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How Long Does It Take a Lawyer to Draft an Operating Agreement

This page explains how long it takes for a lawyer to draft an operating agreement, based on real project data from ContractsCounsel.

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Quick Facts — Operating Agreement Lawyers

Setting up an LLC ? If so, an important document you need is an operating agreement, which governs how the business will be managed, how profits are distributed, and other important terms.

If you are setting up your LLC with partners, we would recommend having a professionally drafted operating agreement to make sure there are no disputes in the future.

To help you plan, we analyzed hundreds of operating agreement projects in the ContractsCounsel platform to determine the average turnaround time for drafting.

Average Turnaround Time

The average turnaround time to draft an operating agreement is 3 to 4 business days.

If a single member LLC with a simple structure, the draft is often delivered in 1 to 2 days.

For multi-member LLCs that have custom terms, it may take 4 to 5 business days.

What Affects Turnaround Time?

The turnaround time to draft an operating agreement depends on several factors:

  • Single member vs multi-member LLC
  • Complexity of terms and required customization
  • Number of revisions rounds a client may request
  • Client preparation on the terms they want in the agreement
  • Whether a kick-off call is scheduled with the client to go over terms

Clients who are prepared with full details upfront typically get drafts delivered sooner.

Tips to Speed Up the Process

  • Upon hiring, fill out the client intake form completely
  • Review common terms included in LLC operating agreements and discuss them with your business partners
  • Ask the lawyer for a delivery date upfront and hold them accountable
  • Choose a lawyer that specializes in LLC law with experience in business formation

Real-World Example:

A three-member LLC posted a project to draft a custom operating agreement with member buyout provisions. The project received eight proposals within 24 hours. The selected lawyer delivered a first draft in three business days and finalized the agreement after one round of edits - all within a 6-day timeline.

Need Help Drafting an Operating Agreement?

Post your project on ContractsCounsel and get matched with experienced business lawyers who can draft a customized operating agreement for your LLC — quickly and at a flat rate.


ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


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Michael W.

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15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MD
Georgetown University Law Center

Graduate of Georgetown Law (J.D. and LL.M in Taxation) Injury Claims Adjuster before law school for top insurer Eight plus years of legal experience Past roles: Associate at premier boutique law firm in the DC metro area Policy Associate at a large academic and research institution Solo Practice Areas of Expertise: Contracts Business Formation Trusts and Estates Demand Letters Entertainment Transactions

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Licensed in IL
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"Thorough, timely, and very relevant work. The finished product was a professional brief both in style and content. I appreciate the specific relevance and the attention to detail that was paid. This looks like work that should have taken much longer than a week to complete. Thank you for everything, I will be back if I need something else in the future."

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Connie Chadwick presently focuses her law practice in Tennessee on flat fee legal services which commonly include family court settlements such as divorces, child support orders, custody agreements; contracts; business formation services; and estate plans. Connie is also a Tennessee licensed residential general contractor with over fifteen years of experience in the construction field. With both legal and construction experience, Connie is a logical choice for contractor disputes. Connie earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The Nashville School of Law after earning her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Lipscomb University. www.conniechadwicklaw.com Connie Chadwick is recognized by peers and was selected to SuperLawyers Rising Stars for 2017 - 2023. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. Being selected to Rising Stars is limited to a small number of attorneys in each state. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of Rising Stars, Connie Chadwick has earned the respect of peers as one of the top-rated attorneys in the nation.

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See Real Operating Agreement Projects

Kansas Drafting LLC Operating Agreement Drafting
  • Kansas
  • 3 lawyer bids
  • $800 - $2,100
View Details
Washington new operating or partnership agreement for a multi-member business venture Drafting
  • Washington
  • 5 lawyer bids
  • $690 - $1,500
View Details
Florida Draft Operating Agreement for a single Member LLC that is held by Married Couple via Tenets By The Entirety Drafting
  • Florida
  • 4 lawyer bids
  • $450 - $995
View Details
Connecticut Operating Agreement Review Review
  • Connecticut
  • 4 lawyer bids
  • $240 - $1,099
View Details
Florida LLC Operating Agreement Review and Advice Review
  • Florida
  • 11 lawyer bids
  • $300 - $1,500
View Details
Delaware Update Operating Agreement Drafting
  • Delaware
  • 10 lawyer bids
  • $350 - $1,500
View Details

See all Operating Agreement projects

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Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.

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I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.

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Need help with an Operating Agreement?

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 22,860 reviews

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