Anthony Lacavera

Articles of Organization: Definition, What’s Included, and Filing

The approval process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on your state’s Secretary of State’s office. Once your articles of organization are approved, your LLC becomes a legal business entity. Different states have different names for the articles of organization document and the agency where it is filed.

Some states have an optional requirement to name the person designated to perform the management functions of the LLC. Some states require you to have an organizer, someone who acts to form an LLC, or you may have to list the original members. Correct a non-substantive error in a previously-filed document (example – typographical errors).

When it’s not approved, it is usually due to issues with the LLC’s suggested name, filing the wrong entity, or not following state-specific guidelines for filing. The cumulative voting system multiplies each shareholder’s voting power by the number of directors to be elected, allowing them to concentrate all their votes on a single candidate. For example, if the board comprises nine members and a shareholder holds 10,000 shares, the shareholder can cast 90,000 votes for a single candidate. This significantly enhances the ability of small and medium shareholders to elect their preferred representatives to the board by consolidating their voting power. Article 117 of the Company Law allows cumulative voting for electing directors or supervisors, where each share grants a number of votes equal to the number of directors or supervisors to be elected. Articles of organization are legal documents that define the powers, duties, and obligations of your LLC at a state level.

  • Filing the Articles of Organization creates a formal business structure and provides personal liability protection for its owners.
  • While the Articles of Organization get your LLC off the ground, the Operating Agreement is what keeps it running smoothly.
  • The state also requires businesses to pay a fee when it files articles of organization.
  • If you don’t provide this information in your articles, you should specify your LLC’s management structure in your operating agreement.
  • Under the Company Law, adopting this system must either be specified in the AOA or determined by a resolution of the shareholders’ meeting.

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  • If your LLC is member-managed, you might want to have all the initial members of the LLC sign the articles as an indication of participation in the business.
  • You’ll also probably need to pay a publication fee to the newspaper and provide evidence of the publication to your state.
  • This is usually due to problems with the LLC’s name, the type of entity being filed, or failure to follow state-specific filing requirements.
  • In conclusion, understanding LLC articles is crucial for anyone looking to start a business.
  • The main purpose of the Articles of Organization is to officially create your LLC.
  • Some states require you to appoint the secretary of state as your registered agent.

There may be additional information laid out specific to your state that you will need to comply with. Starting a business can be exciting yet overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding the legal requirements. One crucial step in forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is filing the Articles of Organization. This document serves as the foundation for the LLC, outlining its structure and establishing its existence in the eyes of the law. Preparing and filing articles of organization is only one of several steps necessary to form an LLC.

Variations in Requirements

Once you decide where to file your paperwork, it’s time to complete your articles of organization. Business One Stop provides a single online location with personalized tools to plan and start businesses in Arizona. It is a secure, digital experience that does not require in-person interaction.

Frequently Asked Questions About LLC Articles of Organization

You’ll probably need to provide an address for your LLC’s principal office. Your company’s “principal office” is where you conduct most of your business and where you’ll likely house your important LLC documents, like your articles of organization. Most states require you to choose a name that’s different from the names of businesses that are already registered in your state. For example, if you submit articles of organization for an LLC named Houdini Linguini, LLC, and there’s already a Houdini Linguini Corporation in your state, your filing will probably be rejected. To avoid rejection, you should conduct a search of business names already registered in your state. Every state has its own requirements for what information must be included in your articles of organization.

What should be included in the Articles of Organization?

The purpose of this document is to instructions for articles of organization establish details such as the powers, duties, and obligations of your LLC at a state government level. Our free webinars are packed full of useful information for doing business in China. Article 90 of the Company Law states that after the death of an individual shareholder, their lawful heir may inherit their shareholder qualification unless otherwise stipulated in the AOA. Yes, you can amend your Articles of Organization if you need to make changes.

Amending LLC Articles of Organization

These documents establish the LLC’s existence in the state where the business operates. Filing the Articles of Organization creates a formal business structure and provides personal liability protection for its owners. When you file your articles, you’ll need to include the required filing fee. States charge anywhere from $40 to $500 to file your articles of organization.

Liability protection means you are personally protected from the business’s debts, for example. Articles of organization are part of a form that makes your business official. Read more for tips on how to file LLC articles of organization in your state.

They help prevent misunderstandings and keep everything on track as your business grows. Most states will give you a fillable PDF form to use for the application. Be sure you save the form or at least take a screenshot so you do not have to re-create it. It must be signed by an authorized representative of the company. Who will be managing the LLC, one or more members or a paid manager?

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Anthony Lacavera

Stay connected to see what Anthony's building next.

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Anthony Lacavera

Stay connected to see what Anthony's building next.

From his podcast Trailblaze to new ventures, you won’t miss it as an email subscriber.