LLC owners use titles like Member, Managing Member, or Manager (especially in multi-member LLCs), but can also adopt corporate-style roles like CEO, President, or Founder for public image, as long as they're accurate to their function and outlined in the operating agreement, avoiding overly humorous or misleading titles like "Supreme Overlord" or "Managing Partner" (unless truly partners) for professionalism.
Official Titles for LLC Owners
State business laws refer to an LLC owner as an “LLC member.” Most states require an LLC to have at least one member (see LLC member definition). Thus, you can use the built-in tile of “member” if you run a single-member LLC.
Names for LLC Owners
For example, if you are the head of the LLC, then you can call yourself a president or CEO. However, LLCs usually refrain from using such titles as it gives the impression that the company is a larger corporation as opposed to a smaller LLC.
LLC owners can choose from a wide range of titles, including “Member,” “Managing Member,” “Owner,” “Founder,” or corporate-style titles like “CEO.” The best title depends on your LLC's structure, your role, and the image you want to project to clients, investors, and partners.
The most common title is Managing Member. It combines ownership (Member) and operational control (Managing), which fits well for individuals running and owning the business. Other common choices include Owner for simplicity or CEO for a more formal, corporate impression.
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs): An LLC's legal name usually must include words like Limited Liability Company, Limited Company; or abbreviations like L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC, or Ltd. Liability Co.
A common misconception is that these two hats are similar and interchangeable. In a nutshell, the CEO oversees the entire company's management, whereas the owner holds exclusive ownership rights over the business.
Getting paid as a single-member LLC
However, you are not paid like a sole proprietor where your business' earnings are your salary. Instead, you are paid directly through what is known as an “owner's draw” from the profits that your company earns. This means you withdraw funds from your business for personal use.
Common small business titles
The default legal title is “member,” but you can adopt other professional titles for business purposes. Can I call myself CEO of my LLC? Yes, as long as it does not mislead others or imply unearned professional credentials.
As a startup head, the title of Founder can help you find investors and funding. The main drawback is that if you list yourself as a Founder, it will show that you are in the early stages of your business and therefore can be perceived as being a risky or potential high-risk prospect.
The proper signature should have the name, title and name of the business entity all attached to documentation. The agreement signed should have details about one party and the LLC and not a specific person only.
The title of owner of an LLC should clearly represent your responsibilities. For a single-member LLC owner, titles like “Owner” or “Managing Member” are appropriate. In a multi-member LLC, titles such as “Managing Partner” or “Member-Manager” work well to indicate shared leadership.
Although laws surrounding LLCs don't require you to name a president or CEO, having a designated head may help clarify the roles and duties.
The difference often (but not always) has to do with the organization's size. While most small companies are run by an owner, larger companies usually have a CEO as its highest-level executive in charge. The owner has sole proprietorship of the company and can also be the CEO.
They may be the sole owner or a part-owner if they share ownership with one or more other people. Occasionally, the owner of a business may even act as the CEO – this is especially common for new or small businesses. In larger, established corporations, the owner(s) and the CEO are typically different people.
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Should I name my LLC after myself? You can name your LLC anything you want, as long as it complies with your state's LLC naming guidelines. Naming an LLC after yourself comes with the benefit of being able to easily use that name to sell any products or services you want in the future without brand confusion.