Machines we research
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Lab status: every product page is marked researched until a machine we bought has been through the test protocol.
Research hub
Single-needle to multi-needle, for hats, patches and names.
Every page here is research-stage: specs come from manufacturer documentation and are cited. Lab results appear as we test each machine. How we research & test
Picks come from our research guides (spec sheets, documentation and cited owner reports) — not lab results yet.
| Best for | Research pick | Why | From guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best researched single-needle starter | Brother PE900 | 5 × 7 in field, rated up to 650 spm, 193 built-in designs, wireless LAN and USB, for $1,179.99. Embroidery-only. Every color change means re-threading by hand, and there's no cap support. | Best Embroidery Machine for a Small Business: Research Picks (2026) |
| Best researched first multi-needle | Brother Entrepreneur W PR680W | 6 needles, up to 1,000 spm, 8 × 12 in max field, cap-frame capable, 10.1 in touchscreen and wireless. Frames from 1.5 × 2 in to 8 × 12 in are included; Brother doesn't list a cap frame among them. Sold through dealers. | Best Embroidery Machine for a Small Business: Research Picks (2026) |
| Best researched 10-needle value (caps included) | Ricoma EM-1010 | 10 needles, up to 1,000 spm, 12.2 × 8.3 in field, four hoops plus 2 cap rings and a cap driver. $6,999 regular; bundles from $5,079 on Ricoma's store. Weighs 99 lb. | Best Embroidery Machine for a Small Business: Research Picks (2026) |
| Best researched large-field single-needle | Janome Memory Craft 500E Limited Edition | 7.9 × 11 in field at up to 860 spm, with four hoops up to 7.9 × 11 in included. $3,499 list (dealer pricing varies). Designs load by USB; still one needle. | Best Embroidery Machine for a Small Business: Research Picks (2026) |
| Best researched budget pick for names and tiny logos | Brother SE700 | Sewing plus embroidery combo with a 4 × 4 in field and wireless LAN, $579.99 list ($529.99 on Brother's site when checked). Brother doesn't list an embroidery speed for it. | Best Embroidery Machine for a Small Business: Research Picks (2026) |
Status: researched — specs from manufacturer sources, not yet measured in our lab.
Brother's 10-needle Entrepreneur Pro W: 8 x 14 in field, built-in camera, 1,280 designs, cap-frame capable.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Brother 6-needle home/business embroidery machine with an 8 x 12 in field, 10.1 in LCD, wireless and cap-frame support.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Long-running 5 x 7 in single-needle Brother embroidery machine with a color touch LCD and USB design import.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Brother's current 5 x 7 in embroidery-only machine with wireless LAN, 193 built-in designs and a 3.7 in color LCD.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Brother sewing and embroidery combo with a 5 x 7 in field, 241 sewing stitches, 193 designs and wireless LAN.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Entry-level Brother sewing and embroidery combo with a 4 x 4 in field, wireless LAN and 135 built-in designs.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Janome single-needle embroidery-only machine with a 7.9 x 11 in field, four hoops and 860 spm top speed.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Ricoma's entry 10-needle machine: 12.2 x 8.3 in field, 1,000 spm, 10.1 in touchscreen and a 220-degree cap system.
Paid link: we may earn a commission; it never changes our picks.
Newsletter
New research, price changes and test results as they land. Written for people who make things to sell.