I was doing this a few yrs ago. I ended up buying a 54" sc starter combo. I felt like being a newbie never cutting vinyl before, this would be the easiest way to make my own sign for our business . no heat press, just all the tools to start cutting vinyl. maybe the sign shop combo. but always had intentions to add htv . I even ordered htv with my initial order. so 6 months or so later after learning how to cut vinyl a friend came in on a fri wanting shirts for a biz meeting with FEMA by mon. Quickest thing I could get because of amazons sun del was a press from there. so I didn't see anything I really was interested in so didn't want to spend a lot. in the jam I ordered a $125- $150 9x12 swing arm press. I def made my $ back quickly. have now upgraded both cutter and press. with that being said, I would def do it different if I was starting from scratch again, and that is starting with higher quality servo cutter from the start. there is a difference. like others have posted , it really shows in larger cuts. I had to redo my 1st BIG commercial job. I didn't catch the error before the customer did. so that was a tough 1. starting out with the cheaper stepper cutter you will def learn all the tricks to getting clean cuts. then really appreciate a servo cutter when you get there. my upgrade to servo was with a pre owned cutter, but if doing it from the beginning , Ive seen the Titan 2 on sale at affordable price for a servo. a friend of mine loves and swears by his, less than half the price of a Graphtec or Roland.