first- start by visiting dealers & shows- try out machines- there are a vast difference and variety of machines. in all price ranges- machines can be found used- people trade in when they upgrade- people sell them when their lives change- frames/tables/whole set ups vary-
first step is to go visit a few in person- at shows you can generally try them out & have some fun-
some quilt shops have machines they will let you take a class to learn to use-then rent time on it to do your own quilts- start locally- also, talk to your regular (long-arm) quilter- see if she would allow you some time to check out her machine/setup...when i first bought mine i took a certification class at a quilt shop in Florida- the 4 hour class was $50 - once certified you could rent time for $20 an hour when you wanted to quilt your quilts- I offer the same to the customers who bring me their quilts- i have had a few people come in & take the class- quilt a quilt or two- then decide although kind of fun they would rather pay me to do it- they either don't want to spend the time or have decided it's more work than they thought- but they still can come in & do their own if they want to=or made that special quilt they really want to be completely from them...
first step is 'test drives' just like buying a car (& sometimes more expensive than) prices range from a couple thousand right up to mortgage levels...depending on the 'bells & whistles' you want/need