While reporting our Cleveland for Sale series examining one network of real estate investors, we came across some unusual (and some goofy) names for limited liability companies, called LLCs. We started to wonder, could people tell the difference between real and fake names?

Let’s find out! Test your skills.

Here are the rules: All of the real LLC names below are companies that have bought or sold property in Cuyahoga County. Signal staff huddled to dream up some fake names, though, it turned out, some of them are actually registered businesses in Ohio.

Signal background

April Urban was the director of research and impact for Signal Cleveland through December, 2024 striving to bring transparency to local civic data.

Managing Editor (she/her)
I foster civic and accountability reporting that is inspired by and responsive to community questions, curiosity and demand so Clevelanders have the opportunities they deserve to understand and participate in local democracy and build power.

Camille was the inaugural audience manager at Signal Cleveland until October, 2024. Using simple social media posts, videos and newsletters, she worked to break complicated news stories into bite-sized chunks that invite Clevelanders to learn more from our reporters’ full stories.