If it was me and I was going to do this as a business, if possible I would rent the machine I wanted to buy and perfect my craft before I ever bought the machine. I would be able to put my work before the quilt police in any town before I purchased a machine.
Then as a businessperson, I rarely buy new equipment. I do buy alot of demo machines or slightly used machines.
Next, that machine is a machine so I would make sure it was working as much as possible so I would see if the other LA'ers or potential LA'ers would be interested in forming a group to use one machine by the hour or job. IOW, each professional LA'er doesnt need their own machine technically, they just need access to a high quality machine. Split the true machine costs, upkeeep, utilities and physical space. Lower your cost but allowing you to use a higher level machine.
Finally that business plan is very important.