Generally most port jobs for the street are basically just clean up jobs. Casting marks are removed and everything is made to look nice and pretty. The intake/exhaust design and form is the same as when you sent it out. It just flows a little better due to all the imperfections in the casting being removed and if your lucky, they may even relieve the valve pockets a little.
Heads(street applications, stage 1 whatever everyone calls it)I have seen come back from some of the above places werent too impressive when I checked the flow. I have access to a flow bench. Yes, I know flow isnt everything. The heads I am talking about didnt make the greatest horsepower either when dynoed.
I am not nocking anyones work, but the basic head cleanup which most of you (Y'all in Texas) are interested in can be done yourself.
Obviously I am referring to someone who can dissassemble and assemble their own head/motor. If you can dont be scared, try it. Dont change anything drastically, just make it look like it should. I use the Dremmel setup that hangs from a stand, about$200. Every one of my motors I have done the head on always make at least the same HP as the ones that get sent out. Its amazing I must be naturally gifted in the head porting area. NOT. Its just not that difficult!
Back in 93 I had an FZR 1000 that I was tired of paying people to do so called performance mods to, so I did the head myself. All my friends thought I was an Idiot. Well when you kick the stuffing out of a street motor from one or two of the previously mentioned, they tend to change their minds.
Obviously when it comes to real race motor porting, reshaping of the intake/exhaust, cutting out floors, epoxy and all that techno garbola, leave that to the pros.
All I am saying is dont get taken for a grand, for something so basic. If you want real head work, pay the big bucks for larger valves, cams, compression etc. Then you can also spend $6 per gallon for the gas you will have to run in your bike.
We all flow our own heads and have never been disappointed.