LLC Operating Agreement

An LLC Operating Agreement proves your limited liability company is a separate entity and protects its liability status.

When you start a business or nonprofit, a common way to protect your personal assets is to form an LLC, which protects your personal assets by detaching them from the assets of the business. 

A core document behind the formation of an LLC is the LLC Operating Agreement. An Operating Agreement protects your company's limited liability status by establishing the rules and provisions by which the internal operations of the LLC are handled. It acts like a contract between members and outlines their responsibilities and rights.

What Is an LLC Operating Agreement?

An LLC Operating Agreement is a legally-binding document between the members of an LLC that outlines all the functions and decisions of the business. Once signed, it establishes a legal obligation for the members to act in accordance with the rules and regulations provided.

Other Names for LLC Operating Agreement

Depending on your state, jurisdiction, or context, an LLC Operating Agreement may also be known as:

• Operating Agreement

• LLC Partnership Agreement

• LLC Agreement

Operating Agreement Terms

• Ownership: The percentage of the company that each member owns

• Capital Transactions: The sale of all or any part of the company's assets

• Registered Agent: A business or individual that serves as the main point of contact between the LLC and your state

Who Needs an Operating Agreement?

Anyone who wants to protect their assets and disentangle their liabilities from their business or nonprofit via an LLC can benefit from having an Operating Agreement. The agreement provides legal protection in a variety of situations and is highly recommended for LLCs with multiple partners. 

If an LLC has several members, there may be some tacit agreement between them about how the business will operate. An Operating Agreement formalizes the roles, rights, and responsibilities of partners within an LLC and prevents confusion on how business arrangements should be handled.

Why Use Swyft Forms for Your Operating Agreement

Customized for you, by you

Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your LLC Operating Agreement.

Right for your state

Each document on Swyft Forms is customized for your state.

How to Create an Operating Agreement with Swyft Forms

Operating Agreements can have a lot of moving parts. The more protection you need, the more complex the Operational Agreement will be. With Swyft Forms, you get access to attorney-vetted legal forms that give you peace of mind.

The process is fast and easy. Our proprietary form generator can help you create your customized Operating Agreement in a few short minutes. We'll ask a handful of simple questions. Just fill in the requested information, and we'll put it together. You can see your document being created as you go through the questions.

Once completed, simply download your form as a PDF or Word document from your secure online account.

What Information Will I Need to Create My Operating Agreement?

To create your document, please provide:

• Name: The name of the LLC

• State of Formation: Where the LLC was formed

• Date of Formation: When the LLC was formed

• Effective Date: Date the members are entering into the Operating Agreement

• Personal Information of the Members: Name and address of the person or persons entering into the Operational Agreement

• Name and Principal Place of Business: Name and address of the LLC

• Tax Treatment: How the LLC chooses to be taxed (sole proprietorship, partnership, or S Corp)

• Term: When and under what terms the LLC will be dissolved

• Business Purpose: A statement about the nature of the LLC's business (often includes "and for any other lawful business purpose")

• Member Capital Contributions: For multi-member LLCs, the Operating Agreement should reflect the capital amounts each member contributed

Operational Terms Signing Requirements

Every member of the LLC will have to sign the Operating Agreement for it to be valid. However, the Operating Agreement is not filed with the state. Instead, it's a private document between the members, and as such, each member should retain a signed copy.

What to Do with Your Operating Agreement

After creating and signing your Operating Agreement with Swyft Forms, you can download and print as many copies as you like. As long as the copies are signed by all members, they do not need to be notarized. Keep a copy in your personal records.

 

Depending on your state, a LLC Operating Agreement may also be known as:

If you need to formalize agreements and ensure legal compliance, this document is an essential tool.

Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your LLC Operating Agreement.

Laws vary by location. Each document on Swyft Forms is customized for your state.