I guess I just always operate on the assumption that having cash on hand is better for obtaining loans than that same amount in the form of equity. 

You may need an operating agreement--the format could vary between different custodians.

While I agree with Derek that you don't want to over reserve, you also don't want to under reserve which could put you in an awful situation of not having enough operating capital.   

Time has to be set aside for management as well, the more properties you have the more management time required, they don't operate on autopilot without help.

I was speaking from a macro view of a niche operation in the real estate industry, mostly residential investing or operations.

My goal: -- Get out of my current situation of owning and operating a small plumbing company.

Retail rate sheets by contrast have operating expenses built into them and do not need to be marked up. 

Property Purchase Purchase Price $ 215,000.00 $ 215,000.00 Down Payment % 30.00% 30.00% Down Payment $ 64,500.00 $ 64,500.00 Mortgage Amount $ 150,500.00 $ 150,500.00 Mortgage Interest Rate (annual) 3.500% 4.375% Mortgage Amortization Term (years) 15 30 Mortgage Monthly Payment $1,075.90 $751.42     Property Rental Income Annual Vacancy Rate 0.00% 0.00% Monthly Rent - Unit 1 $ 1,700.00 $ 1,700.00 Monthly Rent - Unit 2 $ - $ - Monthly Rent - Unit 3 $ - $ - Gross Monthly Income $ 1,700.00 $ 1,700.00 Potential Annual Income $ 20,400.00 $ 20,400.00 Less: Vacancy $ - $ - Annual Rental Income $ 20,400.00 $ 20,400.00     Annual Operating Expenses Property Taxes $ 1,662.00 $ 1,662.00 HOA Fees $ 2,496.00 $ 2,496.00 Insurance $ 201.00 $ 201.00 Utilities $ - $ - Leasing & Advertising $ - $ - Property Management $ - $ - Repairs $ - $ - Maintenance $ - $ - Accounting & Legal $ - $ - Total Expenses $ 4,359.00 $ 4,359.00 Monthly Mortgage & Expenses $ 1,439.15 $ 1,114.67     Net Operating Income & Cash Flow Summary Annual Rental Income $ 20,400.00 $ 20,400.00 Less: Annual Operating Expenses $ 4,359.00 $ 4,359.00 Net Operating Income $ 16,041.00 $ 16,041.00 Less: Annual Mortgage Payment $ 12,910.78 $ 9,017.09 Net Income / Cash Flow $ 3,130.22 $ 7,023.91 Net Income / Cash Flow (Monthly) $ 260.85 $ 585.33     Less: Depreciation Expense (1/27.5 of cost) $ (7,818.18) $ (7,818.18) Taxable Net Income (Loss) $ (4,687.96) $ (794.27)     Property Metrics & Analysis CAP Rate 7.46% 7.46% Gross Rent Multiplier lower is better 10.54 10.54 Cash on Cash Return (CoC ROI) 4.85% 10.89% Cash Flow Profit Margin 15.34% 34.43% Cashflow / Assets 1.46% 3.27%

Do people identify partners, set up an LLC (which could take weeks), find a property and then create the operating agreement to determine ownership?

I recently started a self directed ira and i need to find an operating agreement to use as a templet