Establishing a solid foundation for your limited liability company (LLC) is crucial for its lon-term success and smooth operation. One of the most important steps in this process is creating a comprehensive operating agreement. While crafting this document from scratch can be daunting, using a well-designed template can simplify the task significantly.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best LLC operating agreement templates available, helping you choose the right one for your business needs. These templates offer a balance of thoroughness and flexibility, ensuring your LLC starts on the right foot with a clear structure and defined processes.
Best LLC Operating Agreement Templates
| Northwest 4.9/5  | Best for LLCs Overall
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TRUiC 4.9/5 | Best for Additional Business Services
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LLC University 4.8/5  |
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| Rocket Lawyer 4.5/5  |
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| FindLegalForms.com 4.2/5  |
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An LLC operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure, management responsibilities, and operational procedures of an LLC. It serves as a crucial internal guideline for LLC owners, detailing how the business will be run and how decisions will be made.
Operating agreement templates ensure that all necessary elements are included, reducing the risk of overlooking important details. They also save time and effort in drafting the document from scratch, while still allowing customization to fit the specific needs of the LLC.
Using a template can help maintain legal compliance and minimize potential conflicts among members by clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and expectations from the outset.
5 Best LLC Operating Agreements of 2025
1. Northwest Registered Agent
In addition to their top-rated business formation services, Northwest Registered Agent offers several LLC operating agreement templates. All of their operating agreement templates are free and do not require you to submit information or start an account with Northwest to access them.
Templates include a single-member operating agreement, multi-member operating agreement, manager-managed operating agreement, and state-specific templates.
Pros
- Free templates
- Templates for all management structures available
- State-specific operating agreement templates available
- Easy to understand and complete
Cons
- Unless you form an LLC with Northwest, they will not help you complete the template
Notable Features
- State specific templates
- Multi- and single-member templates
- No sign-up required
- PDF and doc downloads available
Pricing
All operating agreement templates offered by Northwest Registered Agent are free.
2. TRUiC
TRUiC is known for offering entrepreneurs free resources to start, manage, and grow their businesses. Our free LLC operating agreements templates are no exception. With customizable templates available for single and multi-member LLCs, member and manager-managed LLCs, as well as state-specific operating agreements, there are templates available for all business types.
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Free templates
- Several types of operating agreements available
- Many operating agreements available for immediate download
Cons
- Custom operating agreements require sign-in
Notable Features
- Manager- and member-managed templates
- State specific templates
- Single- and multi-member templates
- Access to help state-by-state resources
Pricing
All operating agreement templates offered by TRUiC are free.
3. LLC University
LLC University is a trusted resource for business owners looking for reliable information to help launch and grow their companies. Their operating agreement template is simple, free, and requires no sign-up or personal information to download.
One of the key benefits of using LLC University is their unmatched customer service. The company takes care to respond thoughtfully to all questions, providing business owners with a wealth of information and support during their formation process and beyond.
Pros
- Free to download
- Trusted resource for LLC information
- No sign-up required
- Responsive customer support if questions arise
Cons
- Fewer options to choose from than competitors
Notable Features
- Available to download as a PDF, Google Doc, or Word Doc
- Includes helpful information about how to complete the document
- Excellent customer service
Pricing
All operating agreement templates from LLC University are free.
4. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer offers extensive legal resources, documents, and guidance for business owners. Operating agreements can be prepared through the platform on a state-by-state basis by answering a few basic questions about your LLC.
To access your completed, customized LLC operating agreement, you will need to sign up for a Rocket Lawyer membership or 7-day free trial. However, this provides access to additional valuable business documents, attorney consultations, and exclusive offers.
Pros
- Trusted source for legal documents and guidance
- Membership includes access to extensive collection of legal documents
- Operating agreements available in all states
- Network of attorneys available for consultations
Cons
- Must be a member to access
Notable Features
- Attorney consults available
- Free operating agreement
- Legally binding and enforceable
- Template is routinely reviewed to ensure compliance
Pricing
- RocketLegal: $39.99 per month
- RocketLegal+: $19.99 per month, billed annually
5. FindLegalForms.com
FindLegalForms.com offers state-specific LLC operating agreements. Each form offered by the company is reviewed for accuracy and state compliance by an attorney and comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.
Unfortunately, this operating agreement is only available for single member LLCs. Therefore, multi-member LLCs will need to look elsewhere for their operating agreement needs. However, their package includes free eSignature and an attorney-prepared checklist.
Pros
- Attorney prepared
- Money-back guarantee
- Multi-state operating agreements
- Additional business documents available
Cons
- No free templates available
- Only available for single-member LLCs
- Not available as a Google Doc
Notable Features
- eSignature included
- Customized to each state for guaranteed compliance
- Unlimited number of prints
Pricing
To obtain an operating agreement from FindLegalForms.com, it will cost $19.95 for immediate download.
How to Choose the Right LLC Operating Agreement
Before you decide on an LLC operating agreement for your business, you need to consider the following: price, type of agreement, customer service, and state requirements.
Price
Many providers offer operating agreement templates for free. However, you may be able to access additional perks or forms by paying for a service. Alternatively, if you aren’t going to use the other services offered by a provider charging for their operating agreement template, you may be better off choosing a free document download.
Type of Agreement
While many of the services listed above offer operating agreements for all states, number of members, and management structure, not all do. Make sure the provider you choose offers the right operating agreement template before moving forward.
Customer Service
If you run into questions or concerns while completing your LLC operating agreement, having excellent customer service to help ensure your document is accurately completed is crucial.
State Requirements
Be sure whichever operating agreement you choose for your LLC meets your state’s requirements. While not all states require operating agreements, it is important that if you are located in a state that does that your documents are filed accurately and in a timely manner.
FAQs
Are LLC operating agreements legally binding?
Yes, LLC operating agreements are legally binding contracts between LLC members.
How important is an operating agreement for LLC?
While operating agreements are required by all states, they are still very important. An operating agreement defines ownership, management structure, and member responsibilities, preventing future disputes.
How to write up an operating agreement for an LLC?
Operating agreements typically follow this format:
1. Outline basic company info
2. Define membership roles and rights
3. Specify management structure
4. Detail capital contributions
5. Explain profit/loss distribution
6. Include dissolution procedures
7. Add any other relevant provisions
However, we recommend that you use an operating agreement template to ensure you are preparing and filing this document accurately.
Can you write your own operating agreement?
Yes, you can write your own, but it’s advisable to have a lawyer review it to ensure it’s comprehensive and legally sound.
What is generally included in an LLC’s operating agreement?
An operating agreement typically includes company formation details, member information and capital contributions, profit and loss allocation, management structure, voting rights and procedures, member admission and withdrawal processes, and dissolution terms.