Some quilting stores will rent time on their long arms - this would be good way to get a feel for it and decide if it's something you want to invest in. Prices vary a lot - I bought my 16" HandiQuilter Avante for just under $10K, but lots of people have found used machines for less. One advantage of buying through a dealer, esp. if they are local is that they will provide setup help, initial training, and support. My dealer is going to offer long arm classes to everyone who bought a machine from her (for a cost, I'm sure). Figure out how much you spend on quilting a year, and that may help you determine your budget for a long arm.