Trade Name

Corporations are not required to have a trade name. However, many choose to use one. A trade name is also known as a fictitious name or DBA (doing business as). This name is the one the company does business under if it does not use its actual or "legal" name. For example, if Jones Center, Inc. does business as Jones & Sons, then "Jones Center, Inc." is the legal name and "Jones & Sons" is the trade name.