Sole Practitioner, Trade Name

Q: I am a broker operating as a sole practitioner. May I operate as ABC Realty without starting a corporation? 

A: Yes. Rule 61J2-10.034, Florida Administrative Code, provides in part that an individual broker may use a trade name and, if so, it must be disclosed upon the request for license and be placed upon the registration or license. The rule further provides that FREC will refuse to issue a license should the trade name be or contain a trade name that is the same as the real or trade name of another FREC registrant or licensee.