Requirements vary by state, but operating agreements are commonly used even when they are not required to be filed with the state. They document matters such as ownership, management, voting, distributions, and internal procedures.

An operating agreement is an internal LLC governance document rather than the state formation filing. It can address ownership percentages, management authority, voting, contributions, distributions, transfers, and what happens if a member joins or leaves. Even when a state does not require the agreement to be filed publicly, maintaining a current written agreement can help document how the owners intend the LLC to operate.