A New Hampshire LLC Operating Agreement, in plain language, acts as a custom-made map for your LLC, creating a transparent framework for its functionality. Imagine us chatting amicably over coffee, and I explain it as your bespoke handbook that spells out the guidelines of running your business, covering factors like ownership allocation, decision-making methodology, and strategies for leadership transitions.
Within this agreement, adhering to New Hampshire's LLC regulations, you'll pinpoint essential components such as the responsibilities of members, the process of decision-making, and approaches for ironing out conflicts. Essentially, you're devising a fail-safe guide to preempt potential confusion, empowering you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate your entrepreneurial journey.
No, it's not legally required in New Hampshire under § 304-C:16. Single-member LLCs need an operating agreement to preserve their corporate veil and to prove ownership. And multi-member LLCs need one to help provide operating guidance, determine voting rights and contributions.
Read on to learn more about New Hampshire operating agreements, including:
Here are some key components that are typically included in a New Hampshire LLC operating agreement:
Let's navigate through the standard clauses and provide some example language for each to help steer you in the right direction:
By this stage, you're likely acquainted with your LLC's name, which is the one you chose when you registered your LLC formation document with your governing state. Concurrently, it's pivotal to articulate the objective of your LLC. There's no need for intricate details – a more generalized statement can open doors for your business to embark on fresh ventures without necessitating a refiling.
OPERATING AGREEMENT of [COMPANY NAME]
This operating agreement is adopted as of [Date] (the “Effective Date”), by [Member’s Name] , an individual and the sole member (the “Member”) of [Company Name] (the “Company”).
The Member hereby adopts this agreement as the operating agreement of the Company, which agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the Member regarding its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements regarding its subject matter.
The purpose of the Company is [ Company Purpose] , and the conduct of other activities as may be necessary or appropriate to promote the stated purposes, and to engage in any other lawful business or activity for which a limited liability company may be organized under the Act.
Here's where you designate if your LLC is going to be member or manager-managed. This clause also delineates each member's rights and responsibilities, covering elements such as capital contributions, voting entitlements, and the administrative framework. Regardless of seemingly redundant as the only member, this is key to establish your single-member LLC.
The business and affairs of the Company will be managed by the Member. The vote, action, decision, or consent of the Member will constitute a valid decision of the Member and the Company. The Member may appoint one or more officers (including the Member, if the Member is an individual) who will have such powers and authority to act on behalf of the Company granted to them by the Member.
The business and affairs of the Company will be managed by the manager of the Company and any successor thereto appointed by the Member, which manager may also be referred to as the Company’s president (the “Manager”). The initial Manager will be [Manager Name] , who will serve until the Manager’s death, removal by the Member (for any reason or no reason), or resignation. The Manager will have the right and authority to manage the affairs of the Company and make decisions and take action with respect thereto without further approval or consent of any kind by the Member. Except as otherwise required by this agreement and in lieu of any limitations set forth in [State Name] ’s laws for limited liability companies (the “Act”), the Manager will be solely responsible for and is hereby authorized to manage and operate the business of the Company. Except to the extent that the authority of the Manager is expressly limited by the Member, the vote, action, decision, or consent of the Manager will constitute a valid decision of the Manager and the Company.
The registered agent is charged with accepting and handling important paperwork on behalf of your organization. While some LLC operating agreements incorporate this, it isn't strictly indispensable because this information is documented in your formation records that you lodge with your administrating state.
The Company’s registered agent in State is: Registered Agent Name , Address . The members may designate other registered agents or offices at any time in this state or, if necessary, in other states.
Imagine the "term of an LLC" as your Limited Liability Company's lifespan. It is essentially the period your LLC is planned to exist, as outlined in your formation documents. Although numerous entrepreneurs form LLCs intending for their perpetual existence, you may also choose to designate a finite term or expiration date for your LLC.
Most states, including New Hampshire, perceive LLCs as "perpetual" by default, meaning they can subsist indefinitely. Therefore, typically, most LLCs in New Hampshire opt for a continuous lifespan.
The duration of the Company will be perpetual.
Capital contributions are the monetary resources, assets or services you supply to your LLC to propel its operations - think of this as the inaugural injection of capital to fuel your business. For single-member LLCs, all capital contributions can solely come from you, the owner, granting you the liberty to decide the amount of money or assets you wish to channel into your venture.
Properly recording your capital contributions is indispensable. Solid documentation offers a transparent view of your business's financial architecture and can furnish crucial information for tax computations.
The Member’s capital contribution(s) to the capital of the Company for the Member’s membership interest in the Company will be reflected on the books and records of the Company.
The members have made or shall make the contributions of cash, property or services to the LLC as set forth on Exhibit A attached
Indemnification clauses in an LLC's Operating Agreement function as a safeguard, shielding the company's members from certain expenses associated with legal hassles that could originate from their services to the company. In essence, the LLC will bear any legal charges or damages if a member is sued for matters connected to their responsibilities within the business.
The agreement must lucidly determine when and under what conditions will the LLC extend this protection, along with any caveats. Customarily, indemnification wouldn't encompass deliberate malfeasance or gross negligence. Customizing these clauses to match your business's unique risks is crucial to ensure sufficient protection.
The Member, the Manager, the officers, and the organizer of the Company and their respective affiliates, stockholders, members, managers, directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, trustees, and representatives (individually, an “Indemnitee”) will be indemnified by the Company against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise by reason of the Indemnitee’s status as any of the foregoing, which relates to or arises out of the Company or its assets, business, or affairs, if in each of the foregoing cases (A) the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, and (B) the Indemnitee’s conduct did not constitute gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, will not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified in clause (A) or (B) above. Any indemnification under this section 5 will be made only out of the assets of the Company, and the Member will not have any personal liability on account thereof.
In New Hampshire, the tax status of your LLC can fall into one of four categories: sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation, or C corporation. The tax status chosen depends on the number of members and your business's election with the IRS.
Your LLC's operating agreement should feature the sections related to tax status, including segments discussing your chosen tax status, any potential changes, and the process of handling tax returns and allocations. This equips your LLC with a strategic plan for business finance management, considering profits, losses, dividends, or taxes, and providing a clear procedure for any tax situations your business might encounter in the future.
The Company will be disregarded for federal and state income tax purposes. The admission of one or more additional members, however, will cause the Company to be recognized for tax purposes, and to be taxed, as a partnership.
The Member acknowledges that the Company has elected to be taxed as a corporation for federal tax purposes pursuant to the regulations currently in effect under Section 7701 of the Code, and to be taxed as an electing small business corporation under the provisions of Subchapter S of the Code. Notwithstanding such tax treatment, the Member acknowledges and agrees that the Company will be a limited liability company, for state law purposes, under the provisions of the Act, the Articles of Organization, and this operating agreement.
The Member acknowledges that the Company has filed or will timely file a Form 2553 (Election by a Small Business Corporation) with the Internal Revenue Service and that the election made pursuant to the filing is or will be in force and effect covering all periods since the date of this operating agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this operating agreement, during the term of this operating agreement and the continuation of the Company’s “S” corporation election under Section 1362 of the Internal Revenue Code, no Member shall take any action which would cause the revocation or termination of the Company’s “S” election (under Section 1362(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) and any attempt to take such an action will be null and void and without effect. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, any transfer or attempt to transfer any membership interest to any of the following will be null, void, and without effect:
(a) a person whose ownership thereof would cause the Company to have a number of Members and assignees of membership interests (shareholders of an “S” corporation) greater than the number permitted by Section 1361(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(b) an individual who is not a United States citizen or resident;
(c) a trust (or the trustee thereof) which fails to satisfy the requirements of Section 1361(c)(2)(A) or 1361(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(d) a corporation; and
(e)any other entity whose ownership would cause the termination or revocation of the Company’s tax status as an “S” corporation.
This clause outlines how and when your LLC will distribute the income generated. For single-member LLCs, this might not be of much importance. However, for multi-member LLCs, you'd want to firmly specify the timeline, requirements, and process for the distributions.
As the sole member of the LLC, the Member is entitled to all profits of the LLC and is responsible for all its losses. Profits and losses shall be determined annually and will be allocated to the Member's capital account. Distributions of cash or other assets will be made at such times and in such amounts as deemed appropriate by the Member.
Wondering how to modify any part of your LLC? The answer is straightforward - adhere to your LLC amendment clause. For single-member LLCs, the process is relatively straightforward. However, for multi-member LLCs, you should stress outlining voting percentages and requirements for amending the operating agreement.
This agreement and the articles of organization of the Company may not be altered, modified, or changed, and no provision of this agreement may be waived, except by an amendment or waiver, as applicable, approved by the Member.
Maybe you didn't know, but LLCs typically don't need to abide by corporate formalities. That's more so a corporation thing. However, overlooking these formalities in specific circumstances could jeopardize the maintenance of your corporate veil. Hence, it would be beneficial to include a waiver of all formalities in your operating agreement.
The failure of the Company or the Member to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this operating agreement or the laws in the state in which the Company is which govern limited liability companies will not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Member for liabilities of the Company.
Let's face it, not everything always goes as planned. Your dissolution clause serves as a contingency plan outlining the strategy to wind up your LLC and establishes the party that maintains control of the LLC if you're unable to do so.
Upon the occurrence of any event which terminates the continued membership of the Member in the Company, the Company will not be dissolved, and the business of the Company will continue. The Member hereby specifically consents to such continuation of the business of the Company upon any such event. The Member’s legal representative, assignee, or successor will automatically become an assignee of the Member’s interest and will automatically become a substitute Member in place of the withdrawn Member.
Another important aspect of your LLC's operating agreement is selecting the effective date or the day that your agreement starts to have power- in other words, when it "takes effect."
Fantastic news! The operating agreement doesn't have to be officially filed. Unlike your LLC's Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation, depending on your state), your operating agreement is an internal source of documentation that you keep with your company records. Just endorse it and keep a copy ready for when you need it.
Picture this; your small enterprise has experienced a growth spurt, and you're ready to welcome a new member to your LLC. In this exciting phase of expansion, you'll need to revisit and amend the agreement considering the terms agreed by you and your new partner. Most likely, you'll need to draft a new agreement since a multi-member operating agreement varies considerably from a single-member operating agreement.
