One of the biggest challenges that small businesses face is growth. They struggle to get more customers, get exposure, and importantly, more revenue. It is the reason why many firms choose to go for Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) software to streamline the organizational process. It helps to smooth the business operations and automate tasks.
A robust CRM will enable you to build strong customer relationships and manage all their data conveniently. It will also help you to collect, process, and analyze the data from all channels. And will help you to plan the best marketing strategies and generate more leads. With a CRM, you can leverage tasks such as email marketing, lead generation, and market automation. It will help you focus on other important aspects of the business, such as scaling and growth.
A whopping 65% of businesses in 2024 now use CRM within the first five years. The number was only 12% in the year 2008. It is fair to say that usage of CRM has seen exponential growth over the years. The CRM market can grow up to $120 billion by 2027, according to Forbes.
There are many CRM software in the market, and looking for the perfect fit can be a daunting task. But to make things easier for you, we have compiled the best CRM for small businesses, keeping in mind, the features, functionality, benefits, affordability, and uniqueness.
1) HubSpot CRM
Hubspot CRM is a free-to-use solution for small businesses to automate sales tasks. It offers compelling features without you having to pay anything at all. Hubspot CRM will help you improve customer relationships and marketing drastically while also offering robust sales features.
Hubspot is where you can find everything you need to manage leads, build forms and synchronize with your team. You can also find free training, courses, and informative marketing blogs on their official website.
Hubspot’s is attractive due to its free-of-cost plan on CRM. Overall, the software is easy to use and is perfect for beginners. There is no technical knowledge required, which will make it easier for you and the sales team to follow up leads in the sales funnel. It also offers tons of marketing tools that will help to improve your sales, advertising, and marketing.
Features
- User-friendly interface
- Real-time chat with conversational bots
- Email marketing with free email templates
- Ticketing features
- Deal pipeline dashboard
- Meeting and email scheduling
Best for:
The CRM is perfect for any small business owner, marketing team, and any sales team as it integrates perfectly with a suite of marketing applications.
Price:
The CRM is free to use, but if you want to get your hands on more advanced features, you can check other plans from here.
Takeaway:
Hubspot CRM is particularly recommended for small businesses that want to integrate their sales funnel and marketing. However, Hubspot offers limited options with a free version. If you are looking for a CRM with advanced features, you should consider other software or go for the paid plans.
2) Salesforce CRM
Salesforce is one the most popular CRM for mid-size businesses. It offers sales and marketing solutions along with a variety of other services. The CRM aims to improve the productivity of the sales team and help you organize data. The software is the answer to all your business needs, as it provides lead management, sales data management.
It separates itself from the rest by offering a completely customizable dashboard to meet all your business needs. You can easily choose your service per your sales, marketing customer service needs.
Features:
- Guided onboarding and setup
- Live chat and email support
- Ecommerce availability
- Sales forecasting
- 3rd party app integrations
- customizable dashboard and reports
Best for:
Any business that is looking to improve their customer experience and scale their business.
Price:
Salesforce offers straightforward plans starting from $25 per month. You can check all the plans from here.
Takeaway:
Salesforce CRM offers businesses complete control to help them meet their unique needs. However, it has a steep learning curve that makes it hard for any general user to access advanced features.
3) Freshworks CRM
Freshworks CRM, previously known as “Freshsales” is a powerful software that answers all your sales questions. It offers exceptional marketing and sales tools to boost your team performance and business effectiveness.
Most small businesses prefer Freshworks CRM due to the affordability and robust feature it offers. It adds significant value to small businesses with its basic version that comes with a lengthy trial period.
Features:
- Salesforce automation
- Quotes and order management
- Customization
- Email integration and scheduling
- Machine learning
- Data sourcing
Best for:
Teams that want to improve their sales and automate essential aspects of their business.
Pricing:
Freshworks offers four different plans starting from the free version. The paid plans start from $12 per month. You can also avail a discount if you pay upfront for a year. Check out all their plans from here.
Takeaway:
With its diverse options, Freshworks has something for everyone. It is much more common in enterprises since it offers dynamic features targeted towards a team rather than an individual. So it is likely that if you are a small business owner or sole trader, some features may not come in handy.
4) Pipedrive CRM
Pipedrive is an efficient and easy-to-use CRM that is designed to fulfill all your business needs. The platform is excellent for people who want to scale their business and quickly grow their teams. The CRM is relatively cheaper than others in the market, making it lucrative for small business owners.
Pipedrive CRM helps the business generate and close deals efficiently. It has a decent amount of marketing and leads generating tools that businesses can benefit from. The software also offers complete customization and secure hosting with nightly backups. Moreover, it also offers integration with your favorite sales-boosting app.
Features:
- Sales reporting and forecasting
- Customizable reports
- Email templates and integration
- Smart contact data
- Fast onboarding and user-friendly dashboard
Best for:
The CRM is perfect for any small business that wants to improve its sales and lead generation process.
Pricing:
Pipedrive offers four distinct plans that you can choose from according to your business needs. The essential plan is available at only $12 per month. You can also get an additional discount on annual plans and avail a free demo of their software. Check out all the plans from here.
Takeaway:
Pipedrive offers an easy-to-use interface along with an abundance of training and 24/7 chat support. However, It does not offer a free plan and offers comparatively fewer features than other paid CRM’s in the market.
5) Osmos CRM
Osmos CRM is an excellent software that allows you to automate sales, lead generation, quoting, and marketing . The CRM is designed to improve your customer experience and substantially increase your sales and revenue. It is a one-stop solution for managing leads, quotes, deals, and invoices.
Features:
- eQuote and Quote template creation
- User-friendly interface
- Sales and marketing automation
- Advanced customization
- Integration with your favorite sales applications
Pricing:
Osmos CRM provides diverse plans, including a free 30-day free trial. Moreover, businesses can even create their custom plan according to their needs! You can check all of the plans from here.
Best for:
It is perfect for any SME that wants to automate its selling, quoting, and lead process.
Takeaway:
Osmos is more than just a CRM. It possesses a quoting functionality that helps businesses send proposals and estimates to their clients. With its robust features like eQuotes and exciting plans, Osmos is an ideal fit for any firm.
6) Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM was launched in the year 2005 and has gradually established itself as one of the most popular CRM’s. The software focuses on providing adequate features for businesses to grow. Zoho aims to automate every aspect of your business to save you time and improve efficiency.
The CRM also provides one of the best lead and contact management. Business can also benefit from its real-time performance indicators which shows current trends and future predictions. It also offers third-party integration with Google applications and Quickbooks.
Features:
- Integration with social media accounts
- Sales forecasting and website visitor tracking
- Customer support 24/7
- Complete customization with Plus plan
- Sales and marketing automation
- User-friendly interface
Best for:
It is decent for any small-sized business that can apply Zoho’s distinct features to scale.
Pricing:
It offers four different plans along with a free forever plan. Zoho paid plans only start from $14 per month. Check out all the detailed plans from here.
Takeaway:
While having countless features might sound good, but in reality, some business owners feel overwhelmed by an abundance of different options. But if you know your way around technology, Zoho is a good option.
Final thoughts
Many factors can influence your choice, but at the end of the day, you should consider the one that perfectly fits your business needs and budget. Before making a choice, make sure to get the free trial to check whether it is a perfect fit or not.
