Does property ownership qualify as "equivalent experience" for broker's license?

[S. Aaron Scholl]

I'm interested in starting a property management company in CA to manage. I'm weighing the options of hiring an operator with a broker's license vs. getting my own broker's license. 

 I do not currently have a RE Agent or Broker's license. I know that property management companies in CA are required to have a broker's license. According to DRE.CA.GOV, in order to get a broker's license, I would need to show I have years of experience as an agent, or "equivalent experience." 

Does anyone know if being an active owner (managing my own properties, rehabbing old units, developing new units) would qualify as equivalent experience? 

Alternatively, is there a cost efficient way to utilize someone else's broker's license to start this company?