[ebarker]

I think your mileage can very widely between embroidery shops. There are low cost packages that some storefront shops that cost only a hundred or two dollars. They are limited in capabilities and cannot necessarily handle vector formats.

Higher end shops and commercial production shops have software that is much more capable and can handle vector formats. I think their software cost many thousands of dollars.

Even then, using a jpeg is just a color to thread replacement.

Virtually any shop will charge a setup fee. And it is justified on their end.

Ed