Multi-Member LLC Operating Agreement — Colorado
Multi-Member LLC Operating Agreement (Colorado)
This Multi-Member Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into and made effective as of [__/__/____] (the "Effective Date") by and among the persons listed on Schedule A (each, a "Member" and collectively, the "Members") and [________________________________], a Colorado limited liability company (the "Company").
Quick-Reference Summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Company Name | [________________________________] |
| State of Formation | Colorado |
| Governing Statute | Colorado Limited Liability Company Act, C.R.S. §§ 7-80-101 to 7-80-1101 |
| Articles of Organization Filed | [__/__/____] |
| CO Secretary of State ID | [____________] |
| Principal Office | [________________________________] |
| Registered Agent | [________________________________] |
| Registered Office (CO street address) | [________________________________] |
| Number of Initial Members | [____] |
| Management Structure | ☐ Member-managed (default) ☐ Manager-managed |
| Default Voting Rule | Majority of Members (per capita) — C.R.S. § 7-80-401(1) |
| Default Profit/Loss Allocation | Per agreed value of contributions — C.R.S. § 7-80-503 |
| Charging Order Statute | C.R.S. § 7-80-703 (NOT expressly exclusive) |
| Series LLC Permitted | No |
| Annual Periodic Report | $25 (verify at coloradosos.gov) |
| Federal Tax Classification | ☐ Partnership (default) ☐ C-corp (Form 8832) ☐ S-corp (Form 2553) |
| Effective Date | [__/__/____] |
Article I — Formation
1.1 Formation. The Company was formed as a Colorado limited liability company on [__/__/____] by the filing of Articles of Organization with the Colorado Secretary of State pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-80-203. The Members adopt and ratify that filing.
1.2 Name. The name of the Company is "[________________________________]," which complies with the entity-name requirements of C.R.S. § 7-90-601 (including the required designation "limited liability company," "LLC," or "L.L.C.").
1.3 Principal Office. The principal office of the Company is located at [________________________________].
1.4 Registered Agent and Registered Office. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-90-701, the Company's registered agent is [________________________________], whose registered office address is [________________________________].
1.5 Duration. The Company's existence commenced when its Articles of Organization became effective (C.R.S. § 7-80-207) and continues until dissolved as provided in Article XIV or under C.R.S. § 7-80-801.
1.6 Operating Agreement Authority. This Agreement is the "operating agreement" within the meaning of C.R.S. § 7-80-102(11) and § 7-80-108. To the maximum extent permitted by Colorado law, this Agreement governs the rights, duties, limitations, and relations among the Members, any Managers, and the Company. The Company is bound by this Agreement under C.R.S. § 7-80-108(1)(b).
Article II — Purpose and Powers
2.1 Purpose. The Company is formed to engage in [________________________________] and any other lawful business or activity for which a limited liability company may be formed under Colorado law.
2.2 Powers. The Company has all powers granted to limited liability companies under C.R.S. § 7-80-104, including the powers to contract, hold property, sue and be sued, borrow, lend, and perform any act necessary or incidental to its business.
2.3 No Cannabis or Unlawful Activity. Nothing in this Agreement authorizes any business prohibited by Colorado or federal law.
Article III — Members and Membership Interests
3.1 Initial Members; Percentage Interests. The names, addresses, capital contributions, and Percentage Interests of the initial Members are set forth on Schedule A.
3.2 Nature of Membership Interest. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-80-702(1), a Member's interest is personal property. A Member has no interest in specific Company property.
3.3 Limited Liability. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-80-705, no Member or Manager is personally liable for the Company's debts, obligations, or other liabilities solely by reason of being a Member or Manager, except as expressly provided by Colorado law or by a written guaranty.
3.4 Admission of Additional Members. A new Member may be admitted only upon (a) unanimous written consent of the existing Members (C.R.S. § 7-80-701), (b) execution of a joinder to this Agreement, and (c) any amendment to Schedule A and to this Agreement reflecting the new Percentage Interests.
3.5 No Member Authority by Default in Manager-Managed Company. If the Company is Manager-managed (Section 7.1), a non-Manager Member has no agency authority to bind the Company in ordinary business transactions, except as expressly delegated by the Managers.
Article IV — Capital Contributions and Capital Accounts
4.1 Initial Capital Contributions. Each Member shall contribute on or before the Effective Date the cash, property, or services described opposite the Member's name on Schedule A. The agreed fair-market value of each non-cash contribution is also set forth on Schedule A.
4.2 Capital Accounts. The Company shall maintain a separate capital account for each Member in accordance with U.S. Treasury Regulations § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).
4.3 No Interest. No Member is entitled to interest on the Member's capital account or capital contributions.
4.4 No Withdrawal of Capital. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no Member may withdraw any portion of the Member's capital contribution without unanimous written consent.
4.5 Liability for Contributions. A promise by a Member to contribute is enforceable under C.R.S. § 7-80-502 only if it is in a writing signed by that Member. An enforceable promise remains binding even if the Member is unable to perform because of death, disability, or another reason.
Article V — Capital Calls
5.1 Additional Capital Calls — Optional. No Member is obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as required under Section 4.5 or by unanimous written agreement of the Members.
5.2 Procedure for Voluntary Capital Calls. If the Members determine by [☐ Majority / ☐ Supermajority (___%) / ☐ Unanimous] vote that additional capital is needed, the Company shall deliver a written capital-call notice specifying:
(a) the aggregate amount called;
(b) each Member's pro-rata share;
(c) the due date (not less than [____] days after notice); and
(d) the consequences of failure to fund.
5.3 Remedies for Failure to Fund. A Member who fails to fund within the time required is a "Delinquent Member." The non-delinquent Members may elect any one or more of the following remedies:
(a) treat the unfunded amount as a demand loan from the contributing Members at [____]% per annum (or the maximum lawful rate);
(b) dilute the Delinquent Member's Percentage Interest pro rata in proportion to the cash actually contributed;
(c) purchase the Delinquent Member's interest at [____]% of fair market value; or
(d) any other remedy at law or equity not inconsistent with this Agreement.
Article VI — Allocations and Distributions
6.1 Allocations. All items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests, subject to the regulatory allocations required by Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b) and § 1.704-2.
6.2 Distributions. Subject to Section 6.4, the Company shall distribute cash and other property to the Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests at the times and in the amounts determined by [☐ the Managers / ☐ a Majority of the Members].
6.3 Tax Distributions. Unless waived by unanimous consent, the Company shall distribute to each Member, no later than [____] days before each estimated-tax due date, an amount equal to the Member's allocated share of taxable income multiplied by the assumed tax rate of [____]% (combined federal and Colorado).
6.4 Limitations on Distributions. No distribution shall be made if, after giving effect to it, the Company's liabilities (other than liabilities to Members on account of their membership interests and liabilities for which creditor recourse is limited to specific Company property) would exceed the fair value of the Company's assets. C.R.S. § 7-80-606(1). A Member who receives a distribution and who knew at the time that the distribution violated this Section is liable to the Company for the amount of the distribution; a Member who did not know is not liable. C.R.S. § 7-80-606(2). This liability runs to the Company, not directly to the Company's creditors. See Weinstein v. Colborne Foodbotics, LLC, 302 P.3d 263 (Colo. 2013). Unless otherwise agreed, § 7-80-606(3) ends that liability after three years unless an action was commenced within the three-year period and liability was adjudicated in that action.
6.5 Federal Tax Classification. Unless and until otherwise elected, the Company is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes under Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-3.
Article VII — Management
7.1 Management Structure. The Company is (check one):
☐ Member-managed under C.R.S. § 7-80-401. Decisions are made by a Majority of the Members, except as provided in Section 7.3 or 8.2.
☐ Manager-managed. The initial Manager(s) is/are [________________________________]. The Manager(s) shall serve until removal under Section 7.5 or resignation. Decisions reserved to the Members under Section 8.2 require Member action.
7.2 Authority of Managers / Managing Members. Subject to Sections 7.3 and 8.2, the Manager(s) (or in a member-managed Company, a Majority of the Members) may:
(a) execute and deliver contracts, deeds, leases, notes, security agreements, and other instruments in the Company's name;
(b) open, maintain, and close bank, brokerage, and credit accounts;
(c) hire, supervise, and terminate employees, independent contractors, and agents;
(d) acquire, hold, encumber, and dispose of property;
(e) borrow money and incur indebtedness; and
(f) institute, defend, settle, and compromise legal actions.
7.3 Major Decisions Requiring [Supermajority / Unanimous] Consent. Except for actions governed by Section 8.2, the following actions require the written consent of Members holding at least [____]% of the Percentage Interests:
(a) admitting a new Member;
(b) merger, conversion, sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or dissolution;
(c) incurring indebtedness in excess of $[____];
(d) issuing or redeeming any membership interest; or
(e) making a tax election under Subchapter K or changing federal tax classification.
7.4 Compensation. Managers and Managing Members may receive reasonable compensation as approved by the non-affiliated Members.
7.5 Removal of Managers. Any Manager may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by Members holding at least [____]% of the Percentage Interests.
Article VIII — Voting Rights and Member Meetings
8.1 Default Voting Rule. Except where this Agreement requires a different vote, decisions are made by a Majority of the Members (counted per capita under C.R.S. § 7-80-401(1)).
8.2 Matters Requiring Unanimous Consent Under This Agreement. The unanimous written consent of all Members is required to:
(a) amend the Articles of Organization;
(b) amend this Agreement; and
(c) authorize an act not in the ordinary course of the Company's business.
8.3 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the Members shall be held on [____________] of each year, at the Company's principal office or by remote communication.
8.4 Special Meetings. A special meeting may be called by any Manager or by Members holding at least [____]% of the Percentage Interests, on not less than [____] days' written notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
8.5 Action Without Meeting. Any action that may be taken at a meeting may be taken without a meeting by written or electronic consent signed by the Members holding the percentage required to approve the action.
8.6 Quorum. Members holding at least [____]% of the Percentage Interests constitute a quorum.
8.7 Proxies. A Member may vote by proxy executed in writing or by electronic transmission.
Article IX — Fiduciary Duties and Standards of Conduct
9.1 Statutory Standards. Each Member of a member-managed Company, and each Manager of a manager-managed Company, owes the Company and the other Members the duties of loyalty and care set forth in C.R.S. § 7-80-404, and the obligation of good faith and fair dealing under C.R.S. § 7-80-404(3).
9.2 Permitted Modification. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-80-108(1.5), the Members agree that the duties set forth in C.R.S. § 7-80-404 are modified as follows, provided that no such modification is manifestly unreasonable and the obligation of good faith and fair dealing is not eliminated:
(a) Outside Activities. Each Member and Manager may engage in any business or investment (including businesses that compete with the Company), and is not required to offer business opportunities to the Company, except for opportunities that arise from the use of Company resources or in the Member's or Manager's capacity as such.
(b) Self-Interested Transactions. A transaction between the Company and a Member or Manager (or an Affiliate) is not voidable solely by reason of the relationship if (i) it is approved or ratified, after disclosure of material facts, by Members or Managers who are not interested in the transaction, or (ii) it is fair to the Company at the time entered into.
9.3 Standards Not Subject to Modification. Nothing in this Article eliminates:
(a) the obligation of good faith and fair dealing (C.R.S. § 7-80-108(2)(d));
(b) liability for intentional misconduct, knowing violation of law, or improper personal benefit; or
(c) any other duty made nonwaivable by C.R.S. § 7-80-108(2).
9.4 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify each Member and Manager to the fullest extent permitted by C.R.S. § 7-80-407, except for claims arising from conduct described in Section 9.3(b).
Article X — Transfer Restrictions, ROFR, Tag-Along, Drag-Along
10.1 General Transfer Restriction. No Member may sell, assign, pledge, encumber, or otherwise transfer all or any part of the Member's membership interest, except in accordance with this Article. A transferee acquires only the economic rights of a transferee under C.R.S. § 7-80-702, and not the rights of a Member, unless admitted under Section 3.4.
10.2 Permitted Transfers. A Member may transfer all or any part of the Member's interest, without other Member consent, to:
(a) a revocable living trust of which the Member is the settlor;
(b) the Member's spouse, descendants, or a trust for the benefit of any of them; or
(c) an entity wholly owned by the Member, provided the Member retains beneficial ownership.
The transferee shall execute a joinder agreeing to be bound by this Agreement.
10.3 Right of First Refusal (ROFR). If a Member ("Selling Member") receives a bona fide third-party offer to purchase all or part of the Member's interest, the Selling Member shall deliver written notice to the Company and the other Members ("ROFR Notice"), including a copy of the offer, the price, and material terms. The Company shall have [____] days to elect to purchase, and thereafter each non-selling Member shall have [____] additional days to elect to purchase its pro-rata share of any interest not purchased by the Company.
10.4 Tag-Along. If Members holding more than 50% of the Percentage Interests propose to sell their interests to a third party in a single transaction or series of related transactions, the other Members may elect, by written notice within [____] days, to "tag along" and sell their pro-rata portion on the same terms.
10.5 Drag-Along. If Members holding at least [____]% of the Percentage Interests approve a sale of all of the membership interests or substantially all of the Company's assets to a bona fide third-party purchaser, the remaining Members shall, on written notice, sell their interests on the same terms (subject to customary exceptions for representations and indemnities not pro-rata).
10.6 Spousal Consent. Each Member who is married shall obtain the spouse's written consent to this Agreement, in the form attached as Schedule B, acknowledging the transfer restrictions and the spouse's lack of management or transfer rights.
Article XI — Buy-Sell Provisions
11.1 Triggering Events. A "Triggering Event" with respect to a Member occurs upon the Member's:
(a) death;
(b) Permanent Disability (as defined in Section 11.7);
(c) bankruptcy or assignment for the benefit of creditors;
(d) divorce in which the Member's interest is, or is at risk of being, awarded in whole or in part to the non-Member spouse;
(e) attempted transfer in violation of Article X; or
(f) Voluntary Withdrawal (subject to Section 11.6).
11.2 Company First Right; Other Members Second. Upon a Triggering Event, the Company has the option (but not obligation) for [____] days to purchase all of the affected Member's interest. Any unexercised portion may be purchased by the non-affected Members pro rata for an additional [____] days.
11.3 Purchase Price. The purchase price shall be (check one):
☐ Fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser under Section 11.5;
☐ Book value as of the end of the month preceding the Triggering Event;
☐ A formula equal to [____ × trailing-12-month EBITDA] less debt; or
☐ The price most recently agreed by the Members at the annual meeting.
11.4 Payment Terms. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the purchase price shall be paid [____]% in cash at closing and the balance by a [____]-year promissory note bearing interest at [____]% per annum, with equal [☐ monthly / ☐ quarterly / ☐ annual] installments of principal and interest.
11.5 Appraisal Procedure. If fair market value is required, the Company and the affected Member (or representative) shall each select an appraiser; if the appraisers' values differ by 10% or less, the average controls; otherwise the two appraisers select a third, whose appraisal controls.
11.6 Voluntary Withdrawal. A Member may not voluntarily withdraw prior to dissolution except with the unanimous consent of the other Members.
11.7 Permanent Disability Defined. "Permanent Disability" means a Member's inability, by reason of physical or mental impairment, to perform the Member's customary services to the Company for [____] consecutive days or [____] days in any 12-month period, as determined by a physician selected by the Company.
Article XII — Charging Order (C.R.S. § 7-80-703)
12.1 Statutory Charging Order. Under C.R.S. § 7-80-703, a court may charge a Member's interest to satisfy a judgment, appoint a receiver for distributions, and make appropriate related orders. To the extent charged, the judgment creditor has the rights of an assignee or transferee, subject to the statute. A charging order alone does not admit the creditor as a Member or confer Member voting or management rights.
12.2 Foreclosure and Redemption. A charged interest may be redeemed before foreclosure, and a court may direct its sale under C.R.S. § 7-80-703. This Agreement does not limit a judgment creditor's remedies under that section.
12.3 Information Rights. A charging order alone does not grant the holder a Member's inspection rights under C.R.S. § 7-80-408. The court may order accounts and inquiries under C.R.S. § 7-80-703 as the circumstances require.
12.4 Continuation Despite Charging Order. A charging order against a Member's interest is not a dissolution event and does not cause the Member's dissociation.
Article XIII — Deadlock and Dispute Resolution
13.1 Deadlock Defined. A "Deadlock" exists if (a) the Members or Managers are unable to reach the required vote on any Major Decision (Section 7.3) for [____] consecutive days after a matter is first put to a vote, or (b) any meeting of the Members fails to achieve a quorum twice in succession.
13.2 Mediation. Before pursuing any remedy in Section 13.3 or 13.4, the Members shall participate in good-faith mediation administered by [☐ JAMS / ☐ AAA / ☐ a mediator in Denver, Colorado] for at least one session.
13.3 Buy-Sell Election ("Texas Shoot-Out") (Optional). If Deadlock continues for [____] days after mediation, any Member ("Initiating Member") may deliver a written offer ("Offer Notice") to the other Members specifying a price per 1% Percentage Interest. Within [____] days, each receiving Member must elect either (a) to sell its entire interest to the Initiating Member at the stated price, or (b) to buy the Initiating Member's entire interest at the stated price. If multiple Members elect to buy, they shall purchase pro rata.
13.4 Judicial Dissolution. Under C.R.S. § 7-80-810(2), a Member or Manager may petition a Colorado district court for judicial dissolution on the grounds that it is "not reasonably practicable to carry on the business of the [Company] in conformity with the operating agreement" of the Company.
13.5 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by Colorado law without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles.
13.6 Venue. Subject to Section 13.7, exclusive venue lies in the District Court for [____________] County, Colorado, or the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
13.7 Arbitration (Optional). ☐ Any dispute arising under this Agreement (other than a petition for injunctive relief or judicial dissolution) shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by [☐ JAMS / ☐ AAA] in Denver, Colorado, before [☐ one / ☐ three] arbitrator(s). Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Article XIV — Dissolution and Winding Up
14.1 Events Causing Dissolution. The Company is dissolved on the first to occur of:
(a) the agreement of all Members, or the affirmative vote of Members holding at least [____]% of the Percentage Interests if adopted as an event under this Agreement (default: agreement of all Members, C.R.S. § 7-80-801(1)(a));
(b) the occurrence of any event stated in this Agreement (C.R.S. § 7-80-801(1)(b));
(c) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under C.R.S. § 7-80-810; or
(d) dissolution after at least three years of uncured delinquency if a Manager elects that route and files a statement of dissolution of delinquent entity under C.R.S. § 7-90-908; delinquency alone does not dissolve the Company.
14.2 Continuation Despite Dissociation. The death, bankruptcy, dissociation, or expulsion of a Member does not, by itself, cause dissolution.
14.3 Winding Up. Upon dissolution, the Company continues its existence but may not carry on business except as appropriate to wind up and liquidate, including collecting assets, disposing of property not distributed in kind, discharging or making provision for liabilities, and distributing remaining property among the Members (C.R.S. § 7-80-803(1)). Subject to Section 6.4, the Members agree to the following contractual order for distributions; § 7-80-803 does not itself create a separate priority for accrued Member distributions:
(a) to creditors (including Members who are creditors), in the order of priority required by law;
(b) to the establishment of any reserve reasonably deemed necessary;
(c) to Members in satisfaction of accrued but unpaid distributions; and
(d) to Members in proportion to positive capital-account balances.
14.4 Statement of Dissolution. The Company shall file a Statement of Dissolution with the Colorado Secretary of State under C.R.S. § 7-80-802.
Article XV — State-Specific Provisions
15.1 Periodic Report. The Company shall file its annual Periodic Report with the Colorado Secretary of State pursuant to C.R.S. § 7-90-501. Check the Company's Periodic Report month in the Secretary of State record; it may differ from the formation anniversary month. The Secretary of State permits filing from two months before through two months after that report month without a penalty. The filing fee is $25 as of this review; confirm the current fee before filing.
15.2 Colorado Income Tax. If the Company is taxed as a partnership, it shall file the required Colorado partnership return and, for tax years beginning in 2024 or later, generally file a composite return and make a composite payment for covered nonresident Members under C.R.S. § 39-22-601(5.5). The payment is calculated from those Members' Colorado-source distributive income shares, subject to the statute's exclusions. A nonresident Member with a timely agreement under subsection (5.5)(e) is excluded from the composite return. Distributions are not the tax base for this payment.
15.3 No Series LLC. The Members acknowledge that Colorado does not authorize series limited liability companies. Any segregation of assets among internal "series" within this Company has no statutory liability-shielding effect under Colorado law.
15.4 Trade Name; DBA. Any "doing business as" name used by the Company shall be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State under C.R.S. § 7-71-103.
15.5 Articles Override. To the extent the Articles of Organization and this Agreement conflict, this Agreement controls as among the Members and the Company (C.R.S. § 7-80-108(1)(a)); third parties dealing with the Company are entitled to rely on the publicly filed Articles of Organization.
Article XVI — General Provisions
16.1 Notices. All notices shall be in writing and delivered by hand, certified mail, recognized overnight courier, or email (with confirmation) to the addresses on Schedule A.
16.2 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by all Members (C.R.S. § 7-80-401(2)(b)).
16.3 Entire Agreement; Merger. This Agreement, together with the Articles of Organization and the schedules and exhibits hereto, constitutes the entire agreement among the Members with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral.
16.4 Severability. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be limited or construed under C.R.S. § 7-80-108(2.5)(b) so as to be valid, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.
16.5 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, including by electronic signature under C.R.S. § 24-71.3-101 et seq.
16.6 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except for indemnified persons under Section 9.4, this Agreement creates no rights in any person other than the Members and the Company.
16.7 Construction. Captions are for convenience only. Words of any gender include all genders; singular includes plural.
Signature Block
THE COMPANY
[________________________________], a Colorado limited liability company
By: [________________________________]
Name: [________________________________]
Title: [☐ Managing Member / ☐ Manager]
Date: [__/__/____]
MEMBERS
Member 1: [________________________________]
Signature: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Member 2: [________________________________]
Signature: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
Member 3: [________________________________]
Signature: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]
SPOUSAL CONSENT (See Schedule B)
Each married Member shall obtain spousal acknowledgment of this Agreement in the form attached as Schedule B.
Pre-Execution Checklist
☐ Articles of Organization filed with Colorado Secretary of State (C.R.S. § 7-80-203)
☐ EIN obtained from IRS (Form SS-4)
☐ Colorado Department of Revenue registration completed (sales/use tax, wage withholding, as applicable)
☐ Registered agent identified with Colorado street address
☐ Schedule A (Members, Capital Contributions, Percentage Interests) completed
☐ Schedule B (Spousal Consent) signed by each married Member's spouse
☐ Operating Agreement reviewed by Colorado-licensed counsel
☐ Initial capital contributions deposited to Company bank account
☐ Federal tax classification confirmed (Form 8832 / Form 2553 filed if applicable)
☐ Buy-sell valuation method selected (Section 11.3)
☐ Major-Decision threshold completed (Section 7.3)
☐ Initial Periodic Report month calendared (CO SOS — C.R.S. § 7-90-501)
☐ Business Personal Property and local license filings identified
☐ D&O / E&O / general liability insurance obtained
Sources and References
- Colorado Limited Liability Company Act — C.R.S. Title 7, Article 80: https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes
- Colorado Secretary of State, Business Filings: https://www.coloradosos.gov/biz/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-108 (Effect of operating agreement): https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-7/limited-liability-companies/article-80/part-1/section-7-80-108/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-401 (Management): https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-7-corporations-and-associations/co-rev-st-sect-7-80-401/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-503 (Sharing of profits and losses): https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-7/limited-liability-companies/article-80/part-5/section-7-80-503/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-606 (Limitations on distribution): https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-7-corporations-and-associations/co-rev-st-sect-7-80-606/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-702 (Interest in LLC; transferability): https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-7/limited-liability-companies/article-80/part-7/section-7-80-702/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-703 (Charging order): https://chargingorder.com/index.php?n=Site.StateColorado
- C.R.S. § 7-80-801 (Dissolution — time and notice): https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-7-corporations-and-associations/co-rev-st-sect-7-80-801/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-802 (Statement of dissolution): https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-7-corporations-and-associations/co-rev-st-sect-7-80-802/
- C.R.S. § 7-80-810 (Judicial dissolution): https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-7-corporations-and-associations/co-rev-st-sect-7-80-810/
- Weinstein v. Colborne Foodbotics, LLC, 302 P.3d 263 (Colo. 2013): https://law.justia.com/cases/colorado/supreme-court/2013/10sc143.html
- Colorado Periodic Report FAQ: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/FAQs/reports.html
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Partnership returns: https://tax.colorado.gov/partnerships-and-s-corporations
About this template
- Last updated
- October 28, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Colorado
- Category
- Business Formation
Legal authority
- Colorado Limited Liability Company Act, C.R.S. §§ 7-80-101 to 7-80-1101
- C.R.S. § 7-80-108 (Effect of operating agreement; nonwaivable provisions; statute of frauds)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-203 (Formation)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-401 (Management of limited liability company; default majority rule)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-404 (Duties of members and managers — loyalty, care, and good faith and fair dealing)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-408 (Access to and confidentiality of information; records; accounting)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-702 (Interest in limited liability company; personal property; transferability of interest)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-503 (Sharing of profits and losses — allocated per value of contributions absent contrary agreement)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-606 (Limitations on distribution)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-703 (Rights of creditor against a member; charging order)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-801 (Dissolution — time and notice)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-802 (Statement of dissolution)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-803 (Effect of dissolution and winding up)
- C.R.S. § 7-80-810 (Judicial dissolution)
- C.R.S. § 7-90-501 (Periodic report requirement)
Starting a business means choosing a legal structure and filing the right paperwork to make it official. LLCs, corporations, and partnerships each have different tax, liability, and governance rules, and each state has its own filing forms and fees. Getting these documents right at the start protects your personal assets, sets up clean ownership terms between founders, and avoids expensive fixes later.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
The statutes this template relies on are listed under Legal authority.
C.R.S. § 39-22-601(5.5)(d)(I)-(III), (e), (f) (checked October 28, 2026): "every partnership required to file a return under subsection (5.5)(a) of this section shall also file a composite return and make a composite payment of tax"
C.R.S. § 7-80-803(1) (checked October 22, 2026): "Discharging or making provision for discharging its liabilities; (d) Distributing its remaining property among its members"
C.R.S. § 7-80-606(3) (checked October 21, 2026): "Unless otherwise agreed, a member who receives a distribution from a limited liability company shall have no liability under this article or other applicable law for the amount of the distribution after the expiration of three years from the date of the distribution unless an action to recover the distribution from such member is commenced prior to the expiration of the said three-year period and an adjudication of liability against such member is made in the said action."
C.R.S. § 7-80-108(1)(a) (checked October 21, 2026): "Such provisions shall control over any provision of this article to the contrary except as set forth in subsection (1.5), (2), or (3) of this section. To the extent the operating agreement does not otherwise provide, this article shall control."
Draft your Multi-Member LLC Operating Agreement — Colorado in the editor
Answer a few questions, let the AI editor draft each section from your answers, review it, and download Word and PDF. $99 one time, or $249 per month for every document and every Ezel app.