{"id":5544,"date":"2016-04-04T10:48:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/understanding-business-name-terminology.html"},"modified":"2026-05-11T12:04:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T17:04:00","slug":"understanding-business-name-terminology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/understanding-business-name-terminology.html","title":{"rendered":"Business Name Terminology: Legal Names, DBAs, and Trademarks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Business Name Terminology: Legal Names, DBAs, and Trademarks <\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Small business name terminology is essential for entrepreneurs to understand the legal and operational aspects of their business entities. Key terms include assumed names (DBA), business names, company names, domain names, fictitious names, legal names, trademarks, and trade names.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

By now, you probably realize that entrepreneurship involves a crash course in many interrelated disciplines, from sales and marketing to management and business law. Even the process of settling on a business name<\/span>, checking for availability, and making sure the name isn\u2019t trademarked involves the use of terms with specific legal meanings.<\/p>\n

Learning the meaning of these various terms will help you better understand the process. The following list of business name<\/span> terminology will help you get up to speed.<\/p>\n

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Small Business<\/span> Terminology<\/h2>\n

The following list of business name<\/span> terminology can help you with your new business:<\/p>\n

Assumed name:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a name you use with the public. Assumed names, sometimes called\u00a0doing business as<\/a>\u00a0(DBA) names, are common in sole proprietorships. The business owner does not want to use their name, so they register an assumed name.<\/p>\n

Business name<\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>The\u00a0business name<\/span><\/a>\u00a0refers to all the business names<\/span> of the organization. This includes business\u2019s legal names, corporate names, and\u00a0assumed or fictitious names<\/a>. When used this way, \u201cbusiness name<\/span>\u201d is a generic term. It does not differentiate between more specific types of business names<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Company name<\/span> or corporate name:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>When a business\u00a0incorporates<\/a>, it registers a corporate name in its\u00a0articles of incorporation<\/a>. Similarly, a\u00a0limited liability company<\/a>\u00a0(LLC) registers an LLC name. A\u00a0limited partnership<\/a>\u00a0(LP) registers an LP name. Before the name gets registered, the secretary of state (or whatever other state office oversees business organizations) must approve these entities\u2019 names. The business entity\u2019s name is the company or corporate name of record.<\/p>\n

Domain name<\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0This is the website name for your business. FindLaw\u2019s domain name<\/span> is www.findlaw.com.<\/p>\n

Fictitious business name<\/span>:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0fictitious business name<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is a name different than what the business was originally formed as. It is sometimes called a trade name or doing business as (DBA). For example, Buffy Summers called her\u00a0sole proprietorship<\/a>\u00a0Slayer Sundries. \u201cSlayer Sundries\u201d is her fictitious name. It is not her name. You must register a fictitious business name<\/span> with your state.<\/p>\n

Legal name:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0legal name<\/a>\u00a0is the official name of the business. A sole proprietor\u2019s legal name is the owner\u2019s own name or full name. Suppose a general partnership has given a name to itself in a\u00a0written partnership agreement<\/a>. In that case, that name is the general partnership\u2019s legal name. Otherwise, a general partnership\u2019s legal name is the owners\u2019 last name. The legal name gets registered with the secretary of state for limited partnerships, LLCs, and corporations.<\/p>\n

Trademark:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0trademark<\/a>\u00a0(or \u201cmark\u201d) is any word, phrase, design, symbol, or scent used to market a product or service. A mark used to sell a service is a service mark, though a trademark is commonly used to describe both types of marks. Trademark holders can have authority under federal and state law to stop others from using their marks. To get protection at the federal level, you must submit a trademark or trade name registration with the\u00a0United States Patent and Trademark Office<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(USPTO).<\/p>\n

Trade name:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0trade name<\/a>\u00a0is a name by which the public knows your company. It may or may not be the same as the legal name of the owner. Government agencies and banks need your business\u2019s legal and trade names when doing business. A trade name is also called a fictitious name or doing business as a name.<\/p>\n

Need Legal Help Securing a Business Name<\/span> or Trademark?<\/h2>\n

Before picking your business name<\/span>, run a business name<\/span> search.\u00a0Choosing the right name for your business<\/a>\u00a0at the start is essential for a small business<\/span> owner. If you need help understanding the\u00a0trademark process<\/a>\u00a0or have any other legal questions as you start your business, contact a\u00a0business and commercial attorney<\/a>\u00a0in your state.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n

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