Small businesses have different needs when it comes to customer relationship management (CRM). Some factors include a smaller budget and limited IT resources and staff. For instance, small startups require a system that works while providing the core features of CRMS that can be expanded to the needs of bigger businesses. Read on for a curated list of the ten best CRMs for small businesses to help you pick the one suitable for your small business.
What are the Qualities of the Best CRM for Small Businesses?
A CRM is an essential sales software for modern businesses. It helps build a productive and well-coordinated sales team. But what is the importance of CRM for small businesses, in particular? As a business owner, you don't want a tool that is too basic and only focused on customer relationship management. The main reason is that it may limit your scale-up strategies in the future. So, investing in scalable, all-in-one CRM software is a wise decision.
With that in mind, here are the qualities of the best CRM for small businesses:
- Sales features. CRM will help you monitor contacts and their activity. You'll also see how your deals progress with a visual sales pipeline.
- User experience. You must look for small business CRM systems that you can set up and access its content quickly.
- Reporting and analytics. A sound CRM system for small businesses will provide reports to help you generate insightful reports.
- Integrations. A CRM with more integrations means more functionality, which means more data is generated and shared, creating opportunities for automation.
- Value for money. Considering your budget as you test and choose a CRM software could help you pick the best tool for your business.
10 Best CRM for Small Businesses
1. Vtiger
Vtiger is the best all-in-one customer relationship management software for small businesses. The app keeps all your content and transactions organized. Vtiger brings together inventory, marketing, help desk, project management, and document control in a well-organized manner.
Key Features:
- Sales Automation
- Sales Enablement
- Pipeline Management
- Sales Engagement
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Analytics & Intelligence
- Communication & Collaboration
- Help Desk Automation
- Marketing Automation
- Productivity
Pros:
- Each module is highly customizable
- Two-tier pricing based on user access needs
Cons:
- Challenging learning curve
2. Zoho CRM
This award-winning CRM is trusted by over 250,000 businesses worldwide to help them convert leads, engage customers, and grow revenue. Zoho CRM brings everything together in one platform, streamlining your processes, policies, and teams.
Key Features:
- Sales Force Automation
- Canvas Design Studio
- Process Management
- Analytics
- Sales Enablement
- Performance Management
- Marketing Automation
- Predictive Sales and Intelligence
- Team Collaboration
- Mobile apps
- Security
Pros:
- Powerful AI (Zia)
- Wide range of features
Cons:
- Some elements are cluttered
3. Hubspot
Hubspot is the leader in CRM systems that offer comprehensive features and capabilities. Unlike other CRM software, you can build your website and manage your content marketing projects in the CMS Hub.
Key Features:
- Sales automation
- Marketing automation
- Meeting scheduler
- Email template builder
- AI email writer
- Customer service
- Operations
- B2B commerce
Pros:
- Advanced features are available when you're ready to scale up
- A rich library of helpful content
Cons:
- Complex pricing structure
4. Freshsales
Want to streamline your sales process? Freshsales offers advanced features, including automation for sales tasks, helpful AI assistants, and seamless integrations to other business tools. You can manage deals, send personalized emails simultaneously, and gain valuable insights into your deals with the help of Freddy, Freshsales' built-in AI assistant.
Key Features:
- Automation
- Deal Management
- Sales Intelligence
- Customization
- Governance
- Mobile Integrations
Pros:
- Part of the Freshworks software package
- Robust AI-powered features
Cons:
- Slow loading from time to time
5. Kommo
Instead of using traditional emails and phone calls, Kommo helps your messages land on multiple channels so you can connect with the right people. The feature covers Facebook, Instagram, Viber, Skype, Telegram, WeChat, and Apple Messages. You can also send messages through SMS or Slack channels.
Key Features:
- CRM pipeline
- Chat inbox
- Sales bot
Pros:
- Supports multiple configurable pipelines
- AI keyword detection to automate conversations
Cons:
- Limited task management tools
6. Salesmate
Salesmate offers appropriate tools to connect those channels to your CRM, building features around them to ensure you get a lot out of these interactions. The user interface is appealing, with a great onboarding sequence and useful mini-tutorials on each page.
Key Features:
- Sales Pipelines
- Sales Automation
- Smart Emails
- Built-in Calling
- Built-in Texting
- Meeting Scheduler
- Live Chat
- Ticketing Software
- Marketing Automation
- Mobile CRM
Pros:
- AI chatbot assistant available
- Customizable screen layouts
Cons:
- Call cost needs adjustment
7. NetHunt
NetHunt CRM is a sales automation software that integrates seamlessly with Gmail and other Google Workspace apps. It helps businesses manage contacts and deals to personalized pitches and sales pipelines. NetHunt automates tasks throughout the sales process, speeding up deal closures, and lets you track your team's performance to ensure everyone's contributing to the company's success.
Key Features:
- Sales automation
- Omni-channel communication
- Pipeline management
- Internal collaboration
Pros:
- Connects to LinkedIn
- Supports chatting on multiple channels
Cons:
8. Monday CRM
If your small business needs help managing company-wide tasks and customers, Monday sales CRM could be the game-changer you need. This full-featured CRM goes beyond typical software with its unique "boards." Think of them as digital whiteboards inspired by Trello or ClickUp, where you can visualize information using columns and cards like sticky notes on a corkboard.
Key Features:
- Visual Boards
- Automation:
- Easy-to-Use Dashboard
- AI Assistant
Pros
- AI assistant
- Unlimited boards for all plans
- 24/7 customer support for all plans (chat, email)
Cons
- Three-seat minimum
- Phone support is limited for billing questions only
- Some customers complain about a poor app experience
9. Pipedrive
This straightforward CRM is easy to learn, thanks to live webinars and familiar Kanban-style boards. Unlike some competitors, Pipedrive offers 24/7 email and chat support on all plans, ensuring you're never stuck.
Key Features:
- Leads and deals management
- Communication tracking
- Automation
- Insights and reports
- Privacy and security
- Mobile apps and integrations
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly
- 24/7 email and chat support
Cons
- No free plan
- Phone support is only available for enterprise plans
10. folk CRM
Unlike other options, folk CRM focuses on building genuine relationships instead of complex sales pipelines. Forget about flashy reports and impersonal dashboards – it keeps things simple. While it might lack fancy reports and deep analytics, it makes up for it with powerful features for building relationships and personalization.
Key Features:
- folkX Chrome extension
- 1-click Enrichment
- Messages & Sequences
- Pipeline management
- Integrations
Pros:
- Supports multiple pipelines
- AI available for personalization
Cons:
Final Thoughts
If you're managing a small business today, you can still settle for inferior software and put your plans on the line. Explore every option from this collection of the best CRM for small businesses and decide on the best one for your business. Or, if you want a more in-depth guide, check out Servicelist's side-by-side comparisons of some of these tools.
