BIC TIP #1121: Your Firm Name Must Be Conspicuous. Always.
Marketing compliance in North Carolina is not optional, and it is not cosmetic. Under North Carolina Real Estate License Law and Commission rules, your licensed firm name must be conspicuous on all marketing—every time, everywhere.
That includes:
- Social media posts and profiles
- Yard signs and directionals
- Swag (shirts, hats, koozies, closing gifts)
- Mailers, postcards, letters, and flyers
- Digital ads, websites, and videos
Here is the key mistake brokers keep making:
👉 A franchise name does NOT replace the licensed firm name.
“Keller Williams,” “RE/MAX,” “Coldwell Banker,” or any other franchise brand is not the licensed brokerage. Your firm name as it appears on your license is what the Commission cares about. If the firm name is missing, too small, buried, or overshadowed by branding, you are out of compliance.
The Commission standard is simple:
- The firm name must be clear, readable, and noticeable.
- It must be no less prominent than your name or team name.
- If a reasonable consumer cannot quickly tell who the brokerage is, the ad is defective.
Social media is where most violations occur. Instagram bios, Facebook reels, TikTok videos, and Canva templates are not exempt just because they are trendy. If it is marketing, the rule applies.
This is not about intent. It is about consumer transparency.
