Funny post above me =p Some truth in there though from what I've heard.
I havn't got my first hives yet but I've been researching about a year now. I plan on starting with two hives but I'm going to get enough equipment for three. I first started by contacting a bunch of local beekeepers till I found someone who let me come to their yard and was willing to show me some of the ropes. I also joined the local Beekeeping Association and went to a few meetings, a seminar, and a picnic. The 2 books I found most helpful was "beekeeping for dummies" and "the backyard beekeeper". The "ABC/XYZ of Beeculture" was less inspiring but a great resource too.
Equipment costs are undoubtly going to start adding up, buy building your contacts through the beekeeping associations will help. I'm planning on borrowing/renting some of my mentors extracting equipment when the time comes. I'd like to make a living of beekeeping but I don't think the profit potential is really there..unless you have like a few hundered hives. Renting them out to farmers seems to be where the big bux are at.