What CRM tools are the best for small business owners?

Pipeline Pro is nice...

I just started using Dubsado and I love all the features, but it's pricey. 

For most small businesses, using the CRM effectively is the more important issue than which CRM they choose. We have developed our own CRM focused on automations for local businesses, but we don't just sell the CRM, we work with our clients to refine their strategy and then build and implement all their workflows and automations so that they can actually use all the features they need.

Sadly, our experience is only about 1 in 8 local businesses that have a CRM are actually using it effectively. That's a lot of wasted money. And don't get me started on 'free' CRMs like basic HubSpot--they generally cost WAY more in the long run. 

So, if jumping into a CRM, be careful with shiny object syndrome--the greatest tool in the world can't help if you're not sure how to use it. 

I've used a variety of CRM's, large to small. Here are two quick points to consider. First, don't get more than you need - bigger is not always better. Second, (this is important), identify the questions you want your CRM to ultimately help answer during your due diligence process. Once you are knee-deep in your solution (and a contract), it's tough to find out that it does not provide you with the analytics you truly need. 

I'm assuming from your post you are B2B, if that's the case HubSpot is a great place to start.  There's a free starter version that is incredibly useful, a ton of functions for a free subscription.  The support and user community is also very robust so you can get answers to questions and how to's fairly easily.

I'm going to be annoying and say that "it depends." Market leaders like Hubspot and Salesforce are both excellent options. I would say for a best all-around solution, with competitive pricing, and insane scalability and options - salesforce still takes the top rank. I would rank them at 4.5/5. Just behind that, I would put Hubspot as a contender - and perhaps the #1 choice for a firm that is small and expects to stay small for some time, and wants world-leading pricing and great support. I would put them in at 4.4/5. And, in equal place to Hubspot, I would put Zoho CRM at 4.4/5. Zoho CRM is an incredible option for small business, extremely capable and it has the superior benefit of being interoperable with over 45 other apps in the Zoho One (ERP) system. Our organization has tried 17 hats, Salesforce and Hubspot, and we've settled on Zoho and we're super happy. That said, I would still say that all of the above tools are excellent, and an  organization is often best advised to focus on extracting all the benefits out of whatever they use. Don't just buy the subscription and assume benefits will happen. Implementation, user training and really customizing each CRM for your business is extremely important. 

I'd need to understand your business needs first before recommending the right CRM tool.

Your CRM selection depends upon the level of sophistication you desire. If you just want to stay on top of your pipeline, you can get by with minimal expense. If you have reasonable MS EXCEL skills, you can create your own CRM. That's what I did.

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