To prevent an ostensible partnership, when two brokers share office space, which of the following must be true?

• A. They must have separate desks, phones, stationery, signs, and advertising; may share a secretary.
• B. They must share all office equipment to save costs.
• C. They must operate from separate cities.
• D. They can only share a receptionist.

Answer: (A)

Ostensible partnership is avoided by preserving clear individual identities for each broker who shares an office. When two brokers share space, the public could reasonably view them as operating as a single firm unless distinct elements of their professional presence are kept separate. The requirement is that they hold separate desks, phones, stationery, signs, and advertising so each broker’s license and branding stand on its own. Allowing them to share a secretary is acceptable because it doesn’t create a separate firm image and helps with administrative costs without implying a joint partnership. Sharing all office equipment or mandating separate cities would unnecessarily blur or complicate the separation, and simply sharing a receptionist could still give the impression of a combined office.