California LLC Operating Agreement Template

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A California LLC operating agreement is a document that governs a limited liability company’s operations and details every aspect of its internal structure. The agreement identifies the company’s ownership along with their capital contributions and voting rights. It also details how the LLC intends to handle certain transactions, such as profit distribution, adding or removing members, annual meetings, and company dissolution.

While an operating agreement is not mandatory in most states, California LLCs are required to draft the contract during the initial registration process with the Secretary of State. The completed agreement must then be stored at the company’s designated office.

Contents

Types (2)

Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement – For establishing the operating procedures of an LLC that has one (1) owner only.

Multi-Member LLC Operating Agreement – An operating agreement for LLCs with more than one (1) owner.

Laws

How to File (5 Steps)

Step 1 – Choose and Reserve an Entity Name

Limited liability companies must choose a business name that is distinguishable from those registered or reserved with the Secretary of State. A preliminary business search can be conducted to check the name’s availability.

After selecting a name, it can be reserved for sixty (60) days using a Name Reservation Request (filing instructions included in the document). Name Reservation Requests must be accompanied by a $10 check made out to the “Secretary of State.”

Note on Entity Names:

The name of an LLC must include the words “limited liability company” or the abbreviations “LLC” or “L.L.C.” It must also comply with naming regulations imposed by § 7701.08.

Step 2 – File the Articles of Organization

An LLC will need to file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State in order to register the business. If the company is a foreign entity (one previously created out-of-state or out-of-county), the LLC must instead file the Application to Register a Foreign Limited Liability Company.

Domestic LLCs

Foreign LLCs

Step 3 – Draft an Operating Agreement

Each LLC will need to draft an operating agreement to define the company’s management structure and business procedures. The document needn’t be filed with the Secretary of State but instead kept at the LLC’s designated office.

Step 4 – Apply for an EIN

An EIN, or “employer identification number,” is a code used by the IRS to identify LLCs and other business entities. Limited liability companies will need an EIN to conduct certain business transactions, such as hiring employees and opening company bank accounts.

Step 5 – File a Statement of Information

Within ninety (90) days from the entity’s registration date, a Statement of Information must be filed with the Secretary of State to revise any outdated company information. It’s best to file the statement online, although the PDF version (Form LLC-12) can be submitted by mail or in person at the Sacramento Office.

Note on Statement Information:

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