So, do you need a shareholders' agreement? We think, for the most part, yes. Depending on who you are (majority or minority shareholder), your perspective and needs will determine if you need one. Majority Shareholder: If you are the majority shareholder, you may not need a shareholders' agreement.
Most S corporations with multiple shareholders should have a written shareholders' agreement in effect for a simple reason.
The S corp shareholder agreement is a contract between the shareholders of an S corporation. The contents of the shareholder agreement differ from one S corporation to another. The shareholders are also able to decide what goes into the shareholder agreement, which is also referred to as the stockholder agreement.
There are no formal requirements for a SHA other that it be in writing and be signed by those shareholders that are party to it. However, SHAs generally cover certain areas, such as the following: Governance and Decision-making: How will business decisions be made and by whom?
Without a shareholders' agreement, rights and obligations will be governed by the Companies Act 2006 and the default constitutional rules. For companies incorporated on or after 1 October 2009, the default constitutional rules are known as the "Model Articles".
Shareholder restrictions: S corps are restricted to no more than 100 shareholders, and shareholders must be US citizens/residents.
Equity Incentive Plans (EIPs): An EIP is usually only used for c-corporations, and certain types of Restricted Stock are not allowed because s-corporations under the Internal Revenue Code may only have one class of stock with identical financial rights.
The S corp shareholder agreement is a contract between the shareholders of an S corporation. The contents of the shareholder agreement differ from one S corporation to another. The shareholders are also able to decide what goes into the shareholder agreement, which is also referred to as the stockholder agreement.
Similarly, corporations (S corps and C corps) are not legally required by any state to have an operating agreement. Still, experts advise owners of these businesses to create and execute their version of an operating agreement, called bylaws.
The owners (the shareholders) have the same protection from liability as shareholders of a C corporation. An S corporation shareholder's personal assets, such as personal bank accounts, cannot be seized to satisfy business liabilities.