Free LLC Operating Agreement

OPERATING AGREEMENT
of
________________________________________

This Operating Agreement (the "Agreement") made and entered into this ___________ day of ____________________, ______________

BY:

___________________ of ________________________________

(the "Member").

BACKGROUND:

1. The Member wishes to be the sole member of a limited liability company.
   
2. The terms and conditions of this Agreement will govern the Member within the limited liability company.
   

IN CONSIDERATION OF and as a condition of the Member entering into this Agreement and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged, the Member agrees as follows:

1. Formation
   
1. By this Agreement, the Member forms a Limited Liability Company (the "Company") in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. The rights and obligations of the Member will be as stated in Chapter 1705 of the Ohio Revised Code (the "Act") except as otherwise provided in this agreement.
   
2. Name
   
2. The name of the Company will be ________________________________________
   
3. Sole Member
   
3. While the Company consists only of one Member, any reference in this Agreement to two or more Members and that requires the majority consent or unanimous consent of Members, or that requires a certain percentage vote of Members, should be interpreted as only requiring the consent or vote of the sole Member.
   
4. Purpose
   
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   
5. Term
   
5. The Company will continue until terminated as provided in this Agreement or may dissolve under conditions provided in the Act.
   
6. Place of Business
   
6. The Principal Office of the Company will be located at _______________________________________________________ or such other place as the Member may from time to time designate.
   
7. Capital Contributions
   
7. The following table shows the Initial Contributions of the initial Member. The Member agrees to make the Initial Contributions to the Company in full, according to the following terms:
   
   

   Member	Contribution Description	Value of Contribution
   ___________________	_____________________________________________________________________________________________	$ _____________

   
   

8. Allocation of Profits/Losses
   
8. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Net Profits or Losses, for both accounting and tax purposes, will accrue to and be borne by the sole Member:
   
   ___________________ of ________________________________
   
9. Where the Company consists of two or more Members, no Member will have priority over any other Member for the distribution of Net Profits or Losses.
   
10. Nature of Interest
    
10. A Member's Interests in the Company will be considered personal property.
    
11. Withdrawal of Contribution
    
11. Where the Company consists of two or more Members, no Member will withdraw any portion of their Capital Contributions without the unanimous consent of the other Members.
    
12. Liability for Contribution
    
12. A Member's obligation to make their required Capital Contributions can only be compromised or released with the consent of all remaining Members or as otherwise provided in this Agreement. If a Member does not make the Capital Contributions when due, the Member is obligated at the option of any remaining Members to contribute cash equal to the agreed value of the Capital Contributions. This option is in addition to and not in lieu of any others rights, including the right to specific performance that the Company may have against the Member.
    
13. Additional Contributions
    
13. Capital Contributions may be amended from time to time, according to the business needs of the Company. However, if additional capital is determined to be required and an individual Member is unwilling or unable to meet the additional contribution requirement within a reasonable period, and where the Company consists of two or more Members, the remaining Members may contribute in proportion to their existing Capital Contributions to resolve the amount in default. In such case, the allocation of Net Profits or Losses and the Distribution of assets on dissociation or dissolution will be adjusted accordingly.
    
14. Any advance of money to the Company by any Member in excess of the amounts provided for in this Agreement or subsequently agreed to, will be deemed a debt due from the Company rather than an increase in the Capital Contributions of the Member. This liability will be repaid with interest at such rates and times to be determined by a majority of the Members. This liability will not entitle the lending Member to any increased share of the Company's profits nor to a greater voting power. Repayment of such debts will have priority over any other payments to Members.
    
15. Capital Accounts
    
15. An individual capital account (the "Capital Account") will be maintained for each Member and their Initial Contributions will be credited to this account. Any Additional Contributions made by any Member will be credited to that Member's individual Capital Account.
    
16. Interest on Capital
    
16. No borrowing charge or loan interest will be due or payable to any Member on their agreed Capital Contributions inclusive of any agreed Additional Contributions.
    
17. Management
    
17. Management of this Company is vested in the Member.
    
18. Authority to Bind Company
    
18. Any Member has the authority to bind the Company in contract.
    
19. Duty of Loyalty
    
19. Any Member may invest in or engage in any business of any type, including without limitation, a business that is similar to the business of the Company whether or not in direct competition with the Company and whether or not within the established or contemplated market regions of the Company. Neither the Company nor any Member will have any right to that opportunity or any income derived from that opportunity.
    
20. Duty to Devote Time
    
20. Each Member will devote such time and attention to the business of the Company as the majority of the Members will from time to time reasonably determine for the conduct of the Company's business.
    
21. Member Meetings
    
21. Where the Company consists of two or more Members, a meeting may be called by any Member providing that reasonable notice has been given to the other Members.
    
22. Regular meetings of the Members will be held only as required.
    
23. Voting
    
23. Each Member will be entitled to cast votes on any matter based upon the proportion of that Member's Capital Contributions in the Company.
    
24. Admission of New Members
    
24. No new Members may be admitted into the Company.
    
25. Voluntary Withdrawal of a Member
    
25. A Member may not withdraw from the Company without the unanimous consent of the remaining Members. Any such unauthorized withdrawal will be considered a wrongful dissociation and a breach of this Agreement. In the event of any such wrongful dissociation, the withdrawing Member will be liable to the remaining Members for any damages incurred by the remaining Members including but not limited to the loss of future earnings.
    
26. The voluntary withdrawal of a Member will have no effect upon the continuance of the Company.
    
27. It remains incumbent on the withdrawing Member to exercise this dissociation in good faith and to minimize any present or future harm done to the remaining Members as a result of the withdrawal.
    
28. Involuntary Withdrawal of a Member
    
28. Events leading to the involuntary withdrawal of a Member from the Company will include but not be limited to: death of a Member; Member mental incapacity; Member disability preventing reasonable participation in the Company; Member incompetence; breach of fiduciary duties by a Member; criminal conviction of a Member; Operation of Law against a Member; or a legal judgment against a Member that can reasonably be expected to bring the business or societal reputation of the Company into disrepute. Expulsion of a Member can also occur on application by the Company or another Member, where it has been judicially determined that the Member: has engaged in wrongful conduct that adversely and materially affected the Company's business; has willfully or persistently committed a material breach of this Agreement or of a duty owed to the Company or to the other Members; or has engaged in conduct relating to the Company's business that makes it not reasonably practicable to carry on the business with the Member.
    
29. The involuntary withdrawal of a Member will have no effect upon the continuance of the Company.
    
30. Dissociation of a Member
    
30. Where the Company consists of two or more Members, in the event of either a voluntary or involuntary withdrawal of a Member, if the remaining Members elect to purchase the interest of the withdrawing Member, the remaining Members will serve written notice of such election, including the purchase price and method and schedule of payment for the withdrawing Member's Interests, upon the withdrawing Member, their executor, administrator, trustee, committee or analogous fiduciary within a reasonable period after acquiring knowledge of the change in circumstance to the affected Member.
    
31. Valuation and Distribution will be determined as described in the Valuation of Interest section of this Agreement.
    
32. Any remaining Members retain the right to seek damages from a dissociated Member where the dissociation resulted from a malicious or criminal act by the dissociated Member or where the dissociated Member had breached their fiduciary duty to the Company or was in breach of this Agreement or had acted in a way that could reasonably be foreseen to bring harm or damage to the Company or to the reputation of the Company.
    
33. A dissociated Member will only have liability for Company obligations that were incurred during their time as a Member. On dissociation of a Member, the Company will prepare, file, serve, and publish all notices required by law to protect the dissociated Member from liability for future Company obligations.
    
34. Where any remaining Members have purchased the interest of a dissociated Member, the purchase amount will be paid in full, but without interest, within 90 days of the date of withdrawal. The Company will retain exclusive rights to use of the trade name and firm name and all related brand and model names of the Company.
    
35. Right of First Purchase
    
35. Where the Company consists of two or more Members, in the event that a Member's Interests in the Company is or will be sold, due to any reason, the remaining Members will have a right of first purchase of that Member's Interests.
    
36. Assignment of Interest
    
36. In the event that a Member’s Interests in the company is transferred or assigned as the result of a court order or Operation of Law, the trustee in bankruptcy or other person acquiring that Member's Interests in the Company will only acquire that Member's economic rights and interests and will not acquire any other rights of that Member or be admitted as a Member of the Company or have the right to exercise any management or voting interests.
    
37. Valuation of Interest
    
37. Where the Company consists of two or more Members, a Member's financial interest in the Company will be in proportion to their Capital Contributions, inclusive of any Additional Capital Contributions.
    
38. In the absence of a written agreement setting a value, the value of the Company will be based on the fair market value appraisal of all Company assets (less liabilities) determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This appraisal will be conducted by an independent accounting firm agreed to by all Members. An appraiser will be appointed within a reasonable period of the date of withdrawal or dissolution. The results of the appraisal will be binding on all Members.
    
39. No allowance will be made for goodwill, trade name, patents or other intangible assets, except where those assets have been reflected on the Company books immediately prior to valuation.
    
40. Dissolution
    
40. The Company may be dissolved by a unanimous vote of the Members. The Company will also be dissolved on the occurrence of events specified in the Act.
    
41. Upon Dissolution of the Company and liquidation of Company property, and after payment of all selling costs and expenses, the liquidator will distribute the Company assets to the following groups according to the following order of priority:
    
    1. in satisfaction of liabilities to creditors except Company obligations to current Members;
       
    2. in satisfaction of Company debt obligations to current Members; and then
       
    3. to the Member.
       
42. Records
    
42. The Company will at all times maintain accurate records of the following:
    
    1. Information regarding the status of the business and the financial condition of the Company.
       
    2. A copy of the Company federal, state, and local income taxes for each year, promptly after becoming available.
       
    3. Name and last known business, residential, or mailing address of each Member, as well as the date that person became a Member.
       
    4. A copy of this Agreement and any articles or certificate of formation, as well as all amendments, together with any executed copies of any written powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, articles or certificate, and any amendments have been executed.
       
    5. The cash, property, and services contributed to the Company by each Member, along with a description and value, and any contributions that have been agreed to be made in the future.
       
43. Each Member has the right to demand, within a reasonable period of time, a copy of any of the above documents for any purpose reasonably related to their interest as a Member of the Company, at their expense.
    
44. Books of Account
    
44. Accurate and complete books of account of the transactions of the Company will be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and at all reasonable times will be available and open to inspection and examination by any Member. The books and records of the Company will reflect all the Company’s transactions and will be appropriate and adequate for the business conducted by the Company.
    
45. Banking and Company Funds
    
45. The funds of the Company will be placed in such investments and banking accounts as will be designated by the Member. All withdrawals from these accounts will be made by the duly authorized agent or agents of the Company as appointed by unanimous consent of the Members. Company funds will be held in the name of the Company and will not be commingled with those of any other person or entity.
    
46. Audit
    
46. Any of the Members will have the right to request an audit of the Company books. The cost of the audit will be borne by the Company. The audit will be performed by an accounting firm acceptable to all the Members. Not more than one (1) audit will be required by any or all of the Members for any fiscal year.
    
47. Tax Treatment
    
47. This Company is intended to be treated as a disregarded entity, for the purposes of Federal and State Income Tax.
    
48. Annual Report
    
48. As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, the Company will furnish to each Member an annual report showing a full and complete account of the condition of the Company including all information as will be necessary for the preparation of each Member's income or other tax returns. This report will consist of at least:
    
    1. A copy of the Company's federal income tax returns for that fiscal year.
       
49. Goodwill
    
49. The goodwill of the Company will be assessed at an amount to be determined by appraisal using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
    
50. Governing Law
    
50. The Members submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Ohio for the enforcement of this Agreement or any arbitration award or decision arising from this Agreement.
    
51. Force Majeure
    
51. A Member will be free of liability to the Company where the Member is prevented from executing their obligations under this Agreement in whole or in part due to force majeure, such as earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire, and war or any other unforeseen and uncontrollable event where the Member has communicated the circumstance of the event to any and all other Members and where the Member has taken any and all appropriate action to satisfy his duties and obligations to the Company and to mitigate the effects of the event.
    
52. Forbidden Acts
    
52. No Member may do any act in contravention of this Agreement.
    
53. No Member may permit, intentionally or unintentionally, the assignment of express, implied or apparent authority to a third party that is not a Member of the Company.
    
54. No Member may do any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Company.
    
55. No Member will have the right or authority to bind or obligate the Company to any extent with regard to any matter outside the intended purpose of the Company.
    
56. No Member may confess a judgment against the Company.
    
57. Any violation of the above forbidden acts will be deemed an Involuntary Withdrawal and may be treated accordingly by the remaining Members.
    
58. Indemnification
    
58. All Members will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all claims of any nature, whatsoever, arising out of a Member's participation in Company affairs. A Member will not be entitled to indemnification under this section for liability arising out of gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Member or the breach by the Member of any provisions of this Agreement.
    
59. Liability
    
59. A Member or any employee will not be liable to the Company or to any other Member for any mistake or error in judgment or for any act or omission believed in good faith to be within the scope of authority conferred or implied by this Agreement or the Company. The Member or employee will be liable only for any and all acts and omissions involving intentional wrongdoing.
    
60. Liability Insurance
    
60. The Company may acquire insurance on behalf of any Member, employee, agent or other person engaged in the business interest of the Company against any liability asserted against them or incurred by them while acting in good faith on behalf of the Company.
    
61. Life Insurance
    
61. The Company will have the right to acquire life insurance on the lives of any or all of the Members, whenever it is deemed necessary by the Company. Each Member will cooperate fully with the Company in obtaining any such policies of life insurance.
    
62. Amendment of this Agreement
    
62. No amendment or modification of this Agreement will be valid or effective unless in writing and signed by all Members.
    
63. Title to Company Property
    
63. Title to all Company property will remain in the name of the Company. No Member or group of Members will have any ownership interest in Company property in whole or in part.
    
64. Miscellaneous
    
64. Time is of the essence in this Agreement.
    
65. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
    
66. Headings are inserted for the convenience of the Members only and are not to be considered when interpreting this Agreement. Words in the singular mean and include the plural and vice versa. Words in the masculine gender include the feminine gender and vice versa. Words in a neutral gender include the masculine gender and the feminine gender and vice versa.
    
67. If any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, it is the Members' intent that such provision be reduced in scope by the court only to the extent deemed necessary by that court to render the provision reasonable and enforceable and the remainder of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated as a result.
    
68. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Members. All negotiations and understandings have been included in this Agreement. Statements or representations that may have been made by any Member during the negotiation stages of this Agreement, may in some way be inconsistent with this final written Agreement. All such statements have no force or effect in respect to this Agreement. Only the written terms of this Agreement will bind the Members.
    
69. This Agreement and the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement apply to and are binding upon each Member's successors, assigns, executors, administrators, beneficiaries, and representatives.
    
70. Any notices or delivery required here will be deemed completed when hand-delivered, delivered by agent, or seven (7) days after being placed in the post, postage prepaid, to the Members at the addresses contained in this Agreement or as the Members may later designate in writing.
    
71. All of the rights, remedies and benefits provided by this Agreement will be cumulative and will not be exclusive of any other such rights, remedies and benefits allowed by law.
    
72. Definitions
    
72. For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:
    
    1. "Additional Contribution" means Capital Contributions, other than Initial Contributions, made by Members to the Company.
       
    2. "Capital Contributions" means the total amount of cash, property, or services contributed to the Company by any one Member.
       
    3. "Distribution" means a payment of Company profits to the Members.
       
    4. "Initial Contributions" means the initial Capital Contributions made by any Member to acquire an interest in the Company.
       
    5. "Member's Interests" means the Member's collective rights, including but not limited to, the Member's right to share in profits, Member's right to a share of Company assets on dissolution of the Company, Member's voting rights, and Member's rights to participate in the management of the Company.
       
    6. "Net Profits or Losses" means the net profits or losses of the Company as determined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
       
    7. "Operation of Law" means rights or duties that are cast upon a party by the law, without any act or agreement on the part of the individual, including, but not limited to, an assignment for the benefit of creditors, a divorce, or a bankruptcy.
       
    8. "Principal Office" means the office whether inside or outside the State of Ohio where the executive or management of the Company maintain their primary office.
       
    9. "Voting Members" means the Members who belong to a membership class that has voting power. Where there is only one class of Members, then those Members constitute the Voting Members.