Maine LLC Operating Agreement (2026)
Single-member or multi-member operating agreement under your state's LLC act: ownership, management, capital, distributions, transfers and dissolution.
This preview updates as you type. Blank fields show as ____ .
What this document covers
- Formation, name, purpose and registered agent
- Tax classification (default, S corp, C corp)
- Members, contributions and percentage interests
- Capital accounts and additional contributions
- Allocations, distributions and tax distributions
- Member- or manager-managed; voting and major decisions
- Duties, other activities and deadlock (50/50)
- Liability and indemnification
- Transfers, right of first refusal and buy-out events
- Withdrawal, dissolution, Schedule A and spousal consent
Maine rules that this document follows
| LLC statute | Maine Limited Liability Company Act (2011)Source: 31 M.R.S. § 1501 et seq. |
|---|---|
| Formation document / filing office | Certificate of Formation — Maine Secretary of State |
| Operating agreement required? | Yes (may be oral; written is far safer)Source: 31 M.R.S. §§ 1502(15), 1521 (an LLC must have an operating agreement; may be oral, implied, in a record, or any combination) |
| Formation fee | $175.00 |
| Annual report | $85.00 — Annual report due June 1Source: 31 M.R.S. § 1665 |
| Duty-of-loyalty waiver | May be limited only if not manifestly unreasonable; competing activities require disclosureSource: 31 M.R.S. §§ 1556 (majority of members), 1554 (distributions), 1573 (charging order exclusive remedy) |
| Charging order exclusive remedy (SMLLC) | unclearSource: 31 M.R.S. §§ 1556 (majority of members), 1554 (distributions), 1573 (charging order exclusive remedy) |
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.
How to use this LLC Operating Agreement in Maine
Sign the agreement as soon as the LLC is formed and before opening the bank account. Fill Schedule A with actual contributions and percentages — they drive profits, votes and buy-outs. Multi-member LLCs should agree on the buy-out formula now, while everyone is friendly; two 50/50 members get an automatic deadlock clause.
If you elect S-corporation status, keep every distribution strictly pro rata — a single disproportionate distribution can terminate the election.
Review annually and whenever a member joins, leaves, marries, or the tax election changes. Keep it with the Certificate of Formation, EIN letter and annual report receipts.
Frequently asked questions
Is an operating agreement required in Maine?
Yes — Maine requires one (31 M.R.S. §§ 1502(15), 1521 (an LLC must have an operating agreement; may be oral, implied, in a record, or any combination)). Banks, investors and courts expect a written agreement, and a single-member LLC without one is easier to pierce.
What are the ongoing state fees for an LLC in Maine?
Annual/periodic report: $85.00 (Annual report due June 1; 31 M.R.S. § 1665).
Does the operating agreement get filed with the state?
No. It is an internal document. Keep the signed original with the Company records; banks and the IRS may ask for a copy.
Why does it ask whether a member is married?
Maine is not a community-property state, so the question only drives the optional spousal-consent language; it is still wise to have spouses acknowledge the buy-out terms.
Other names
- single member LLC operating agreement
- multi-member operating agreement
- LLC agreement
- company agreement
- LLC bylaws
- limited liability company agreement
- operating agreement template
- member-managed LLC agreement
Related documents
- Commercial Lease Agreement — Maine
- Demand Letter — Maine
- Bill of Sale — Maine
- Promissory Note — Maine
- All Maine forms →
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Download your document
LLC Operating Agreement
$29 one-time
Lawyer sites charge $35–$139 for the same document
- PDF + Word, no watermark
- Edit & re-download free for 14 days
- State-specific disclosures included
Secure checkout by Stripe. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Apple Pay · Google Pay
Need more than one document?
Already purchased? Your access is restored automatically on this device or after signing in.