A listing agreement must contain all of the following EXCEPT:

A listing agreement is a legally enforceable contract between a property owner and a real estate broker. For the agreement to be valid, it must contain certain essential elements. These include a description of the services the broker will perform, the amount of compensation the broker will receive, and a definite duration with a specific start and end date. While the broker must hold a valid real-estate license to enter into the agreement and perform services, the inclusion of the license number on the face of the contract is generally a state-specific administrative or regulatory requirement, not a fundamental element required for the contract's legal validity in all jurisdictions.

A. A description of the services to be provided. This is incorrect because defining the broker's duties and the scope of work is a fundamental component of any service contract, including a listing agreement.

B. The duration of the listing. This is incorrect because all listing agreements must have a specific termination date to be enforceable and to protect the consumer from indefinite contracts.

D. The broker’s compensation. This is incorrect because the rate or amount of commission is a critical term of the agreement that must be clearly stated and agreed upon by both parties.

1. Galaty, F. W., Allaway, W. J., & Kyle, R. C. (2022). Modern Real Estate Practice (21st ed.). Chapter 7, "Listing Agreements and Buyer Representation," pp. 125-127. The text outlines the essential components of a valid listing agreement, which include the brokerage fee (compensation), a definite period of performance (duration), and the broker's authority and responsibilities (services). The broker's license number is not listed among these essential contractual elements.

2. California Department of Real Estate. (2023). Reference Book - A Real Estate Guide. Chapter 10, "Agency," Section: "Listing Agreements." This official guide specifies that a written listing agreement must be in writing, be signed by the seller, and have a "definite, specified date of final and complete termination." It also extensively covers compensation. The broker's license number is not cited as a required element for the validity of the agreement itself.

3. Jennings, M. M. (2017). Real Estate Law (11th ed.). Cengage Learning. Chapter 10, Section 10-2, "Requirements for a Valid Listing Agreement." This university-level textbook details the necessary components for a listing agreement, such as identification of parties, property description, price, compensation, and duration. It distinguishes these core contractual terms from state-level statutory requirements, where the inclusion of a license number might be mandated on a form but is not a universal element for contract formation.