Agree with Jim, starting up cleaning or/and carpet cleaning service is one thing but running a BUSINESS is another thing.
How many will be around in 12 months time. You will see some newbies (in various trades) setting up in nice new vans and top equipment spending all there redundancy money or getting it on finance. All well and good, but things take time-especialy building up a good client base and they will find it hard to survive. Away from business bills you also have you OWN bills and if you have a family then it goes up even more, then its trying to get a constant flow of work. Most want it now, and its not like that - its long term.
Look at now with the weather and how its affecting work for most of us, those who been around a whille will have some work through regulars (and even then aint hard to get to in ice/snow). The new-ish ones will not have regulars and im sure would struggle to make ends meet at best of times while starting up.
Compertition is good and the longer your around it,s shouldnt be that much of a 'problem' (so long you do a good job). Id say it's worse being a builder/ paintor & decorator - look at how many are listed around where you are.
Cheers