California Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement for Bank Accounts
Generate a California-compliant Operating Agreement formatted the way banks actually request it — with your LLC legal name, EIN, registered agent, and ownership details laid out for easy verification.
Company Details
Must match the exact name filed with the California Secretary of State.
Registered Agent
Must have a physical California street address (no P.O. boxes).
Sole Member / Owner
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Operating Agreement
Single-Member Limited Liability Company — State of California
This Operating Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 5, 2026 by and between [Your LLC Name] (the “Company”), a single-member limited liability company organized under California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 (California Revised Uniform LLC Law), and [Your Name] (the “Sole Member”).
Company
[Your LLC Name]
Sole Member
[Your Name]
EIN
—
Formation Date
—
1. Formation
The Company was formed by filing Articles of Organization with the California Secretary of State on [date] under California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 (California Revised Uniform LLC Law).
2. Registered Agent
[Registered Agent Name], located at [Registered Agent Address], serves as the Company’s registered agent in California.
3. Management & Authority
The Sole Member manages the Company with full authority, including opening and maintaining bank accounts, entering contracts, and acting for the Company without further authorization.
4. Charging Order Protection
Under California Corporations Code Section 17705.03, a charging order is the exclusive remedy for judgment creditors of a member of an LLC. However, California courts may permit foreclosure of the charged interest, and single-member LLCs receive somewhat weaker protection than multi-member LLCs under California case law.
5. California Compliance
California charges an $800 minimum annual franchise tax on every LLC, including single-member LLCs, plus a Statement of Information due every two years. LLCs with gross revenue over $250,000 must also file Form 568 with the California Franchise Tax Board and pay additional gross-receipts-based fees. State filing fee: $70 plus $20 Statement of Information fee.
6. Tax Treatment
The Company is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes (Treasury Reg. § 301.7701-3); the Sole Member reports income on Schedule C of Form 1040.
7. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of California, including California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 (California Revised Uniform LLC Law).
[Your Name] — Sole Member Signature
Date
Print Name: [Your Name]
Company Title: Sole Member / Manager
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Why California Banks Require an Operating Agreement
When you open a business checking account for a single-member LLC in California, banks like Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Union Bank ask for your Operating Agreement for three key reasons: (1) to verify that your LLC’s legal name matches the name on your EIN letter from the IRS; (2) to confirm that you, as the sole member, have the authority to open accounts and sign for the company; and (3) to satisfy their Know Your Customer (KYC) and beneficial ownership documentation requirements under federal banking rules. Without an Operating Agreement, many branches will ask you to come back with one — or worse, open the account with missing documentation that delays transactions later.
Verifies
EIN & LLC legal name match
Confirms
Sole-member signing authority
Satisfies
KYC & beneficial ownership rules
How California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 Protects You
California single-member LLCs are governed by California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 (California Revised Uniform LLC Law). This statute gives your LLC a legal existence separate from you personally, which is the foundation of liability protection: business debts and lawsuits generally attach to the company, not to your personal assets.
An executed Operating Agreement strengthens that protection in two ways. First, it documents that you treat the LLC as a separate entity (separate finances, documented decisions, formal management structure) — which is exactly what courts look for when creditors try to “pierce the veil” and reach your personal assets. Second, it locks in the internal rules that govern the company under the statute, so there is never ambiguity about who owns or controls the business.
California Compliance Alert
California charges an $800 minimum annual franchise tax on every LLC, including single-member LLCs, plus a Statement of Information due every two years. LLCs with gross revenue over $250,000 must also file Form 568 with the California Franchise Tax Board and pay additional gross-receipts-based fees.
These obligations are administered by the California Secretary of State. The LLC formation filing fee is $70 plus $20 Statement of Information fee. Failing to stay in good standing can jeopardize the liability protection your Operating Agreement helps document.
California Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement FAQs
Does California require a single-member LLC to have an Operating Agreement?
No state, including California, legally mandates a written Operating Agreement for internal validity — but banks, lenders, and courts treat your LLC as far more credible when you have one. Under California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 (California Revised Uniform LLC Law), an Operating Agreement governs the internal affairs of the LLC, and financial institutions like Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Union Bank routinely ask for it when you open a business checking account so they can verify your EIN, ownership, and signing authority.
Do I need an Operating Agreement to open a business bank account in California?
Most banks in California, including Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Union Bank, will ask for your Operating Agreement (or a Certification of Formation) as part of their business account onboarding process. They use it to confirm that the person opening the account is authorized to act for the LLC and to match the LLC's legal name to its EIN. While technically a single-member LLC without an Operating Agreement can still open accounts, having one avoids delays, confusion, and re-visits to the branch.
Does California protect my LLC assets from my personal creditors?
Yes, in most cases. Under California Corporations Code Section 17705.03, a charging order is the exclusive remedy for judgment creditors of a member of an LLC. However, California courts may permit foreclosure of the charged interest, and single-member LLCs receive somewhat weaker protection than multi-member LLCs under California case law. This means your personal judgment creditors generally cannot seize LLC assets directly or force a distribution — they are limited to distributions the LLC chooses to make. Note that this protection is strongest when the LLC is treated as a separate entity (separate bank account, documented records, and an executed Operating Agreement).
What are the annual requirements and fees for an LLC in California?
California charges an $800 minimum annual franchise tax on every LLC, including single-member LLCs, plus a Statement of Information due every two years. LLCs with gross revenue over $250,000 must also file Form 568 with the California Franchise Tax Board and pay additional gross-receipts-based fees. The state LLC filing fee is $70 plus $20 Statement of Information fee, paid to the California Secretary of State. Keeping your LLC in good standing — filings current and registered agent up to date — is essential to preserving the liability protection the California Corporations Code Sections 17701-17718 (California Revised Uniform LLC Law) provides.
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