Customer relationship management software (CRM) provides tools for small businesses to handle customer interactions in a scalable, centralized way. CRM solutions can also handle areas such as communication management and tracking; marketing assistance; lead and deal tracking; and financial analysis.
Investing in CRM software is an excellent idea if you run a small business that needs a platform for managing or automating sales leads and growth. CRM suites also provide a central platform for monitoring customer interactions, sales, and deals. They can automate some time-consuming processes, freeing you up to focus on other business tasks. Options include HubSpot, Zoho CRM, and Salesmate CRM.
What is the best small-business CRM software right now?
The best CRM software for small businesses is HubSpot. HubSpot, available from $15 per seat per month, is an excellent way to enter the CRM market without spending a single dollar. Although the free plan is limited, you can unlock sales, lead generation, and customer support packages with a paid upgrade once you’re comfortable.
Another option I like for emerging businesses is Monday.com
If you’re looking for a way to implement a CRM as the next stage of your growing business, many people will recommend HubSpot.Â
Why we like it: This CRM starts you off with a free plan, and when we say free, this means you don’t have to hand over any payment card details. Just enter an email address, go through the verification process, and let HubSpot know if you’re new to CRM software, and away you go.
What I particularly like about this CRM is that it’ll tailor your learning experience based on your priorities — whether you want to automate marketing schemes, generate sales leads, build a website, or improve your customer support system.
You’ll find that the basic, free CRM can be used for tasks such as contact management and email marketing.Â
Who it’s for: HubSpot is a good option if you’re just entering the CRM world, with many smaller outfits reporting that they’re happy with the system. However, some also note that the costs can quickly escalate if you want advanced features.
Who should look elsewhere: You’ll need to pay to access the sales dashboard, help desk suite, surveys, or customer portal, so the free option won’t be suitable for you if you need these features. In that case, consider upgrading, or check out our other recommendations.Â
Paid plans begin at $15 per user per month for starter plans. However, subscription to the next level can leap to more than $1,000 per month, depending on what bolt-ons you want, such as marketing, sales, or service.
HubSpot features:Â Different workspaces | Website help | Dashboards | Contact sync | Tutorials | App marketplace | Free plan, 14-day Pro trial
Read More