Which term refers to the formal name under which a business operates?

The formal name under which a business operates is referred to as "Doing Business As" (DBA). This term signifies that while a business entity may have a legal name registered with the state, it may also choose to operate under a different name for branding purposes, customer engagement, or marketing. The DBA allows the business to present itself in a way that may be more appealing or recognizable to its target audience.

For example, if a corporation is named "XYZ Corporation," it might operate its retail store under the name "XYZ Widgets." In this case, "XYZ Widgets" is the DBA. Registering a DBA also provides legal protection for the name, ensuring that other businesses cannot use the same name within the same jurisdiction.

Other options like Corporate Identity, Business Registration, and Trade Name, while related concepts, do not specifically define the operational name a business chooses to use in its daily affairs. Corporate Identity encompasses the visual representation of the business brand, Business Registration refers to the legal registration process of forming a business entity, and Trade Name might sound similar to DBA, but it broadly refers to names used in commerce rather than specifically the operational name that is diverse from the legal name.