Brokerage Operations, Office Management, and Supervision
Brokerage operations questions test whether the broker actually runs the office: supervision, written policies, advertising, transaction files, teams, and independent-contractor arrangements. The exam treats the broker as the person accountable for the acts of associates and staff.
Core rules
- Maintain a written office policy covering agency relationships, escrow handling, advertising approval, fair housing, records, and complaint procedures.
- Supervise sales associates, broker associates, and unlicensed assistants. Independent-contractor status affects taxes and control, but it does not eliminate the broker's supervisory duty.
- Advertising must identify the brokerage name, be truthful, and not mislead. Team names, websites, and social-media accounts must be approved by the broker and must not imply a separate brokerage.
- Keep transaction files and escrow records for at least three years under FREC rules and make them available to DBPR on request.
- Unlicensed assistants may perform administrative tasks but may not negotiate, show property, or answer substantive questions about terms and conditions.
Worked example
A team advertises a listing as 'The Smith Team - call us to see this home' without the brokerage name. The ad violates Florida advertising rules because it fails to identify the registered brokerage. The broker must correct the ad, document the correction, and review team marketing procedures. The reasoning: team branding is allowed, but the public must know which brokerage is responsible.
Traps
Do not assume independent-contractor status means no supervision. Do not rely on oral office policies. Do not let an unlicensed assistant host an open house and discuss price or terms. Do not treat a team as a separate brokerage.