As a small business owner, choosing the right software systems to run your business can seem a bit daunting. So, it can be tempting to put off choosing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system as long as possible. But having a great CRM will help you keep track of your prospects and customers so that you can effectively manage your relationships across your entire customer journey.
We know you’re busy, so we’ve taken some time to vet five CRM systems that are great for small businesses. Check out the top five below:
5. Zoho CRM
Zoho has a 3.9/5 rating, and offers other services such as email, live chat, sales calls, and social media. It also streamlines notifications across multiple channels so you can respond to customers in real time. While the software is feature-rich, some customers have complained that the cheaper versions are quite limited, difficult to integrate and to get better features you are constantly needing to upgrade or add-on.
As Fit Small Business notes “They [customers] say data is easy to import from existing CRM, making the switch over less painful. However, they do say that technical support could be improved. Fixes and new features are slow to roll out and the user interface could be easier to navigate.”
With plans starting as low as $12 a month, it is a cost-effective solution that you can continue to use as your small business grows.
4. Insightly
Insightly has a solid 4.0/5 rating. They feature a great basic plan that is free for 2 users. The plan allows you and a partner to manage projects, sales, and contacts all in one place, making this ideal for small teams. It also offers several tiers so it can grow with your business.
But one limitation is that the software doesn’t have product statistics, making it less practical for those who manage standard cost projects or mass retail sales. As Mopinions states: “Pitfall: it does not provide custom reports or dashboards and is really only convenient for SMBs.”
3. Agile CRM
Agile ranks 4.3/5. As the name implies, they offer a wide range of products to assist in sales, marketing, and customer service. Their startup feature offers 10 free users a wide range of handy tools. They have flexible, affordable pricing options with plans ranging from $8.99 a month up to $47.99 a month. Most customers appreciate the ease of use and versatility to meet the needs of several departments.
2. HubSpot CRM
HubSpot has been a leader in CRM for some time, and that is reflected in its 4.4/5 rating. Hubspot has an excellent UI, making it is easy and intuitive to use. They are advocates for small businesses and offer a ton of free templates and training. In fact, they even have a tutorial on how to create a Frankenspot, which is basically a free version HubSpot full suite by using free applications like Shopify, MailChimp and more.
Fit Small Business sums it up best by stating, “HubSpot’s best features are its price and its simplistic user interface that looks and behaves much like Gmail, making it easy to learn. For very small businesses, or for businesses that are using a CRM for the first time and aren’t sure exactly which features they need, HubSpot’s free plan is an ideal introduction to core CRM features such as contact management and lead or deal tracking.”
Hubspot is a bit more expensive than other tools; the paid plan starts at $50 a month and increases dramatically from there.
1. Pipedrive
Pipedrive has an excellent 4.5/5 ranking. Its user-friendly interface, integration capabilities, and the intuitive system makes it easy for any small business owner to get it up and running.
But the reporting systems are best suited for product sales or large retailers. Per Fit Small Business, “Pipedrive lacks lead assignment and lead-based routing functionality, which makes it a less viable alternative for account-based sales requiring multiple points of contacts. While leads can be prioritized based on time since last contact, the software’s lead scoring rules are also not as robust as found in other products.”
With their Silver plan starting at $12.50/month, it is a budget-friendly option that boasts a ton of features.
Do you have a CRM system that you love using? Share your recommendation with other small business owners in the community by leaving a comment below.
