Business Aliases, Pen Names, Legal Name Changes, Business Names, Depositing Payments

Hello,I am new here and have a question I have been unable to find fuller information on, here or about the internet.I am aware that most states require you to register a business name.  But, let's say I want a business name that is a regular name different from my own - but not a business name in the regular sense like Flying Pancakes or Henderson's Typing Services or Alan's Auto Service.  Let's say my name is Harriet Smith - and I have a certain education background that enables me to work as a consultant in a specific field - for example, education.  But I don't want to use Harriet Smith.  I want to use an alias like Juliet Moore, for example.  And under this alias, represent honestly my background.  i.e.  I have a degree in such and such, from this university or that, X number of years doing this work -- all of that is accurate.  But I want to use a different name, publicly.What are my options, here?  Especially if I am working on line - and in a field like consulting.I am guessing that I can,(1)  Register Juliet Moore (in this hypothetical example) as a business;  or(2)  Actually change my name, legally, to Juliet Moore; OR ?? Can I use Juliet Moore as a pen name - like an author?  And if so, is any kind of business name registration required? Finally, and most importantly, how does this play into depositing checks or payments into a bank account in one's legal name, if one doesn't change one's legal name?Also, if one does make money writing under a pen name -- in conjunction with a consulting practice - or in and of itself - how does one go about depositing checks - or do you just inform any publisher that it's a pen name and that you are to paid under your real name?  One article I read seemed to imply that some publishers just make a check out in the pen name and people just deposit it?  Is that true? Anyone who can give me a fuller picture, here, I would appreciate it!  Thanks in advance for any information!