A DBA -- short for "doing business as" -- is a trade name that differs from your personal name. When you first create a business, its legal name defaults to the person or entity that owns it. In order to choose a different name, you must register a ...

When you conduct business under a name different than your own, you are using a DBA which is short for "doing business as." Each state has its own DBA laws, some of which refer to a DBA as a fictitious business name, assumed name or trade name.