What is a trade name (fictitious name)?

• A. Trade name (fictitious name)
• B. Corporate name
• C. Legal alias
• D. Registered name

Answer: (A)

A trade name, also called a fictitious name, is the name a business uses in its everyday operations and branding that is different from its legal name. It must be registered with the state so the public knows who actually owns and runs the business. This distinguishes it from the corporate name—the legal name of the entity—and from generic terms that don’t capture the formal registration of a fictitious name. In short, the trade name is the publicly used name distinct from the legal entity name, and it’s the term that matches the concept described.