Office Management

Office Management ## Branch Office Requirements When a California broker opens a branch office separate from the main office, the law imposes specific requirements. Each branch office must: - Have a licensed broker designated as broker-in-charge for that location - Display the brokerage name prominently at the entrance - Maintain its own set of records for transactions handled from that office, OR have access to centralized records - Be licensed with the CA DRE as a branch office The broker-in-charge of a branch does not have to be the principal broker — it can be an associate broker or a salesperson who has been elevated to manage the office through appropriate procedures. However, there must be a clearly identified, responsible licensee for each physical location. Failure to designate a broker-in-charge for a branch is a DRE violation. This also means that a salesperson cannot independently open a satellite office under a broker's license without the broker establishing the branch properly. --- ## Fictitious Business Names (DBA) Many brokerages operate under a trade name — "Sunset Realty" rather than "John Smith, Real Estate Broker." In California, this requires: 1. A valid broker's license — you must hold a California real estate broker license to conduct brokerage business, regardless of the DBA name used 2. Registration of the fictitious business name with the county clerk in the county where the principal office is located (and each county where a branch office is located) 3. Filing a DBA statement (also called a Fictitious Business Name Statement) and publishing it in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, as required by California law 4. DRE approval — the broker must get approval…