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An LLC operating agreement is a document that customizes the terms of a limited liability company according to the specific needs of its members. It also outlines the financial and functional decision-making in a structured manner. It is similar to articles of incorporation that govern the operations of a corporation.
Most states do not require LLCs to have this document, so many LLCs choose not to draft one. While it may not be a requirement to have an operating agreement, it's actually in the best interest of an LLC to draft one. And by drafting it, I'm referring to creating a written operating agreement.
If there is no operating agreement, you and the co-owners will not be suitably equipped to reach any settlements concerning misunderstandings over management and finances. Worse still, your LLC will be required to follow any of your state's default operating conditions.
Too often, founders rush to form the LLC without having a suitable written operating agreement in place. The operating agreement can state that the members will form an LLC within a certain period or when certain milestones are achieved, and that if those events don't transpire, then the agreement is terminated.
Why do you need an operating agreement? To protect the business' limited liability status: Operating agreements give members protection from personal liability to the LLC. Without this specific formality, your LLC can closely resemble a sole proprietorship or partnership, jeopardizing your personal liability.