A DBA (Doing Business As), also known as a fictitious name or trade name, is a name under which a business operates that is not its legal registered name.

It is commonly used when a business wants to operate under a name different from the one on its legal documents, such as an LLC or corporation. Registering a DBA does not grant you exclusive rights to the name unless you also register the name as a trademark. A DBA is useful when a business has multiple lines of business or wants a more appealing name without the need to create an entirely new legal entity.

Practical Example: If you have an LLC named "Katerin Enterprises, LLC" and you want to operate a clothing store under the name "Katerin's Boutique", you would need to register "Katerin's Boutique" as a DBA. This allows you to use that name on signs, marketing materials, and contracts, while legally still being "Katerin Enterprises, LLC".