[SL] SL Configuration Questions - multiple businesses

[Roland P. <Ro...@Qu...>]

I am attempting to set up SL to record my finances.  I have two small businesses which
because they are sole proprietorships are really just subsets of my personal finances 
and US tax return.  What is the best way to configure SL to support my needs?  

(I have purchased the SL support & manual but it has very little information in using 
SL Departments vs SL Projects)

-------------------
Structure 1:


        Dataset 1
          -Dept A - Personal, non business
          -Dept B - Business 1
          -Dept C - Business 2
         where everything is contained in either Departments A, B, or C

-------------------
Structure 2:


        Dataset 2
          -Dept A - Business 1
          -Dept B - Business 2
         where all personal accounts are not defined to be in a Department

-------------------
Structure 3:


          Dataset 3 - Personal
          Dataset 4 - Business 1
          Dataset 5 - Business 2
        where all datasets are independent



Questions:

1) Is anyone using SL Departments?

2) Is this a reasonable way to use SL Departments?

3) Should I be using Projects instead?

4) What are the advantages and disadvantages in the above structures?

5) Which structure should I use?

6) Is there a better structure which I have not considered?

7) Business 1 may be converted to a corporation in about 2-3 years.  Should this effect
what structure I choose now?


--Roland