How Thompson Electric Cut Quoting Time 60%
By BuildFolio Team · Updated January 28, 2026
A Denver electrical contractor replaced manual Excel quotes with BuildFolio’s AI-powered living proposals, cutting quote creation from 45 minutes to 18 minutes and increasing close rates from 33% to 42%.
TL;DR — The Transformation
Before: 45 min per quote, 33% close rate, static PDF proposals, inconsistent pricing across 4 electricians. After: 18 min per quote, 42% close rate, interactive living proposals with financing, standardized pricing. Key Win: Good/Better/Best proposals with checkbox upgrades increased average ticket 22%.
About Thompson Electric
A growing electrical contractor serving the Denver metro area
Thompson Electric is a residential and light commercial electrical contractor based in Denver, Colorado. Founded by Mark Thompson in 2016, the company has grown to 4 licensed electricians and 1 office manager, handling panel upgrades, EV charger installations, whole-home rewiring, and service work. Annual revenue: $1.6 million.
Before BuildFolio, Mark spent 2-3 hours every evening creating Excel-based quotes from his electricians’ field notes. Each electrician had their own pricing style, leading to inconsistent quotes for identical work.
The Challenge
Three problems were slowing growth and hurting profitability
Time-Consuming Quoting
Each quote required 45 minutes: reviewing field notes, pricing materials, calculating labor, formatting in Excel, converting to PDF, and emailing to the customer. Mark was creating 8-12 quotes per week, consuming 6-9 hours of evenings and weekends.
Inconsistent Pricing
Four electricians, four different pricing approaches. One would quote a 200-amp panel upgrade at $3,800 while another quoted $5,200 for the same scope. Mark had no visibility until quotes were already sent.
Static Proposals Losing Deals
PDF quotes had no interactivity. Customers could not compare options, see financing, or add upgrades. When competitors sent polished digital proposals, Thompson’s Excel PDFs looked outdated and unprofessional.
Where Thompson Electric Started
The metrics before implementing BuildFolio
The BuildFolio Solution
Three features that transformed their quoting process
AI-Powered Proposals
Electricians take photos of the panel, wiring, and work area. BuildFolio generates standardized proposals with accurate pricing from the centralized price book. What took Mark 45 minutes now takes the electrician 18 minutes on-site.
Living Proposals
Instead of static PDFs, customers receive interactive proposals with Good/Better/Best options, checkbox add-ons (whole-home surge protection, smart panel monitoring, additional circuits), and built-in financing. Customers engage with proposals on their phone.
Centralized Price Book
Mark set up standardized pricing for every service type. All 4 electricians pull from the same price book, ensuring consistent quotes. When material costs change, Mark updates one place and all future quotes reflect the new pricing.
Before vs. After
How BuildFolio transformed daily operations
| Process | Before BuildFolio | After BuildFolio |
|---|---|---|
| Quote creation | X 45 minutes in Excel | + 18 minutes on-site |
| Quote delivery | X PDF via email next day | + Text link same visit |
| Options | X Single price point | + Good/Better/Best + add-ons |
| Financing | X Not mentioned | + Monthly payments shown |
| Pricing consistency | X Varies by electrician | + Centralized price book |
| Mark’s evenings | X 6-9 hrs/week on quotes | + Zero — techs quote on-site |
The Results After 5 Months
Measurable improvements in efficiency, close rates, and revenue
Quoting Time
60% Less45 min to 18 minClose Rate
42%Up from 33%Average Ticket
$3,900+22% from add-onsOwner Quote Time
0 hrs/wkWas 6-9 hrs/wkI used to spend every evening creating quotes in Excel. Now my electricians send proposals from the job site before they leave. The Good/Better/Best options with checkbox add-ons increased our average ticket by 22%. Customers love being able to see monthly payment options right in the proposal. BuildFolio gave me my evenings back and made us more money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take to set up the price book?
Mark spent one weekend (about 8 hours) setting up the centralized price book with standardized pricing for all common electrical services. After that, his electricians were creating proposals on-site within the first week.
Did the electricians resist the change?
Two of the four were enthusiastic from day one. The other two came around after the first week when they saw how much easier it was than writing field notes for Mark to process later. Within two weeks, all four preferred the new system.
What increased the average ticket the most?
Checkbox add-ons were the biggest driver. Whole-home surge protection ($450), smart panel monitoring ($350), and additional circuit add-ons ($200-$400 each) were selected on 35-45% of proposals. Customers chose options they never would have asked about because they were presented visually in the proposal.
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