Know the person behind the auction
Before you entrust someone with a collection, an estate or a business liquidation, know who will conduct the auction, how to check their credentials and what the written agreement covers.
FL AU#4535 · TX AU#17655 · GA AU#004220 · LA AU#2041
Founder and auctioneer · Bidding Is Open · Ocoee, FloridaWhy licensing matters
An auction involves property, competing offers, payments and a seller who expects an accurate accounting. Licensing creates a public way to identify the responsible professional and a regulatory framework for covered activity. The details vary by state.
Use a license check alongside practical questions: Who has authority to sell? What fees apply? Where will the money be held? When is settlement due? Who manages pickup and unresolved payments?
Read why auctioneering is a licensed and regulated professionFour states, different rules
Official source guidance reviewed October 1, 2026. Use each regulator’s live search for current individual status.
FL
Darrien Eouse · FL AU#4535
Orlando, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Miami and South Florida
Start with the named auctioneer, the property and the written seller agreement. Florida’s auction-conduct statute addresses agreements, sale records, proceeds and bidding disclosures. Official guidance.
For an Orlando-area collection or an estate elsewhere in Florida, establish where the items will be cataloged and picked up before selecting the sale format.
TX
Darrien Eouse · TX AU#17655
Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and the surrounding Texas markets
TDLR distinguishes live bidding from internet-only auctions: internet auctions are exempt from its auctioneer licensing law unless there is a live-bid component. Official guidance.
For a Houston equipment sale or Dallas–Fort Worth collection, distinguish the bidding format from the physical inspection, loading and removal arrangements.
GA
Darrien Eouse · GA AU#004220
Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Athens, Augusta, Macon and Savannah
Georgia continues to license individual auctioneers. Its current guidance says separate auction-company licensing ended July 1, 2026, following HB 1254. Official guidance.
For an Atlanta business inventory or a Savannah estate, name the responsible auctioneer and agree on the property list, venue and settlement process.
LA
Darrien Eouse · LA AU#2041
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Shreveport–Bossier City
Louisiana’s Board expressly includes online auctions when the auction or the items being sold are located in Louisiana. The auction’s location matters even when bidding happens online. Official guidance.
For a New Orleans collection or Baton Rouge business sale, identify the parish, property location and sale format early. Ask the relevant authorities about local requirements.
Our base is Ocoee, Florida. The locations above provide context for planning a sale; they are not branch-office addresses or promises of a scheduled auction. We review the property, location, timing and service arrangements before accepting an engagement. Individual auctioneer credentials and any other event requirements must be considered separately.
From a local search to a clear plan
“Estate auctioneer in Orlando,” “business liquidation auction in Houston,” or “collection auction in Atlanta” can start a useful search. The next step is matching the auctioneer to the property and the work involved.
A small collection that can be transported, an occupied estate and equipment that must be disconnected on site need different plans. Share the actual city, state, quantity, access restrictions and deadline. Ask how the auctioneer will reach relevant bidders and manage the physical handoff.
Buyers should confirm the lot’s actual location, inspection opportunities, buyer’s premium and pickup or shipping terms in the event catalog. A state license number does not establish where a lot is stored.
Practical questions
It identifies a professional subject to a state’s licensing system. Check the current official record, then evaluate the actual agreement, catalog, communication and money-handling arrangements. A license does not guarantee a selling price or a trouble-free transaction.
Do not treat a license as nationwide permission. Rules, exemptions and reciprocity differ. Start with the state where the auction or property is located and use that state’s official guidance for the proposed activity.
No. Bidding Is Open is based in Ocoee, Florida. These are Darrien Eouse’s auctioneer credentials. Property acceptance, travel, cataloging, sale location and pickup arrangements are reviewed for each engagement.
Send representative photos, a rough inventory, the property’s city and state, access details and your timeline. We can discuss whether the project fits and what services and logistics would need to be included in a written engagement.