An Illinois LLC operating agreement is a contract between the members of a Limited Liability Company that governs the operation and management of the LLC. The operating agreement sets forth the rights and duties of the members and managers, as well as the rules for conducting business. It is important to have an operating agreement in place so that everyone understands their role in the LLC and how the LLC will be run. Having an operating agreement can also help to prevent disagreements among members and managers down the road.
There are a number of reasons why the operating agreement is important for an LLC in Illinois. A few of which include:
– In the event of a legal dispute, an LLC without an operating agreement may have to follow generic state rules which may not negatively impact the member’s personal asset protection.
– The roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the members are in writing which will reduce future conflicts.
– As a single-member LLC, having an operating agreement may help to better protect the entity’s limited liability status.
– When applying for financing, a lender will often want to see one before opening a business bank account to ensure the members have the authority to borrow on behalf of the entity.
– Potential investors and partners will request one when evaluating a business.
Illinois Business Statute Section 805 ILCS 180 states that every Illinois LLC may adopt an operating agreement, but it isn’t required. Despite it not being required, there are several reasons it is recommended to have one.
Currently, only six states require an operating agreement – California, Delaware, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, and New York.
Yes, you can write your own operating agreement. With anything legal, it is recommended that you use a vetted operating agreement from a trusted provider like RocketLawyer and LawDepot and/or consult with an attorney to help ensure that all the necessary provisions are included.
While using an attorney is the safest option as they will customize the document to fit the specific needs of your business, the free operating agreements from the providers above will be better than trying to create one from scratch.
An operating agreement can be as structured or unstructured as the members deem necessary. Some elements to consider putting in an operating agreement include:
– Business information such as the LLC’s name, principal office address, the purpose of the business, duration of the LLC, etc.
– Ownership structure
– Name and address of the Illinois registered agent
– Amount of each member’s share of capital contribution and the percentage of their ownership interest
– Management – member-managed vs member-managed
– Scope of the manager’s authority
– Fiscal year of the LLC
– Bank account information for the LLC
– Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the LLC
– Entity tax election
– Roles of the members (including financial authority, signing contracts, etc.)
– Names and addresses of the LLC members
– When and how members receive compensation and distributions
– Meeting information and voting rights
– Procedures for adding a new member, removing a current member, and the resignation of a member
– Process for the amendment of the operating agreement
– Process regarding the dissolution or bankruptcy of the LLC
– How any remaining assets will be divided after the liquidation of the LLC
The operating agreement isn’t filed with the state of Illinois. A signed copy should be kept where the company records are stored in addition to each LLC member having one as well.
An operating agreement doesn’t have to be notarized in Illinois to be legally binding, however, having the operating agreement notarized can be helpful as it proves the document existed on a certain date.
Instead of notarization, it is generally recommended that all members sign and date the operating agreement. This will help to acknowledge the agreement has been received and reviewed by the LLC member.
No. The Articles of Organization are a formation document that is used to create the business entity with the Illinois Secretary of State. The operating agreement is an internal document that outlines the governing structure and operating guidelines of the entity along with the responsibilities of the members.
The free downloadable LLC operating agreements from RocketLawyer and LawDepot walk you through specific state and legal questions so you get an operating agreement that is customized to your business.
Plus, you get access to their entire library of custom business forms, contracts, and other important legal documents.
