I recently had a conversation with a retired business owner (very successful) who told me about experiences, good and bad, that he had while building his business.  That conversation inspired me to write this article.

If you’re a business owner and you’re experiencing malicious and damaging attacks by competitors, this article is for you. Everything that I have included here is completely true with no exaggeration.  This is just a sample of what we’ve experienced for nearly 16 years.  You are not alone. This is part informational for you and part therapy for me lol!

We have three competitors that have attacked us one way or another for years.  There are others but they are secondary players.  They continue to this day.

I sympathize AND empathize.  Business owners work long hours and handle many challenges.  That’s why only 13% (2023 stats) of Canadians are business owners.  It is extremely frustrating when competitors, unprovoked, undermine everything you’ve worked for by posting yet another fake 1 star review.  It used to devastate us.  Currently we have about 40 fake 1 star reviews on Google alone. These are the ones that Google Didn’t remove. They go back years and the damage they have done to us has been significant.  This reduced our Google rating from 4.9 to 4.5, making it almost impossible to ever achieve our true rating again. At Take Time, we know our Google rating will never be higher than it is now. We have a competitor who tracks our reviews and posts a fake 1 star review, just before we go up a rank.  That pulls our rank down again. She causes our ranking to be permanently locked. Why?  Because we have authority in the industry and charge about $25 per hour Less than she does.

Over the years, they’ve involved a lot of people, friends, family and even employees, to do their dirty work while they stood back and enjoyed the outcomes. They should have considered the possibility that one day they might be “ratted out”–which is exactly what has happened.  Their former accomplices have contacted us.  First two and then later another two.  Maybe they resent being manipulated.  Maybe they now have husbands that own businesses who are not at all impressed by what their wives were told to do.  Maybe they’re now business owners themselves.  Or maybe they’re just older and wiser and now understand that they were used.  These former “accomplices” have been a gift to us. After assuring them that we wouldn’t take any legal action, we gained a lot of information and WOW! Unsettling!  They connected a lot of dots for us and explained things that we often wondered about.

Sixteen years is a long time.  We are veterans.  In our case, there isn’t just one competitor there are three (initially two and later a third joined them).  They collaborate and they are obsessed with my company.  I believe that initially they felt threatened but later it just became fun for them.  We used to joke that these women spent their Friday nights bonding while planning their next attacks on us.  Fake reviews, disturbing or silly phone calls, interference of all kinds, you name it, all meant to cause damage, alarm us, waste our time, create chaos, and generally harm us personally by harming our livelihood.  That’s what they do.  They’ve stolen from us, they’ve lied about us, made false accusations online, disrupted our work, and damaged our reputation through our review sites.  This may sound familiar to you.  If so, we know how you feel.  It’s stressful.  You don’t know what’s coming next and they love that.  They’re bullies and they love the power. The best antidote is your success.

I started Take Time in July of 2009.  By September, it had already started. I was advised to document everything.  First the alarming phone calls. Then they started sending me on wild goose chases and stealing my business information.  At that time, I was doing in home estimates and I had an information folder that I would leave with each home owner.  It wasn’t long before it became clear that I was educating my competition.  They had people they knew schedule estimates so they could learn my systems and then steal all my pertinent business information.  Later, the fake reviews started appearing on Google, Yelp and other review sites, from names that I had never heard of let alone serviced.  In fact we searched one name from a fake review and found it on an obituary site from another city, same name and same head shot.  They even involved their employees.  Some were barely out of high school at that time.  Young, vulnerable and impressionable. I continued to document. They were sloppy at covering their tracks at that time and they revealed a lot.

Then one day, one of the trio, actually called me.  While on speakerphone, she informed me that she had reached out and become friendly with all the other residential cleaning company owners in Winnipeg.  ???  I asked her “Why are you telling me this?”  No answer.  I guess it was meant to show me how “in control” she was.  I thought, Wow! You are a nut!  Are we really that threatening to you?  I was later told that she is ALL about control.

During Covid they went full on crazy.  We had to keep our office doors locked during working hours. I suspect they felt that now would be a great time to apply maximum damage since businesses were already hurting, maybe out of frustration we would just close our business for good.  Cease and Desist letters were helpful but then they just changed their tactics.  They continued. I could go on and on.

Sixteen years of this is a very long time but the fear of it subsides.  What was once alarming, devastating even, is now annoying.  The public sees through it, and that reassures me.  As long as you’re providing great value and a reasonable price, their efforts won’t really matter because you continue to succeed.  Online bullies are everywhere now.  Google reviews still matter but people know they aren’t reliable anymore.  People are good at spotting fakes.  The lived experience that you provide for your clients matters.  Good news spreads and it’s a lot more effective than reviews.

Who are they?  People ask me when they read all the fake 1 Star reviews on my review platforms. There are 3. They are not franchise owners.  Recognizable branding. The most dominant of the trio has a fun cutesy website with a distinct branding colour”, eye watering prices and 100s of 5 star reviews, something that does not align with her exclusive prices. The second, is also notoriously expensive.  Her personal story, posted publicly on her website, does not align with her reputation. Certainly, my experience with her and knowledge of her, do not match the saintly message this story seems to communicate. And the third, is a participating member of this click who’s actions have been equally predatory and damaging to us. All 3 collaborate and use their friends to carry out their attacks on us. They’ve been doing this for years. They are deceptive, scheming, and intimidating. Confronted, they will deny, dismiss, play the victim and gaslight.  They are experts at this.

My experience may seem extreme but it isn’t.  Over the years business owners from various industries have described their own experiences and believe me I’ve heard it all.  There are dedicated chat rooms for entrepreneurs on handling this very topic.  My advice, is to document, document, document everything and include events, dates, times, names, etc.  This is a pain but must be done, very important.  Surveillance cameras are also important and should be capable of both audio and visual.  Witnesses are extremely important.  A good lawyer is a must.

My story might be different from yours.  It’s not every business that has a cabal trying to harm you and for such a long time, but even one crazed competitor can be very distressing.  My sincere hope is that you will gain some comfort from my story. Use their malice to fuel your determination to be successful.

In closing, I’m grateful.  I’ve learned a lot and this experience has made my company stronger, larger and more resilient. It’s also made us more cohesive and more determined.  From almost the beginning, Take Time has been very successful and that’s why, I believe, we suffered such wrath from these competitors.  We love serving our clients.  We love doing what we do.  Today we are Winnipeg’s largest and most awarded residential cleaning company with a second location in Edmonton.  Hard work, perseverance and determined optimism are the keys to our success.  Hang in there.  Adversity makes us smarter and stronger.

When most homeowners think about hiring cleaning services in Winnipeg, the first thing that comes to mind is convenience. A clean home looks great and feels comfortable—but what many people don’t realize is that professional cleaning also plays a big role in your health.

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Mold and Moisture Prevention

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A Healthier Home Starts with Consistency

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Keeping your home clean and comfortable takes time, and many homeowners in Winnipeg wonder how often they should schedule professional cleaning. Whether you live in a busy household with kids and pets or simply want help maintaining your home, scheduling the right frequency for house cleaning Winnipeg services can make a big difference.

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Bi-weekly cleaning is the most popular option for many Winnipeg households. This schedule helps prevent buildup of dust and grime while still being cost-effective. Many professional house cleaning services Winnipeg companies recommend this schedule for families who want consistent cleanliness without needing weekly visits.

Monthly cleaning works well for smaller homes, couples, or individuals who already do regular tidying themselves. A professional house cleaning Winnipeg service once a month can handle deeper cleaning tasks such as scrubbing bathrooms, mopping floors, and dusting harder-to-reach areas.

Your home’s location and environment also play a role. Winnipeg’s changing seasons can bring in mud, salt, snow, and dust. During winter and spring especially, homes may need more frequent cleaning to keep floors and entryways tidy.

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Professional cleaners follow detailed checklists to ensure your home receives consistent care. From disinfecting high-touch surfaces to vacuuming carpets and mopping floors, experienced cleaning services Winnipeg professionals ensure every room looks its best.

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When choosing house cleaning Winnipeg services, homeowners often compare professional companies with independent cleaners. While both options can be helpful, professional house cleaning companies in Winnipeg offer advantages that many homeowners value.

Professional companies provide trained, insured staff and structured cleaning systems. This ensures consistency and reliability from visit to visit. A professional house cleaning service in Winnipeg follows checklists and quality standards that reduce risk and improve results.

Independent cleaners may offer flexibility, but professional house cleaning companies in Winnipeg provide accountability, scheduling reliability, and customer support.

For homeowners who value peace of mind, professional house cleaning Winnipeg services offer a dependable solution.

Take Time Home Cleaning delivers professional house cleaning services in Winnipeg with the consistency and care homeowners expect.

Pricing is one of the first things homeowners consider when hiring a house cleaning service in Winnipeg. Understanding what affects the cost helps set realistic expectations and ensures you choose the right provider.

Several factors influence pricing among house cleaning companies in Winnipeg, including home size, cleaning frequency, and level of detail required. One-time deep cleans typically cost more than recurring services because they require additional time and effort.

Recurring house cleaning Winnipeg services often provide better long-term value. Weekly or bi-weekly cleanings help maintain cleanliness and reduce the need for deep cleaning each visit.

Transparency is key. Reputable house cleaning companies in Winnipeg clearly explain what’s included in their pricing and avoid hidden fees.

At Take Time Home Cleaning, we provide honest pricing for professional house cleaning services in Winnipeg, helping homeowners feel confident in their investment.

One of the most common questions homeowners ask is how often they should book professional house cleaning Winnipeg services. The answer depends on your lifestyle, household size, and cleaning priorities. A trusted house cleaning service in Winnipeg can help you choose a schedule that keeps your home consistently clean without overdoing it.

Weekly cleaning is ideal for busy households, families with children, or homes with pets. Regular visits from professional house cleaning companies in Winnipeg prevent dirt and clutter from building up and make each cleaning more effective.

Bi-weekly cleaning is a popular option for many homeowners. A bi-weekly house cleaning service in Winnipeg maintains cleanliness while allowing flexibility for those who do light tidying in between visits.

Monthly cleaning works well for smaller households or individuals who need help with deeper cleaning tasks. Professional house cleaning Winnipeg services can focus on areas that are often overlooked during routine cleaning.

At Take Time Home Cleaning, we help homeowners choose the right house cleaning services in Winnipeg based on their needs, ensuring comfort and consistency year-round.