California LLC Operating Agreement Template

Operating Agreement for a LLC Operating in the State of California

This Operating Agreement (as the same may be amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), effective (Date), is entered into by [Member1.FirstName][Member1.LastName], [Member2.FirstName][Member2.LastName] (Insert Names Of All Parties) (the “Members”), as the Members of Company Name LLC (the “Company”), according to the Act (as such term is defined below) on the following terms and conditions:

1. Organization

1.1 Formation

On (Date Of Formation), the articles of organization of the Company (“Articles of Organization”) were filed in the office of the Secretary of State of California in accordance with and under the Act.

1.2 Name and Place of Business

The Company's name shall be (Company Name LLC), and its principal place of business shall be (Address). The Members may change such name, consistent with the requirements of the Act, change such place of business, or establish additional places of business of the Company as the Members may determine to be necessary or desirable.

1.3 Business and Purpose of the Company

The purpose of the Company is the following:

(State the entire purpose of the company as set out in the articles of organization)

1.4 Term

The term of this Agreement shall be until the Company is dissolved as provided in this Agreement.

1.5 Required Filings

The Members shall execute, acknowledge, file, record, and/or publish such certificates and documents as may be required by this Agreement or by law in connection with the formation and operation of the Company.

1.6 Registered Office and Registered Agent

The Company’s initial registered office and initial California registered agent shall be as provided in the Articles of Organization. The registered office and registered agent may be changed from time to time by the Members by filing the address of the new registered office and/or the name of the new registered agent in accordance with the Act.

2. Definitions

The following capitalized terms are intended to have the meaning set forth below:

“Act” shall mean the California Limited Liability Company Law, which may be amended occasionally.

“Affiliate” shall mean:

• Any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with another person.

• A person owning or controlling 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other person.

• Any officer, director, or partner of such other person.

• If such a person is an officer, director, or partner, any company for which such person acts in any capacity.

The term “person” shall include any natural person, corporation, partnership, trust, unincorporated association, or other legal entity.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended occasionally, and the regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.

“Membership Interest” shall mean the Member’s ownership interest in the Company.

3. Capitalization and Financing

Members shall make an initial capital contribution of $(Dollar Amount). Members may make additional capital contributions but shall have no obligation to.

4. Allocation of Net Income and Net Loss

For each fiscal year, the net income and net loss of the Company shall be allocated to the Members in proportion to each Member’s Membership Interest, as described in Exhibit A.

5. Distributions

Distributions shall be made to the Members at the times and in the aggregate amounts determined by the Members.

6. Company Expenses

The Company shall pay directly, or reimburse the Members, as the case may be, for all the costs and expenses of the Company’s operations.

7. Authority and Responsibilities of the Members

7.1 Management

The Members shall manage the business and affairs of the Company. The Members shall have full and complete authority, power, and discretion to manage and control the Company’s business, affairs, and properties, to make all decisions regarding those matters, and to perform any and all other acts or activities customary or incident to the management of the Company’s business. The Members may act by written consent.

7.2 Members Authority

The Members shall have all authority, rights, and powers conferred by law and those required or appropriate to the management of the Company’s business, which, by way of illustration but not by way of limitation, shall include the right, authority, and power to cause the Company to:

7.2.1 Acquire, hold, develop, lease, rent, operate, sell, exchange, subdivide, and otherwise dispose of the Company’s property;

7.2.2 Borrow money on such terms and in such amounts as the Members deems to be in the best interest of the Company;

7.2.3 To pledge or mortgage or subject the Company’s property to any security device, to obtain replacements of any mortgage or other security device, and to prepay, in whole or in part, refinance, increase, modify, consolidate, or extend any mortgage or other security device, all on such terms as the Members deems to be in the best interest of the Company;

7.2.4 Enter into such contracts and agreements as the Members determines to be reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the Company’s business and purpose (including contracts with Affiliates of the Members) and any contract of insurance that the Members deems necessary or appropriate for the protection of the Company and the Members, including errors and omissions insurance, for the conservation of Company assets, or for any purpose convenient or beneficial to the Company;

7.2.5 Employ persons, who may be Affiliates of the Members, in the operation and management of the business of the Company;

7.2.6 Prepare or cause to be prepared reports, statements, and other relevant information for distribution to the Members;

7.2.7 Open accounts and deposits and maintain funds in the name of the Company in banks, savings and loan associations, “money market” mutual funds, and other instruments as the Members may deem in its discretion to be necessary or desirable;

7.2.8 Make or revoke any of the elections referred to in the Code;

7.2.9 Select as its accounting year a calendar or fiscal year as may be approved by the Internal Revenue Service;

7.2.10 Determine the appropriate accounting method or methods to be used by the Company;

7.2.11 Require in any Company contract that the Members shall not have any personal liability but that the person or entity contracting with the Company is to look solely to the Company and its assets for satisfaction;

7.2.12 Lease personal property for use by the Company;

7.2.13 Establish reserves from income in such amounts as the Members may deem appropriate;

7.2.14 Initiate legal actions, settle legal actions, and defend legal actions;

7.2.15 Admit itself as a Member; and

7.2.16 Execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments to effectuate the foregoing and take all such actions in connection therewith as the Members may deem necessary or appropriate. Any and all documents or instruments may be executed on behalf and in the name of the Company by the Members.

7.3 Tax Matters Member

(Name) is hereby appointed to act as the “tax matters partner” for the purposes of the Code.

7.4 Indemnification of Members

The Members, its shareholders, Affiliates, officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, and assigns (collectively, the “Covered Persons”) shall not be liable for and shall be indemnified and held harmless (to the extent of the Company’s assets) from, any loss or damage incurred by them. The Company or the Members in connection with the business of the Company, including costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any amounts expended in settlement of any claims of loss or damage resulting from any act or omission performed or omitted.

8. Assignment of the Members’ Interest

The Members may sell, assign, hypothecate, encumber, or otherwise transfer all or any part of their interest in the Company only with the written consent of a majority of the Membership Interests.

9. Records, Audits, and Reports

The Company shall maintain at its principal office the Company’s records and accounts of all operations and expenditures of the Company, including the following:

9.1 The full name and last known business or resident address of the Members, together with the capital contribution of the Members;

9.2 A copy of the Articles of Organization and all amendments thereto, together with any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Articles of Organization or any amendments thereto were executed;

9.3 Copies of the Company’s Federal, state, and local income tax or information returns and reports, if any, for the six most recent taxable years;

9.4 Copies of this Agreement and any amendments thereto together with any powers of attorney pursuant to which any written accounting or any amendments thereto were executed;

9.5 Copies of the financial statements of the Company, if any, for the six most recent years; and

9.6 The Company’s books and records as they relate to the internal affairs of the Company for at least the current and past four fiscal years.

10. Dissolution and Termination of the Company

10.1 Dissolution and Termination

The Company shall be dissolved, shall terminate, and its assets shall be disposed of, and its affairs wound up upon a determination by a majority of the Membership Interests to terminate the Company.

10.2 Certificate of Dissolution and Cancellation

As soon as possible following a determination by the Members to terminate the Company, the Members shall execute a Certificate of Dissolution in such form as shall be prescribed by the California Secretary of State and shall file the Certificate of Dissolution as required by the Act. Upon the completion of the winding up of the affairs of the Company, the Members shall file a Certificate of Cancellation of Articles of Organization in accordance with the Act.

10.3 Liquidation of Assets

Upon dissolution and termination of the Company, the Members shall take complete account of the Company’s assets and liabilities, shall liquidate the assets as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair market value thereof, and shall apply and distribute the proceeds therefrom in the following order:

10.3.1 To the payment of creditors of the Company, including the Members, but excluding secured creditors whose obligations will be assumed or otherwise transferred on the liquidation of Company assets;

10.3.2 To the setting up of any reserves as required by law for any contingent liabilities or obligations of the Company. Provided, however, that said reserves should be deposited with a bank or trust company in escrow at interest for the purpose of disbursing such reserves for the payment of any of the aforementioned contingencies and, at the expiration of a reasonable period, for the purpose of distributing the balance remaining in accordance with the remaining provisions of this Section 10.3; and

10.3.3 Any remaining amount to the Members.

11. Miscellaneous

11.1 Successors and Assigns

The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the members’ successors, assigns, and transferees.

11.2 Severability

If any sentence or Section of this Agreement is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void, such sentence or Section shall be deemed severed from the remainder of this Agreement, and the balance of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

11.3 Notices

All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and given to the Members by personal service or mail, posted to the address maintained by the Company for the Members, or at such other address as the Members may specify in writing.

11.4 Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

11.5 Venue

Any action, suit, or proceeding relating to or arising out of this Agreement shall be brought only in a court of competent jurisdiction located in California.

11.6 Integrated and Binding Agreement

This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the Members.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members signed this Agreement on the date shown.

EXHIBIT A – MEMBER’S SCHEDULE