Colorado LLC Operating Agreement
Set out who owns your Colorado LLC, who manages it, and how profits are split — and download a print-ready PDF. Single-member or multi-member. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Colorado LLC act rules · as of 2026
- Required by law?
- No — but strongly recommended
- Recognized form
- written or oral — 'Except as otherwise provided in this article or as otherwise required by a written operating agreement, the operating agreement need not be in writing'
- Governing act
- Colorado Limited Liability Company Act
Without an agreement: Profits and losses are allocated among members 'on the basis of the value, as stated in the limited liability company records..., of the contributions made by each member' — pro rata by contribution, not per capita (C.R.S. § 7-80-503). Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a) · verify ↗.
Live preview · updates as you type
Operating Agreement
of __________ · State of Colorado
This Operating Agreement (the "Agreement") is made effective __________ by the member(s) of __________ (the "Company"), a limited liability company organized under the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act, with its principal office at __________ .
1. Formation & purpose. The Company was formed under Colorado law by filing its formation document with the state. Its purpose is: __________ , and any other lawful activity under the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act.
2. Members & ownership. The membership interests are: __________ — ____%; __________ — ____%; __________ — ____%; __________ — ____%. For a single-member company, the sole member holds 100% and the second line is left blank.
3. Management. The Company is __________ . If manager-managed, the manager is __________ , who may bind the Company in the ordinary course of business; major decisions (admitting members, selling substantially all assets, dissolution, amending this Agreement) require the consent of members holding a majority of the membership interests.
4. Capital contributions. The members have contributed: __________ . No member is required to make additional contributions without their written consent.
5. Allocations & distributions. Profits and losses are allocated, and distributions made, in proportion to the ownership percentages in Section 2, at the times the members (or manager) determine, subject to the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act's limits on distributions.
6. Records, amendment & law. The Company keeps its records at the principal office; each member may inspect them. This Agreement may be amended only in writing signed by all members. It is governed byColorado law and is binding on the members, their successors, and assigns.
Generated with SealFormsReflects Colorado law · verified 2026
Why your Colorado LLC needs this — even single-member
- It overrides the default rules. Without an agreement, the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act decides how profits are split and who can act for the company — not you.
- It protects limited liability. A written agreement is core evidence that the LLC is a real, separate entity.
- Banks and lenders ask for it. Opening a business account or getting a loan routinely requires it.
Colorado law
No — Colorado does not require an operating agreement (as of 2026): Not required. The act defines the operating agreement as 'any agreement of all of the members as to the affairs of a limited liability company'; if none exists, the article's default rules govern.. But without one, the default rules of the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act decide ownership, management, and profit questions for you — which is why one is strongly recommended even for single-member LLCs. Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a). Check the current Colorado LLC rules before relying on any default.
Frequently asked questions
Is an operating agreement required in Colorado?
No — Colorado does not require an operating agreement (as of 2026): Not required. The act defines the operating agreement as 'any agreement of all of the members as to the affairs of a limited liability company'; if none exists, the article's default rules govern.. But without one, the default rules of the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act decide ownership, management, and profit questions for you — which is why one is strongly recommended even for single-member LLCs. Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a).
Does a single-member LLC need an operating agreement?
It is not usually legally required, but yes in practice: a written agreement helps prove the LLC is a separate entity (protecting limited liability), is routinely requested by banks and lenders, and controls what happens if you bring in a partner or pass the business on. For a single member, it is a short document — this template works for that case.
Does the operating agreement get filed with the state?
No. Unlike the formation certificate (articles of organization), the operating agreement is an internal document — you sign it, keep it with your records, and give each member a copy. Banks, lenders, and courts may ask to see it, but no Colorado agency records it.
Can the agreement be oral in Colorado?
Colorado's statute recognizes: written or oral — 'Except as otherwise provided in this article or as otherwise required by a written operating agreement, the operating agreement need not be in writing' (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a)). Even where oral or implied agreements count, put yours in writing — proving an oral term in a dispute between members is exactly the fight the document exists to prevent.
How does Colorado compare? See which states actually require an operating agreement, every claim cited to the state LLC act.
How Colorado compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-102(11)(a) ↗.
- Colorado is one of 47 of 51 jurisdictions that leave the operating agreement optional (statutory default rules apply without one) (4 require an LLC to have an operating agreement).
LLC operating agreement in other states
More Colorado legal forms
Different state? See LLC operating agreements by state →