A customer relationship management (CRM) system is used to obtain information about all the activities of a company and its customers. This data is collected from a variety of sources, including the company’s official website, relevant social media channels, customer support and feedback logs, and stored in a central database. The business can then examine this data and use it to improve its products, troubleshoot customer issues and, ultimately, drive growth.
CRMs are of tremendous importance to small companies in the initial stages of growth. This is because the success of these companies has a lot to do with how many customers they can find and retain. In addition, for example, a newly opened eatery should know what customers think of its food, what reviews they post online, what will influence future customers, and whether there is a possibility that they will visit again. All these statistics help the diner improve its services, eliminate any problems, and achieve maximum customer satisfaction.
Different establishments offer quite a few CRMs, according to the requirements of your establishment. To make it easier for you to find the right one, read our list of the best CRMs for small businesses.
The 7 Best CRMs of 2022
- Best Overall: Agile CRM
- Best Online/Cloud-Based: Zoho
- Best for Scalability: HubSpot
- Best for Ease Of Use: Streak
- Best for Sales Management: PipeDrive
- Best Value: Insightly
- Best Splurge: Salesforce
Choosing the right customer relationship management (CRM) software can be the deciding factor between growing your small business and fighting for and retaining customers. We looked at the best CRMs and chose Agile as the best CRM overall. It’s inexpensive and equipped with most of the features a small business needs to be successful.
But your businesses may have different needs. One of the CRMs on our list is sure to be right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a CRM?
CRM is a software for controlling customer relationships. It is a sales management tool that is used in many industries and helps companies retain contacts, monitor and analyze their interactions, organize the sales process and more. It keeps things organized, monitors progress and keeps everything in one secure place. CRM can also have features to automatically process responses, send follow-up emails, and even remind you of upcoming events.
Who Uses CRMs?
CRMs are typically used by:
- Real estate agents and brokers
- Marketing companies
- Sales-based companies
- Businesses that create quotes and invoices such as contractors
- Insurance companies
- Hotels and the hospitality industry
- Retail businesses
How Much Does a CRM Cost?
Prices for CRM can be completely different. As a rule, the price depends on the number of users, the product features and the level of sophistication of the software. Some CRMs cost as little as $8.99 per user per month, while others are more expensive at about $30 per user per month. For large businesses managing a huge number of accounts, unlimited versions with more features and automation are available, costing several hundred dollars per month per user.
Is a CRM Worth the Cost?
CRM keeps your business organized, increases efficiency and promotes growth. It can free up your time for tasks that generate revenue and allow you to not miss important dates or forget follow-ups. If you’re consistently in an industry where CRM can help, it’s certainly worth the splurge. If you’re just getting started or don’t have a big budget, you may very well take advantage of a more affordable CRM option and gradually upgrade.
How We Chose the Best CRMs
Given the large number of CRMs on the market, we studied more than a dozen of the most popular services, considering how these systems would work, primarily for small businesses. We carefully analyzed cost and features, as well as third-party integrations, company reputation, customer reviews, mobile app support, and more. Based on these criteria, we narrowed our list down to the 7 most suitable options for small business owners.