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Create Your California Single-Member (Manager-Managed) LLC Operating Agreement Today.

Clearly define ownership and delegate management authority — compliant with California LLC requirements.

Create Your Free Master Service Agreement (MSA) Today

Single Member - Manager Managed
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State Compliant

Written to satisfy California’s legal requirement for LLCs that separate ownership and management roles.

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Personal Liability Protection

Keeps your personal assets separate from business actions taken by the manager.

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Professional Documentation

Required by banks and lenders to verify proper authority when a manager is appointed. 

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Future Proofing

Outlines how management can evolve, report, or transition as your LLC grows.

REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Why Use a Single-Member (Manager-Managed) LLC Operating Agreement in California

A Single-Member (Manager-Managed) LLC Operating Agreement is a California-specific document that formally separates ownership from day-to-day management. In this structure, you retain 100% ownership of the LLC but appoint a manager (an individual or management company) to handle operations, contracts, and decisions.

This setup is ideal for business owners who prefer a hands-off management approach—such as investors, holding companies, or professionals with multiple ventures. The agreement clearly defines your manager’s scope of authority, establishes reporting duties, and reinforces your limited-liability protections under California law.

Without this document, your LLC automatically defaults to a member-managed structure under state law, which can expose you to unnecessary liability and confusion over decision-making authority.

 

How to Use Your Free Agreement

(in Under a Minute)

THE PROCESS

How It Works: Create Your California LLC Operating Agreement Template

1
Sign Up Instantly
Create your free account (takes less than a minute).
2
Customize with Ease
Edit your California LLC Operating Agreement Template directly in the platform with guided AI support.
3
Sign & Finalize
Finalize your California operating agreement with e-signature and secure records.
1
Sign Up Instantly
Create your free account (takes less than a minute).
2
Customize with Ease
Edit your MSA directly in the platform with guided AI support.
3
Send & Sign
Finalize with e-signature and secure records.
 

Choose the Right California Operating Agreement for Your LLC

 

We’ve included every version of California’s LLC Operating Agreements so you can choose the structure that matches your management style. Whether you manage your LLC personally or appoint a manager to act on your behalf, each version is lawyer-drafted and California-compliant.

Single-Member (Member-Managed)

Default structure when there is only one owner. You make all decisions and manage the LLC yourself.
 
 
View this Operating Agreement

✅ Single-Member (Manager-Managed)

One owner, but management authority is given to a non-owner “manager” (rare, mostly used for investment structures).
 
🌟 This is the correct Operating Agreement for your LLC structure.

Multi-Member (Member-Managed)

Two or more owners with shared ownership, voting rights, and profit distribution.
 
 
 
View this Operating Agreement >

Multi-Member (Manager-Managed)

Two or more owners, but management authority is delegated to one or more managers. 

 

View this Operating Agreement

What You Get With Your SMVRT Legal Account

1 Free Master Service Agreement (MSA) — Edit, send, and sign directly in the platform.
Access to 25+ Other Agreements — NDAs, Contractor, Employment, Service, and more.

With SMVRT Legal, you don’t just get Master Service Agreement Template—you get 25+ lawyer-drafted agreements to run your business effectively. You’ll have everything you need for a fraction of the cost.

SMVRT Summaries — Plain English Clarity

Set timelines and amounts upfront to avoid late or missed payments.

Q/A Chatbot — Faster Document Setup

Our system remembers your details and pre-fills future agreements to save you time.

SMVRT Chatbot — Instant Agreement Support

Get quick answers inside the platform to better understand your contracts.

THE HIDDEN COSTS OF BAD CONTRACTS

The 3 Biggest Contract Headaches for SMBs

  • 62% of small business owners sign contracts they don’t fully understand.
  • 90% say contracts are confusing and unclear.
  • SMBs spend $13K a year on legal agreements.

See What Our Customers are Saying

SMVRT Legal made launching my freelance business so much easier. The editable templates saved me hours, and the AI summaries made legal language easy to understand—giving me confidence in what I was signing. Having everything from drafting to signing in one secure place is a game-changer. Knowing I could access affordable legal help gave me peace of mind I didn't think I could afford starting out.
Ashley F.

Ashley F.

Senior Vice President of Sales & Operations | Freelance Growth Consultant

SMVRT Legal made managing our home décor business easier. The editable templates and AI summaries saved us time and simplified legal language. Having contracts, signatures, and storage all in one place was a game-changer. Best of all, affordable legal help gave us peace of mind as we grew.
Margaret D.

Margaret D.

Co-Founder, Half Past Seven

SMVRT Legal helped me lock down our Master Service Agreement with clients at Social Media Beyond. The platform made it simple to draft, review, and sign without the usual back-and-forth. Having an MSA I could trust gave me confidence when negotiating new deals, and the affordable legal help gave me the protection I needed without breaking the bank.
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Arnold D.

Founder, Social Media Beyond

Start Your Free California Operating Agreement Today

No credit card required. Quarterly/annual plans
available when you’re ready to upgrade.
 
Click here to learn more about a California operating agreement

Start Your Free Master Service Agreement Today

No credit card required. Quarterly/annual plans
available when you’re ready to upgrade.