For the curious... it takes about $4-7 K to equip a moderate studio; but don't let that stop you from getting involved. You acquire equipment "as you go"... a wheel, slab roller, extruder, kiln, etc.. Don't be afraid to buy used equip-ment... as long as it works! My "scariest" investment was buying a used/damaged pug mill (clay recycler) from a non-profit artist organization. I paid $200 (their scrap metal rate) knowing it had "major" problems. Turns out the kids/folks who used it, carelessly filled it with clay bearing pottery tools (ribs, sponges, trimmers). After days of dismantling, and torturous "unplugging", it worked... a $3000 turnaround... I was "lucky".

   If you live in the stix, you generally won't have a problem with the EPA or local codes regarding glazing/firing. If you get good enough to hurdle the "hobby phase" and file for a DBA (business status), you "should" do your homework and check into your municipality's codes "before" making/announcing the jump. You "could" screw yourself out of a business "and hobby" at the same time if your craft conflicts with local or EPA code... a catch 22. It took me 3 months of "carefully" filing docs with our city and New York State's DEC/EPA before I could operate as a business. Some of my fellow potters work/fly "under the radar"... don't get caught... it's "expensive" !  Other than that you should be okay... don't lick your tools, or fire dinnerware with "bizarre" (ie. depleted uranium) glazes... keep it safe!