owner.

The continuity of a sole proprietorship is fundamentally linked to the will of the owner because it solely depends on the individual who owns and operates the business. Unlike corporations or partnerships, a sole proprietorship does not exist independently of its owner. If the owner decides to cease operations, moves on to another pursuit, or passes away, the business ceases to exist unless someone else takes over through a legal mechanism such as a will. In essence, the owner’s intentions, decisions regarding the business, and any estate planning they have in place, such as a will, directly determine the business's ongoing existence and operations.