Missouri LLC Operating Agreement

Every Missouri LLC should have an operating agreement in place. 

Having a written operating agreement will set clear rules and expectations for the management and operations of your LLC.

Download our free Missouri operating agreement template below or sign up to create a custom operating agreement using our free tool.

Forming an LLC? Get a free operating agreement when you use Northwest to start an LLC for $29 (plus state fees).

Free Missouri LLC Operating Agreement Templates

We offer operating agreement templates for single-member LLCs and multi-member LLCs (including member-managed and manager-managed) as well as a customizable operating agreement tool.

Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement

Our single-member LLC operating agreement template was created for limited liability companies with only one member, where the sole member has full control over all affairs of the LLC and no other individuals have a membership interest in the company.

Multi-Member LLC Operating Agreements

Our multi-member LLC templates are meant for LLCs with more than one member. There are two types available: manager-managed and member-managed.

Create Custom Operating Agreement

Create a custom operating agreement using our free tool. Just answer a few basic questions, and the tool will develop an operating agreement for your new LLC.

To use our tool, you will need to sign in to our Business Center. A Business Center account will also grant you access to many other free tools, special discounts on business services, and much more. 

TRUiC’s Operating Agreement Tool

Use our free tool to create a custom operating agreement for your LLC.

Create an Account

What Is a Missouri LLC Operating Agreement?

An operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership structure and operating procedures of an LLC.

Whether you are starting a single-member or multi-member LLC, your operating agreement should address all of the topics below. Some of these stipulations will not have much bearing on the actual operations of a single-member LLC, but are still important to include for the sake of legal formality.

1. Organization: When the LLC was officially formed, who its members are, and how ownership is divided. Multi-member LLCs may utilize an equal ownership structure or assign various members different “units” of ownership.
2. Management & Voting: Whether the LLC will be managed by its members or by an appointed manager, and how members will go about voting on business matters. Typically, each member has one vote, but you may wish to give some members more voting power than others. For more information on managing your LLC, read our Member-Managed vs Manager-Managed guide.
3. Capital Contributions: The amount of money each member has invested in the business. This is also where you should establish an approach to raising additional funds in the future.
4. Distributions: How profits and losses will be divided among the members. The most common option is to distribute profits evenly. If you want them divided a different way, this should be detailed in your operating agreement. For more information on the basics of LLC ownership, read our Contributions and Distributions guide.
5. Changes to Membership Structure: How roles and ownership will be transferred in the event that a member leaves the company. It’s essential to lay out the process for buying out and/or replacing a member in the LLC’s governing document.
6. Dissolution: Dissolution: If at some point all the members of your LLC decide you no longer wish to conduct business, you should officially dissolve it. Outlining the hypothetical process of dissolving your business is an important aspect of your operating agreement. To learn how to dissolve your Missouri LLC, read our Missouri LLC Dissolution article.

We reviewed the top LLC formation services. Find which service is right for you.

Why Should I Have a Missouri LLC Operating Agreement?

No matter what type of Missouri LLC you're starting, you'll want to create an operating agreement. Here's why:

1. It’s required by the state. According to the Revised Statutes of Missouri, Limited Liability Company Act § 347.081, every Missouri LLC must adopt an operating agreement to govern the company’s operating procedures.
2. It'll prevent conflict among your business partners. If you're starting a multi-member LLC, having an operating agreement will prevent misunderstandings amongst your team by setting clear expectations about each partner's role and responsibilities.
3. It helps preserve your limited liability status. If you're the sole owner of a single-member LLC in Missouri, having an operating agreement will help to ensure your limited liability status is upheld by court officials, and add to your business's credibility as a whole.

The full text of the statutes can be found below:

1. The member or members of a limited liability company shall adopt an operating agreement containing such provisions as such member or members may deem appropriate, subject only to the provisions of sections 347.010 to 347.187 and other law. The operating agreement may contain any provision, not inconsistent with law, relating to the conduct of the business and affairs of the limited liability company, its rights and powers, and the rights, powers and duties of its members, managers, agents or employees, including:

(1) Whether the management of the limited liability company shall be vested in one or more members, managers or other persons, and, if so, the powers and authority to be exercised by such persons;
(2) Providing for classes or groups of members having various rights, powers and duties, and providing for the future creation of additional classes or groups of members having relative rights, powers and duties superior or equal to existing classes and groups of members;
(3) The exercise or division of management or voting rights among different classes or groups of members, managers or other persons on a per capita or other basis;
(4) With respect to any matter requiring a vote, approval or consent of members or managers, provisions relating to notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on, waiver of notice, action by consent without a meeting, quorum requirements, authorizations by proxy, or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any voting or approval rights;
(5) Authorizing all or certain persons to execute articles, notices or documents permitted or required by sections 347.010 to 347.187;
(6) Restrictions on the transfer of members' interests in the limited liability company, and options or rights to acquire or sell members' interests in the limited liability company;
(7) The manner in which income, gain, deduction, loss, credit and items thereof are to be allocated to the members; and
(8) Provisions relating to any tax elections to be made by the limited liability company and the authorization of persons to make such elections.

2. It is the policy of sections 347.010 to 347.187 to give the maximum effect to the principle of freedom of contract and to the enforceability of operating agreements.
3. The operating agreement shall be enforceable at law or in equity by any member to the extent provided in applicable law.
4. This section shall not affect any otherwise valid agreement among members of a limited liability company.

After Creating Your Missouri LLC Operating Agreement

Once you have finished your operating agreement, you do not need to file it with your state. Keep it for your records and give copies to the members of your LLC.

Following any major company event, such as adding or losing a member, it is a good idea to review and consider updating the operating agreement. Depending on how your operating agreement is written, it may require some or all of the members to approve an amendment to the document.

Get a Free Operating Agreement

Create a free account with our Business Center to access operating agreement templates and dozens of other useful guides and resources for your business.

INSTRUCTIONS: Create your business center account. After logging in, scroll down to "TOOLS" and select "Free Legal Forms".

Create a Free Account

Frequently Asked Questions