I got started with color processing when all the local shops except one closed a couple years ago, and the remaining one was a long drive across town. I get the Unicolor C-41 kit from Freestyle and it will process at least twice the dozen rolls they promise, so the cost per roll is about a buck compared to around $7 that I was paying for processing before. I mostly shoot cheap Fuji 200, but have had good results from other films as well, including some expired bulk Portra 160 for my 127 cameras.