Member-Managed vs. Manager-Managed LLCs

Member-Managed LLCS | A Default or Common Choice

In this structure, all the members of LLC contribute to decision-making, operational aspects, and daily affairs. Member managed structure works best for LLCs when:

• The LLC has a relatively small number of members.
• The LLC has limited resources and can not afford to hire managers on a salary basis.
• The members are willing to decide to oversee the day-to-day business operations, are capable of managing the business, and take decisions on the company’s behalf.

How Does a Member-Managed LLC Work?

In member-managed LLCs, the members are actively involved in the company’s daily operations and have an equal say in big-picture affairs unless the members’ rights are specifically mentioned in the operating agreement. The vote from each member is required for all significant business decisions.

Member-managed LLC structure is often called “decentralized management.” This is because the administrative power is distributed among the members and not centralized in the hands of one or a few managers.

The laws governing LLCs can be different depending which state to choose to form an LLC. However, managers of LLCs generally aren’t personally liable to third parties related to their actions as manager of the LLC as long as they didn’t act unlawfully. 

An Example of Member-Managed LLC

Tonny Jhones and Emma Jones, a married couple, decided to start a Bakery together. They chose to register their business as an LLC and decided to share equal responsibility in running the business.

At the start, they did not have the budget to hire outside management, and Tonny and Emma preferred to remain the only members. So, they selected a member-managed LLC structure.

Now they are equally contributing in deciding menu, baking goods, crafting recipes, opening and closing the shop, timings, hiring employees, etc.

Manager-Managed LLC | An Advanced and Better Decision 

In certain circumstances, a manager-managed LLC structure is desirable. It is primarily the most practical decision when the members of an LLC are investing in multiple businesses and are too busy to focus on one business.

Moreover, it is preferred when the members do not know the technicality of a business. In short, a manager-managed structure works well for:

• The LLCs with a relatively large number of members
• The members don’t want to be involved in the daily operations of the company being overly occupied
• Members do not know the technicalities of the business, and they just wish to be passive investors

How Does a Manager-Managed Structure Work?

In a manager-managed LLC, the administrative power is allocated to one or more specific managers who could be certain member/s or be hired from outside the company. Therefore, it is a more convenient and professional way to handle the day-to-day affairs of a company. 

Moreover, in LLCs with many members, giving management and decision powers to all would make the daily affairs almost impossible.

After all, a chicken cant run with multiple heads. Therefore, Manager-managed LLCs grant the manager/s the authority to call the shots, and members are not required to vote on all business decisions.

This LLC structure is often called “centralized management” because administrative powers are consolidated in the hands of one or a few managers.

An Example of Manager-Managed LLC

Twenty members of an extended family decided to open a superstore. The store will sell every item that you could expect in a superstore. Almost all the members working full-time jobs and just want to invest their savings in a business.

Only three members have experience of running a superstore. For these reasons, the other members decided to appoint these three family members to manage the business. Furthermore, they offered a monthly salary to all three members in exchange for their skilled management. 

Now the three managers take decisions related to sale and purchase, store timings, hiring employees, special event offers, etc.