A Printavo alternative built for embroidery shops
EMBquote is a Printavo alternative built for embroidery shops that price by stitch count, not print colors. It starts from embroidery quoting, live SanMar and S&S Activewear catalogs, and two-way QuickBooks Online sync with hold-and-review.
The short version
Printavo earned its reputation in the screen-print world, and for shops whose primary business is printing it is a solid choice. The question for an embroidery shop is whether its quoting model matches how embroidery prices. EMBquote was built inside East Coast Embroidery, a working Rhode Island shop — built by a real embroidery shop using it every day — so embroidery is the starting point, not an adaptation.
Where embroidery shops feel the friction with a print-first tool
Screen printing is priced on colors, print locations and ink. Embroidery is priced on stitch counts, run-time, hooping per position, and decoration methods like 3D puff and applique. A tool built around the print mental model can be bent toward embroidery, but you end up working around it.
- Stitch-count pricing. Embroidery's core pricing axis is not native to a print-first quoting flow.
- Per-position hooping. Re-hooping every garment for each location does not map to “print locations.”
- Decoration methods. Puff, applique and specialty-thread upcharges need embroidery-specific handling.
For how shops set the stitch rate and quantity breaks, see the embroidery pricing calculator guide and the embroidery price chart.
How EMBquote starts from embroidery
- A guided quote wizard. Embroidery is one of four ways to quote, alongside screen print, transfers, and contract decoration on customer-supplied garments.
- A stitch-count estimate up front. Try the free embroidery calculator.
- Live SanMar and S&S Activewear catalogs (8,377+ products) with an in-stock filter.
- Two-way QuickBooks Online sync with hold-and-review: edits stay in EMBquote until you save, then the old estimate is voided and a clean one is created.
- A production dashboard with a configurable stage workflow and a “My Queue” view for each embroiderer.
- A customer storefront on your own domain (Pro).
Side-by-side: how each approach handles the quote
| Print-first tools | EMBquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Built around | The screen-print mental model: colors, locations, ink | Embroidery: stitch counts, hooping per position, decoration methods |
| Where it comes from | A print-shop starting point | Built inside East Coast Embroidery, a working Rhode Island shop |
| QuickBooks | Check how each tool syncs | Two-way QuickBooks Online sync with hold-and-review |
| Pricing | Check the vendor's own pricing page | See EMBquote pricing |
This table describes the approach only. Check any vendor's own site for its current features and prices. EMBquote does not list competitor dollar prices here.
Feature by feature: EMBquote vs Printavo
| EMBquote | Printavo | |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Embroidery-first quoting and shop management for small decorators | Embroidery page states it is built for screen printing, embroidery, DTG, and DTF |
| Quoting | Guided wizard by decoration type (embroidery, screen print, transfers, contract); stitch-count pricing | Build detailed quotes; embroidery page describes pricing matrices by stitch count and colors |
| Embroidery files (DST/PES) | Not claimed — enter stitch count / estimate; update after digitizing | Upload and store digitized files with the order |
| Approvals / proof portal | Not claimed in this comparison | Customers review mockups and sign off online |
| Payments | QuickBooks Payments 'View & pay invoice' button on invoice emails | Collect payments in-person and online (per embroidery FAQ) |
| Production | Production dashboard with stages and My Queue | Calendar and production scheduling for embroidery machines; capacity planning |
| Accounting | Two-way QuickBooks Online sync; void-and-recreate estimates on revision | Not stated on the embroidery page fetched |
| Supplier catalog | SanMar and S&S Activewear, in-stock filter | Not stated on the embroidery page fetched |
| Automation/reporting | Not claimed | Not restated on the embroidery page fetched (check Printavo's main features) |
Printavo facts from printavo.com embroidery business software (fetched Nov 9, 2026). EMBquote facts from embquote.com (same day). “Not claimed” / “Not stated” means the fetched page did not say it, not that the feature is missing elsewhere.
What Printavo's embroidery page answers that EMBquote does not claim
- Digitized file storage on the order. Printavo's FAQ says you can upload and store production digitized files with the corresponding order. EMBquote does not claim a DST/PES viewer or file attachment on the order.
- Customer mockup approvals online. Printavo describes sending mockups for review and sign-off. EMBquote's compare table marks Approvals as not claimed; the storefront is order intake, not a proof portal.
- Machine-level scheduling calendar. Printavo's FAQ says you can schedule jobs on embroidery machines and manage capacity. EMBquote has a production dashboard and My Queue, not a machine calendar claim.
Those are real buyer questions. We leave them unmarked rather than invent a match. Source: Printavo embroidery page, Nov 9, 2026.
What EMBquote answers that Printavo's embroidery page does not emphasize
- Two-way QuickBooks Online with hold-and-review. Edits stay in EMBquote until you save; then the old estimate is voided and a clean one is created.
- Live SanMar + S&S Activewear catalogs inside the quote, with an in-stock filter (8,377+ products on the live product page).
- Embroidery-first quote wizard with stitch-count pricing and per-position hooping as the default path — not a print run adapted later.
- Other-wholesaler paste when the blank is not on SanMar or S&S.
After the quote is won, see embroidery production workflow after the quote for how work moves to the floor.
Who should stay with Printavo
If screen printing is your main business, or you need machine scheduling, digitized-file storage on the order, and an online proof-approval portal as described on Printavo's embroidery page, evaluate Printavo against your own mix of work. Check Printavo's embroidery page and pricing on their site.
Who should look at EMBquote
Shops where embroidery is the primary business and QuickBooks Online is the system of record. Read more on the embroidery quote software page.
Printavo is a trademark of its respective owner. EMBquote is not affiliated with Printavo.
Try EMBquote
Quote embroidery by stitch count, pull blanks from live SanMar and S&S catalogs, and sync to QuickBooks Online. Built by a real embroidery shop using it every day.
Start free trial14-day free trial (credit card required up front), then $149/month early-bird ($299/month regular).
See pricingComparison FAQ
Is Printavo good for pure embroidery shops?
Printavo is a capable, popular tool, and its embroidery page states it is built for shops that also do screen printing, embroidery, DTG, and DTF. Pure embroidery shops often need stitch-count pricing, hooping per position, and multi-location decoration as the starting model, not an adaptation of print runs. The right fit depends on your mix of work.
What should an embroidery shop look for in a Printavo alternative?
Look for embroidery-native quoting (stitch counts, hooping and decoration methods built in, not configured around), live blank catalogs such as SanMar and S&S Activewear inside the quote, right-sized scope for a small decorator, and a clean QuickBooks sync with a hold-and-review step instead of an auto-dump.
Does EMBquote do screen printing too?
The EMBquote quote wizard also handles screen print, transfers, and contract decoration on customer-supplied garments. EMBquote is embroidery-first. If screen printing is your main business, a tool built around the print model may fit better. See screen print quote software.
How does the QuickBooks sync work?
Edits stay in EMBquote until you save. On save, the old QuickBooks estimate is voided and a clean one is created, so your books are not filled with half-finished quotes. Nothing reaches QuickBooks until you approve it.
Can I keep using my existing wholesalers?
EMBquote has live SanMar and S&S Activewear catalogs. For any other wholesaler, paste a cart and EMBquote adds it to the quote as an “Other Wholesaler” entry.
Does EMBquote read DST or PES embroidery files?
No. EMBquote does not claim a native DST/PES/EXP/JEF viewer. Enter a stitch-count estimate in the quote, then update when digitizing returns the true count. Printavo's embroidery page states you can upload and store digitized files with the order. Try the free embroidery calculator for planning estimates.
Does EMBquote have a customer proof or artwork approval portal?
Not claimed. Printavo's embroidery page describes sending mockups for customers to review and sign off online. EMBquote's customer storefront is order intake on your own domain (Pro), not a proof-approval portal.
What does EMBquote cost?
See the EMBquote pricing page for current plans. Pro includes a 14-day free trial (credit card required up front). When it ends, your subscription begins at $149/month early-bird ($299/month regular).