A family-owned site work contractor transforms their estimating process and wins more bids with Estimating Link.
Meet J.P. Brown, LLC: Family-Run and Results-Focused
Located in Dracut, Massachusetts, J.P. Brown, LLC is a growing growing excavation and site development business that’s proudly family-run. Founded in 2016, the company tackles private residential and commercial jobs worth up to $4.5 million, with a tight-knit team made up of Paul Brown, his four sons, a brother, and a nephew.
When Paul — who oversees all estimating — realized his self-built spreadsheet system was becoming a bottleneck, he set out to find a better solution. What he discovered not only solved his challenges — it helped future-proof the business.
The Challenge: Spreadsheets Slowed Everything Down
Like many small contractors, Paul initially relied on a custom Excel spreadsheet that he built and refined over the years. While it worked, it had serious limitations:
- Frequent rework when project specs changed
- Lack of build-in checks for accuracy
- Difficult to scale as jobs became more complex
- Time-consuming to update and maintain
"It was hit or miss. I was spending too much time just trying to get the spreadsheet to work for each job," Paul shared.
He needed a reliable, easy-to-learn civil construction estimating software system that could not only support his current projects but also train the next generation of estimators — his sons.
The Solution: Estimating Link Streamlines Bidding
After trying several options, Paul chose Estimating Link for its balance of power, usability, and affordability.
"I’m not very tech-savvy, but I figured it out in a few days. It had everything I needed — and then some."
With Estimating Link, Paul immediately began:
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Building accurate, detailed estimates faster
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Tracking construction costs without spreadsheets: Time savings: 25–50%
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Confidently handling change orders
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Customizing production rates for his crews
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Training future team members on a scalable platform
The Results: Faster Estimates, Higher Accuracy, and More Wins
50% Time Savings
Paul estimates that Estimating Link has cut his estimating time in half — especially for large or complex projects.
"For basic roadwork or underground utility jobs, I just plug in the quantities and it's done. What used to take days now takes hours."
Increased Bid-to-Win Ratio
Since switching, J.P. Brown’s bid-to-win rate has skyrocketed:
"We get just about every job we bid now — not because we’re the lowest, but because our bids are clear, detailed, and trustworthy."
Improved Proposal Accuracy
With built-in bid checks and detailed breakdowns, Paul avoids costly errors and can confidently update pricing on the fly. This aligns with our advice on getting accurate bids every time with civil construction estimating software.
"The system even reminds me if I missed a line item. It’s like a safety net."
Why Estimating Link Stood Out from the Rest
Paul evaluated several other software tools before deciding on Estimating Link. Here’s why it won out:
Affordable Pricing
"Other systems were 3–5x the price. This one was fair."
Easy to Use
"It’s intuitive — even for someone like me."
Top-Notch Support
"I talked directly to the founder. Support is amazing."
Flexible Estimating Options
"I can tailor it exactly to how we work."
Excavation Bidding
“It checked all the boxes,” Paul said. “User-friendly, detailed, and it works.”
Scaling for the Next Generation
Now preparing to transition leadership to his sons, Paul is confident they’ll thrive using Estimating Link:
“My kids are way more tech-savvy than me. What took me weeks, they’ll learn in days.”
He’s also excited that Estimating Link is robust enough to grow with them — supporting everything from residential site work to multifamily housing developments.
What Clients Are Saying
J.P. Brown’s clients have also noticed the difference:
“When I switched from spreadsheets, they told me the proposals were much clearer. And if something changed — like pipe sizes or manhole depths — I could update them instantly.”
Clearer communication = more trust = more wins.
Final Thoughts from Paul Brown
“We can bid multiple jobs at once now and different heavy construction jobs. I’m confident in the numbers, the system works, and support is there if we need it. What more could you ask for?”
Watch the Customer Story
See the highlights of J.P. Brown LLC’s experience with Estimating Link in this short video. The video captures the key takeaways from a longer, in depth interview.
Ready to Streamline Your Estimating Process?
Discover why contractors choose Estimating Link for civil construction estimating software, concrete estimating, and winning more bids.
Whether you’re a one-person estimator or a growing crew looking to modernize your workflows, Estimating Link gives you the tools you need to:
✅ Improve accuracy
✅ Save time
✅ Win more bids
Join 1,000+ contractors who save hours per bid using Estimating Link.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 50 users on Software Advice
