Colorado LLC Operating Agreement

Although the LLC operating agreement is not a mandatory document for the implementation of activities, it is highly recommended:

• It separates the board members’ personal assets from the business’ assets, thereby protecting them from risk.
• It will allow the board to control its business and submit it to its own rules. Otherwise, then the company will be subject to state laws by default. For example, all business shares and profits will be divided equally among the participants.
• A written statement containing company rules eliminates and legitimizes the company’s structure and regulations.

In Colorado, we recommend signing this document, no matter how big or small the company is—an LLC operating agreement makes life much easier for the company owners. The best time to complete the agreement is before bringing the company to market.

Carefully study all the points of the agreement and consult a lawyer if you find something unclear. To draw up an LLC operating agreement, we recommend using our form-building software, which will make the process of filling out the document easier for you.

In Colorado, there are two types of related forms:

• Single-Member LLC operating agreement
• Multi-Member LLC operating agreement

A single-member LLC operating agreement is signed if the company has a single owner—an individual entrepreneur. On the flip side, a multi-member LLC operating agreement is completed when the organization has more than one owner—several board members.

This document is helpful to an individual entrepreneur by separating their personal assets from investments in the business; therefore, it protects the entrepreneur’s private property.

In the case of group management of a company, the document regulates the company’s key policy and goals, participants’ shares, and distribution of profits or losses.

All participants must be familiar with the document, sign it, and keep a copy in a safe place.

Each LLC operating agreement must contain the following information:

• Identifying Information. Legal entity name and office address.
• Intent and business goals. Compliance with state law and an indication of the nature of the business.
• Information about the board members. The members’ full names must be noted down, and their shares in the business must be allocated. If you are the company’s sole owner, you can outline the conditions for how someone can get a share in the LLC. You can also add this item later by updating the document.
• Operational conditions. All details about the existence and management of the company are listed here, including terms, tax treatment, member meetings and voting, the obligations of the participants, the conditions for liquidating the company, actions in the event of the death of one of the participants (for example, to whom the share is transferred or who has the right to redeem it), and so on.

Colorado LLC Laws and Definition

In Colorado, the formation and operation of an LLC  are governed by 2018 State Title 7, Article 80.

According to clause 102.11, an operating agreement is an agreement of all participants about the company’s affairs and business conduct. It can contain any provisions the participants see fit as long as it does not conflict with section 7-80-108.

The advantage of this form of legal entity is the limited liability of each participant and the often lower taxes.

According to clause 108, the operating agreement can regulate relations among members and between managers and assignees.

All company members are encouraged to carefully study Colorado law to draw up a lawful LLC operating agreement. The law contains all the necessary definitions, conditions, and information on the activities of the LLC.

Below is a step-by-step action plan for setting up an LLC in Colorado.

Steps to Forming an LLC in Colorado

Once you have thoroughly studied the state laws regulating LLCs, you can proceed to establish one. Expect to pay numerous fees throughout the registration process. Our guide below will help you understand the sequence of steps to take.

1. Come Up With a Name

The first step to creating an LLC is to create an official name. In addition to appealing to and appeasing your customers, the name must comply with state laws.

It must include the words Limited Liability Company. Abbreviations such as LLC, L.L.C., ltd, and others are also permitted.

There is a list of forbidden words like University, Bank, etc. To use them, you need additional documents. You cannot also use words associated with government services like CIA, State Department, etc.

Check if your name is free and if the Internet domain is free in advance to create a website. You can do this using special services on the Internet.

If you have difficulty coming up with a name, you can contact a special creative agency or use an online name generator.

2. Assign a Registered Agent

A registered agent is a contact for handling government, legal, judicial, and tax correspondence. The agent can be an individual or a company registered in Colorado. You can also assign yourself a registered agent.

It is recommended to use the services of professional registered agents. These firms will be the link between you and the state.

3. Submit Your Colorado LLC Articles of Organization

The Articles of Organization must be drafted and submitted online to the Secretary of State of Colorado.

The Articles must define the following concepts:

• LLC name
• registered agent details
• list company services or products
• choose the form of company management (members or manager).

Also, you need to pay some fees to set up an LLC in Colorado at this stage. The current LLC formation fee is $ 50 in Colorado.

4. Create the Operating Agreement

Colorado State law does not mandate an operating agreement. However, we strongly recommend drawing up this document. It will make it easier for all members to understand their goals, rights, and responsibilities, as well as document the company’s rules. Otherwise, all disputes will be considered per state laws.

5. Get an EIN

Register your firm with the tax office and get an EIN (also called FEIN or FTIN).

This number is the equivalent of a social security number and is required for all banking transactions.

Without an EIN, you will not be able to open a bank account, manage taxes, or even hire employees.

The Internal Revenue Service provides an EIN free of charge online or by mail.

Each LLC needs its own EIN, so you cannot use an existing one. You need to create a new one, but the process is easy.

These are the steps to take to form an LLC in Colorado. However,  this is not the end of the process. After that, we also recommend:

• Hire a business accountant. An experienced accountant can save you thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on taxes by properly doing accounting. They also perform payroll calculations, track expenses and income, and submit tax reports.

A knowledgeable accountant can help you avoid mistakes that can cost you much more than paying for a specialist.

• Get business insurance. You can insure general, professional liability, or workers’ compensation. This will help you focus on your business and worry less about risks.

• Compose and send a press release. This is the best way to announce your company and start promoting your business in the market.

Other Colorado Forms
Looking for more Colorado documents? We provide free templates and straightforward customization experience to everyone who wishes for less hassle when handling documentation.

Colorado Last Will Colorado Living Will Colorado Small Estate Affidavit Colorado Bill of Sale Colorado Power of Attorney Colorado Rental Lease Agreement Colorado Eviction Notice Colorado Promissory Note Colorado Non-compete Agreement Colorado Prenuptial Agreement Colorado Marital Settlement (Divorce) Agreement