Limited liability company owners are commonly referred to as members. However, the official title can be altered to reflect the specific role that characterizes the position.
LLC owner titles include "members." In this setup, there can be more than one member.
A sole proprietorship LLC is owned by only one person, while an LLC with multiple members would be co-owned by two or more individuals.
After conducting thorough analysis, our legal research panel will provide you with a comprehensive explanation about the titles of an LLC owner.
Quick Summary:
- The owner of an LLC is commonly referred to as a member.
- Specific titles may be used to designate the position more clearly.
- The position of other members should be aptly titled to distinguish their specific function in the organization.
Who Are Members of an LLC, and Who Manages the LLC?
The owners are the members of an LLC, and the business entity may be managed by appointed members or hired managers.
Its members own the LLC. LLCs are either member-managed or manager-managed, depending on how the operating agreement specifies that LLC managers are appointed.
A member can't be an LLC manager unless the LLC's operating agreement specifically provides for it.
An LLC with multiple members can also have a different LLC owner title, offering different rights and possibly different voting powers.
LLC membership interests are freely transferable, unlike LLC membership interests in a corporation.
What Is the Owner of an LLC Called - Main Titles
The owner of an LLC may be called as CEO, principal, managing member or president to name a few. The title should reflect the business owners' main role in the entity.
Members should be the ones to manage the LLC, but if the operating agreement specifies that the members want someone to manage the LLC for them, a manager would be appointed.
The chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer are not generally members of an LLC.
Those positions usually belong to managers or other non-member professionals.
Other officer titles can include vice president, secretary, treasurer, and assistant treasurer.
Like directors of a corporation, LLC officers have a duty to manage the LLC.
Other LLC Titles to Consider
Apart from the owner of the business, there are other LLC titles to consider in order to clearly define the roles of certain positions. It would reflect the organizational structure of the company that directly impacts investors.
Managing Director
The managing director oversees the LLC’s daily operations and is in-charge of decisions regarding finances, compliance, work organization and reporting.
They are mostly the highest-ranking position in the executive department. Often, these people directly report to the CEO.
LLC President
An LLC President could also do the same functions as a Managing Director. They act as the CEO’s second-in-command. A sole proprietor can take both “CEO” and “President” titles in smaller businesses.
Creative Director
These managerial titles are for the company’s creative aspects. It includes branding, design, and advertising.
Technical Director
Technical directors manage the business’s goals, project specifications, requirements and progress reports.
If your LLC decides to use these titles, ensure every designated member other than the owner knows their role. Outline each official title in the company’s operating agreement to make it easier for everyone.
LLC Owner Titles to Avoid
The following LLC owner titles need to be avoided since they are broad, unclear, or inappropriate.
- Vague Titles. “Manager” or “Director” is too broad. These titles might not fully convey your duties to the LLC. This ambiguity could discourage other companies and investors from dealing with you.
- Inaccurate Titles. LLCs are often considered partnerships or sole proprietorships. However, “Sole Proprietor” or “Partner” is incorrect since it could make people misunderstand your business type.
Does the Owner of an LLC Refer to Member-Managed LLC and Manager-Managed LLC?
The owner of an LLC does not refer to member-managed LLC and manager-managed LLC.
Manager-Managed LLC
An LLC managed by a manager means the members will not be involved in making business decisions for the LLC, such as member meetings and managing legal documents.
The manager would make those decisions and is often referred to as manager-managed. They will have the say in business operations.
This type of LLC can have one or more managers.
Member-Managed LLC
A member-managed LLC appoints one or several members to oversee the company's day-to-day operations in terms of finances, investments, decision-making and work organization.
Since most business owners want to limit their liability, an LLC member-manager is more common than a corporation serving as a director.
On the other hand, self-managed limited liability companies (LLCs) have their members, the business owner/s, generally active in making policy decisions. Each member may act on behalf of the company in this management structure. They are usually entitled to bind the LLC.
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When Does Selecting Managers Make Sense?
A structure managed by members is more common for single and multi-member LLCs. However, hiring an independent manager make sense to obtain the expertise beneficial to the business.
- Attract and encourage passive investors: Consider designating managers if you have many individuals supporting your business but opt-out as active participants. It allows these investors to keep staying in the background.
- Large Memberships: The lack of limitation on the number of LLC members is financially beneficial. However, it makes management more challenging. If your decision-making is too complicated or divisive, get a manager.
- Growth:Â Even LLCs with this structure has the potential to grow. When it happens, it's better to hire a manager to manage daily operations. After all, you can change your company status at any point.
- Multiple Locations: If your LLC has various areas, hiring LLC managers is the best course of action. Having one per location makes it easier to hire and manage other employees. They can handle each area's daily operations, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture.
FAQs
How Many Members Can Be In an LLC?
An LLC may have an unlimited number of members who can be individuals, other LLCs, or corporations.
An LLC has certain advantages over corporations, such as the flexibility to determine the LLC members' percentage of ownership and continuity of life after one member withdraws.
What if There Are No Members?
If there are no members, a one-person is usually referred to as a single member LLC, and the single LLC member holding ownership interest is generally referred to as a member-manager instead of sole proprietor.
What Is the Liability Protection of Members in an LLC?
The liability protection of members in an LLC dictates that LLC owners are not personally responsible for debts or liabilities incurred by the LLC, unlike a single member LLC.
Each state's laws provide that, unless agreed otherwise by the interested parties, all business decisions are made by majority vote or unanimous consent, which requires that all members approve any liability of the LLC.
LLC Owners' Titles
The LLC owner is generally referred to as a member. However, the title may be revised to define the role of the position more clearly. CEO, president, manager member and principal may be used to designate LLC members.
For further reference, take a look at 8 Best Online Legal Services (2023 Ranked & Compared).
References:
- https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/what-title-do-i-use-if-i-am-head-of-an-llc
- https://www.zenbusiness.com/llc-owner-titles/
- https://managingbiz.net/2019/11/22/managing-director-of-llc/
- https://web.uri.edu/elecomp-capstone/roles-and-responsibilities/
- https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/limited-liability-company-llc
