The first step in filling out the Michigan Operating Agreement is to pick a business name. There are a couple of requirements when choosing a Michigan LLC name.

1. The name of your LLC must not be too similar to the name of another business entity already registered with the state of Michigan. You can verify name availability by doing a Michigan LLC name search with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to be sure the LLC name is available.

2. The name of the LLC must include one of the following entity identifiers at the end of the business name:
– Limited Liability Company
– L.L.C.
– LLC
– L.C.
– LC

To continue, enter the LLC name, including the identifier. If you choose a name that is already taken, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will return your application.

This section covers what the LLC’s purpose is.

You are allowed to provide more information about what the LLC will do; however, you can keep the included text “The purpose or purposes for which the limited liability company is formed is to engage in any activity within the purposes for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Limited Liability Company Act of Michigan” and not add anything else.

Leaving this section blank is generally recommended unless there is a specific reason to limit the LLC’s activities. If you add a more specific purpose and then the business changes from what was listed, an amendment will need to be made.

Related: How to answer the business purpose statement 

This section is optional and not common for most LLCs to fill in. However, if there is a specified date the LLC will cease to exist, enter the date here.  This is more common for investment-related entities.

If there isn’t a specific date to close the LLC, leave this section blank.

One requirement for having an LLC in Michigan is to appoint a Michigan resident agent (called a registered agent in many states). The resident agent is a party physically located in the state of Michigan who will receive important notices and service of process (which means accepting papers that start a lawsuit) on behalf of the LLC.

You can either appoint an individual such as yourself as the resident agent or appoint someone else, such as a friend, or family member, or an entity such as a professional registered agent service.

The main requirements to be a Michigan resident agent are that they are an adult and be at a physical address during normal business hours.

A different mailing address can be added should you not want correspondence from the state going to the registered office address.

Related: Should you be the resident agent?

If there are additional rules that should be applied to the LLC, enter those in this section.

At least one of the LLC’s organizers will review the LLC Articles of Organization and sign the document.

The Organizer is someone who is involved with the LLC formation.  The Organizer may or may not be a member, such as a mentor, attorney, or accountant, but any of the initial member(s) could be listed as an organizer.

If the organizer agrees to the terms, they will sign and provide their contact information, along with sending the state filing fee.

Related: Who can be an LLC Organizer?