CRM Software for Small Business | Customer Relationship Management

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All businesses need a good customer relationship management (crm) software to maintain a good customer service in their company.

Do you own a small business trying to breakthrough, then it is not news to you that you need efficient customer engagement to grow amidst your competitors.

In this article we are going to discuss the meaning of CRM, crm tools, why you need a cloud based crm software and some of the best crm software for small business owners.

Let’s dive right into it.

What is CRM?

CRM is a compressed name for Customer relationship management.

It is a process by which a businesses or companies manage their interactions with customers, typically using data analysis to study large amounts of customer information.

Customer relationship management software commonly referred to as CRM software is a type of software that allows businesses to keep track of and analyze customer information and interactions. CRM marketing software helps companies provide their customers with a more personalized and convenient experience.

Cloud based CRM

A cloud based crm also referred to as a cloud crm or a SaaS crm software is simple a customer relationship management software which is hosted on the cloud and can be accessed by from anywhere at anytime as long as there is an internet access.

A cloud crm is preferred over the on-premise counterpart due to its scalability and flexibility in the sense that it can extend its capacity depending on the company’s needs.

See Also: Virtual Call Center Software | Reviews And Free Download

Primary Features of a CRM Software

Any CRM software must cut across all these features to be able to carry our an effective analysis and produce a reliable result.

These primary features form the basis of the main types of crm in terms of goals. These types of crm are Operational crm, analytical crm, strategic crm and collaborative crm.

It must be Analytical

A customer relationship management software must be able to analyze customer data collected through various methods like questioners, feedbacks, comment sections etc so that these data can be used to make a more customer oriented decisions.

It must be Strategic

A CRM software must be strategic in the sense that it must focus on developing a business culture that is based on customers activities and interactions.

It must carefully analyse customers’ habits and utilize this to produce a better customer experience.

It must be Operational

A good CRM software must aim at achieving a good customer service experience, effective marketing process and automation of sales.

It must be Collaborative

Another primary feature of a CRM software is the ability to blend external business be bodies like retailers and suppliers with customer engagement.

Advantages of CRM solutions to Small Business

• Increased Sales
• Improved customer retention
• Efficient customer service
• Improved customer segmentation
• Higher productivity and efficiency
• More effective internal communication
• More accurate sales prediction
• Automated sales report
• Centralized database
• More detailed Analytics

See Also: VICIdial Call Center Software | Review, Features, Price

Best CRM Software for Small Business

Having explained the meaning of CRM, types and features of crm and also the benefits of crm to small business, It is now time to list our some of the best CRM software that are most suitable for small business in terms of user satisfaction, functionalities, capabilities, benefits, affordability, and unique attributes.

Zoho Corporation

Zoho CRM is an great cloud based CRM designed to attract, retain, and satisfy customers to grow your business.

The major focus of Zoho CRM is lead and contact management, but also sales pipeline management and purchase control. It is supported across multiple devices such as Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac and languages including English, Chinese, German, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish, French, Russian, Italian, Dutch, Portugese, Polish, Turkish, Swedish.

Plan	Price	Duration
Free Edition	Free	—-
Express	$7	Monthly
Premier	$15	Monthly

Features of Zoho CRM

• Sales force automation
• Lead management
• Account management
• Effective Follow up
• Website integration with forms
• CRM workflow management
• Sales tracking
• Pulse
• Sales forecasting
• Document library
• Social CRM
• Mobile CRM
• CRM for Google Apps

Benefits of Zoho CRM

• Integrated with Google Apps and Zoho suite
• Allows you to go mobile
• Automates vital sales operations
• Gives access to important data in real time
• Makes maximal use of social media

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a cloud based CRM for small business that carries all the necessary basic features but without the regular confusing complexity many other CRM platforms have.

HubSpot CRM is built to be a platform that allows sales teams to get started quickly without making much of a change in their existing workflow. It is supported across multiple devices such as Windows, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac, Windows Mobile. It also supports English language as well as Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Plan	Price	Duration
Free	Free	—-
Starter	$45	Monthly
Profesional	$800	Monthly
Enterprise	$3,200	Monthly

Features of HubSpot CRM

• Customize views
• Deal and Task Board
• Hubspot Marketing Synchronization
• Drag and Drop Communicator
• Email Integration
• Phone Integration
• Website Integration
• Enrichment
• Social Media
• Company Database
• Website Visitors
• Email Connections
• Sidekick Integration
• CRM Details
• Templates, Tracking, and Scheduling

Benefits of HubSpot CRM

• Free and Budget friendly
• Blends easily with all your ongoing sales processes
• Flexible and powerful
• Can link to all locations of your sales processes
• Intuitive interface and lead importing

ConvergeHub

ConvergeHub is an exceptional Sales, Marketing and Service CRM software that enables small businesses to attract more prospects, win more deals and build lasting customer relationships.

Due to fact that covergehub is hosted on the cloud, The customer relationship management software offers greater scalability and complete disaster recovery compared to the traditional software models.

Plan	Price	Duration
Starter	$9	Monthly
Pro	$29	Monthly
Premium	$59	Monthly

Features of Covergehub CRM

• Sales Force Automation
• Multi-channel Marketing
• Marketing Automation
• Case Management
• Document Management and Collaboration
• Business Process Management
• Workflow Automation
• Invoicing
• Social integration
• Project Management
• Reports & Analytics

Pipedrive CRM

Pipedrive CRM is a sales-focused customer relationship management solution designed to help you get more leads, manage sales and grow your business.

Plan	Price	Duration
Essential	$12.90	Monthly
Advanced	$24.90	Monthly
Profesional	$49.90	Monthly
Enterprise	$99	Monthly

Features of Pipedrive CRM

• Easy to use
• Sales Pipeline
• Leads inbox
• Sales assistant
• Email and calendar sync
• Industry agnostic CRM
• Insight and Reporting
• Mobile CRM
• Smart calendar
• Security

Salesforce CRM

Salesforce is a cloud computing company that provides CRM solutions and business software on a subscription basis.

As a CRM, the software helps users to track all customer information and interactions in one location to follow more leads.

Plan	Price	Duration
Essentials	$25	Monthly
Sales Professional	$75	Monthly
Service Professional	$75	Monthly
Marketing Cloud Account Engagement	$1,250	Monthly

Features of Salesforce CRM

• Web services API
• Google apps integration
• File storage per user
• Sandbox
• MuleSoft Anypoint Platform integration
• Multi-currency support
• In-line editing
• Lead assignment and routing
• Rules-based lead scoring
• Account and contact management
• Opportunity management and score
• Lead management
• Sales data
• File sync
• File sharing
• Sales forecasting
• Salesforce mobile app
• Contact manager
• Real-time visibility
• Drag-and-drop interface

Benefits of Salesforce CRM

• Generates more leads
• Accelerates productivity
• Lets you get more insights
• Lets you close more deals

Inslightly

Insightly CRM is a great customer relationship management solution for small and mid sized business that have the intention of combining their sales processes with marketing automation and project delivery in one platform.

Insightly CRM provides phone support, an extensive help center, and community forums to help customers start and keep using Insightly tools.

Plan	Price	Duration
Plus	$29	Monthly
Professional	$49	Monthly
Enterprise	$99	Monthly

Features of Insightly CRM

• Contact & Account Management
• Opportunity & Pipeline Management
• Task and Activity Management
• Desktop Integration
• Customer Contract Management
• Email Marketing
• Lead Management
• Social Collaboration Features
• Mobile User Support
• Reporting & Analytics
• Case Management
• Customer Support Portal
• Knowledge Base

Capsule CRM

Capsule CRM is a great customer relationship management solution for small business that plan to combine their sales processes with marketing automation and project delivery in one platform.

Plan	Price	Duration
Starter	Free	—-
Professional	$18	Monthly
Teams	$36	Monthly
Enterprise	$54	Monthly

Features of Capsule CRM

• Sales Pipeline
• Contact Management
• Task Management
• Email Templates
• Sales Analytics
• Multi Currency Support
• Task Automation
• API Access
• Mobile CRM

Agile CRM Inc

Agile CRM is a fully integrated CRM with sales tracking, contact management, marketing automation, web analytics, 2-way emails, telephony, helpdesk with a clean modern interface.

This cloud hosted CRM software can help your business track each customer’s interactions and attend to their needs quickly.

Plan	Price	Duration
Free	Free	—-
Starter	$8.99	Monthly
Regular	$29.99	Monthly
Enterprise	$47.99	Monthly

Features of Agile CRM

• Contact & Account Management
• Opportunity & Pipeline Mgmt.
• Task / Activity Management
• Territory & Quota Management
• Desktop Integration
• Email Marketing
• Lead Management
• Marketing ROI Analytics
• Case Management
• Customer Support Portal
• Knowledge Base
• Call Center Features
• Support Analytics

Nimble CRM

Nimble is a customer relationship management software that is designed to help businesses analyze their customer profiles using data found on relevant social media accounts. On the downside Nimble does not offer any customer support features so if your business is looking for a CRM that provides customer service support over the phone, you should probably look elsewhere.

Nimble CRM offers just one plan, the Nimble Business plan. This plan will grant you unlimited access to features like contact management, lead management, calendar sync, pipeline management, and the Nimble Prospector browser extension.

Plan	Price	Duration
Nimble Business	$25	Monthly

Features of Nimble CRM

• Sales force Automation
• Marketing Automation
• Customer Support
• Mobile CRM
• Social CRM
• Reporting and Analysis
• Data Availability
• Data Accuracy

Freshworks

Freshworks CRM is a cloud CRM that combines the best features of a sales CRM with powerful marketing automation features.

Freshworks CRM makes use of three modules to provide exceptional customer relationship according your specific business requirements.

These modules are Freshworks CRM Marketing Cloud, Freshworks CRM Customer-for-Life Cloud and Freshworks CRM Sales Cloud.

It support a wide range of languages including English, Chinese, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Italian, Dutch, Portugese, Polish.

Plan	Price	Duration
Free	Free	—-
Growth	$18	Monthly
Pro	$47	Monthly
Enterprise	$83	Monthly

Features of Freshworks CRM

• Custom Sales Activities
• Improve sales productivity with automation
• Multi-currency and Multi-language
• Make better decisions with AI
• Multiple Sales Pipelines
• Sales Activity Reports
• Sales Cycle and Velocity Reports
• API Access
• Run your sales from your phone
• Audit Logs

Benefits of Freshworks CRM

• Increase engagement and retention
• Improve sales pipeline management
• Strongly connect your sales and marketing teams
• Find the best sales lead
• Have relevant conversations with customers

Zendesk Sell

Zendesk Sell is a CRM solution that offers lead and pipeline management tools including contact and account tracking, sales pipelines, and message tracking for email, call, and text.

Zendesk Sell is available for iOS and Android.

Plan	Price	Duration
Team	$25	Monthly
Professional	$59	Monthly
Enterprise	$99	Monthly
Elite	$199	Monthly

Features of Zendesk Sell

• Contact & Account Management
• Pipeline Management.
• Activity Management
• Territory & Quota Management
• Desktop Integration
• Customer Contract Management
• Email Marketing
• Campaign Management
• Lead Management
• Case Management
• Customer Support Portal
• Knowledge Base
• Reporting & Analytics
• Mobile CRM
• Social CRM

Bitrix24 CRM

Bitrix24 CRM is an amazing free CRM software for small business that are looking for complete control over their sales process – from lead acquisition to customer service.

It enables you to acquire leads effortlessly, manage all your contacts and transactions, automate your business processes, and simply close more deals.

Plan	Price	Duration
Free	Free	—-
Basic	$24	Monthly
Standard	$79	Monthly
Professional	$159	Monthly

Features of Bitrix24 CRM

• Ideal for remote work
• Unified workspace
• Client service & communication
• Project & team management
• Omni-channel marketing

Keap

Keap is a cloud CRM most suitable for small business that need to focus on creating a brand. It makes marketing easy for small businesses and automatically sends campaigns, emails, and invoices to new leads and customers.

Plan	Price	Duration
Lite	$79	Monthly
Pro	$169	Monthly
Max	$199	Monthly

Features of Keap

• Marketing Lead Database
• Data Quality Management
• Segmentation
• Lead Nurturing
• Automated Alerts and Tasks
• CRM Lead Integration
• Building and Personalizing Emails
• Sending Outbound Emails
• Manage Email Deliverability
• Automated Email Responses
• Landing Pages and Forms
• Dynamic Content
• Mobile Optimized

EngageBay Inc

EngageBay CRM is a customer relationship management software that allows a business sales, marketing, and service teams to collaborate on your business’s customer experience.

EngageBay CRM software helps small business store unlimited contacts and build stronger relationships by keeping track of all their customer details in one place

Plan	Price	Duration
Free	Free	—-
Basic	$11.99	Monthly
Growth	$39.99	Monthly
Pro	$79.99	Monthly

Features of EngageBay CRM

• Contact Management
• Deal Management
• Sales Automation
• Marketing Automation
• Email Templates Builder
• Ticket Management
• Ticket Automation
• Live Chat

SugarCRM

SugarCRM is a customer relationship management software that allows a business sales, marketing, and service teams to collaborate on your business’s customer experience.

SugarCRM offers plans that allows you access to tools that boost your sales, marketing, and service teams’ efforts through the use of automation, tracking, and analytics.

Plan	Price	Duration
Premier	$135	Monthly
Advanced	$80	Monthly
Essentials	$49	Monthly
Enterprise	$85	Monthly

Features of SugarCRM

• Contact & Account Management
• Pipeline Management.
• Activity Management
• Territory & Quota Management
• Desktop Integration
• Customer Contract Management
• Email Marketing
• Campaign Management
• Lead Management
• Case Management
• Customer Support Portal
• Knowledge Base
• Reporting & Analytics

Vtiger CRM

Vtiger CRM is an all in one customer relationship management solution that empowers small business to align their marketing, sales and support teams with unified customer data.

Plan	Price	Duration
One Profesional Standard	$42	Monthly
One Profesional Single App	$28	Monthly
One Enterprise Standard	$58	Monthly
One Enterprise Single App	$42	Monthly

Features of Vtiger CRM

• Marketing Automation
• User Management
• Helpdesk Automation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Sales Automation
• Sales Enablement
• Sales Engagement
• Pipeline Management
• Analytics and Intelligence
• Video Conferencing

HoneyBook Inc

HoneyBook CRM is a cloud-based customer relationship management software designed for small business to manage projects, book clients, sign contracts online, send invoices and handle payments.

Plan	Price	Duration
Starter	$9	Monthly
Monthly Package	$39	Monthly
Unlimited	$390	Yearly

Features of HoneyBook CRM

• Sales Force Automation
• Activity Management
• Customer Contract Management
• Invoice Generation
• Payment Processing
• Reporting and Analytics

Less Annoying CRM

Less Annoying CRM is a simple CRM specifically built for small businesses. It manages your contacts, leads, notes, calendar, to-do’s and more, all from one simple web app.

Unlike other CRMs, Less Annoying CRM is simple to set-up, easy to use, and affordable for the average small business owner. Their free customer support is here to help you customize and organize your CRM.

The pricing plan of less annoying CRM is simple, just one low price and that’s all.

$15 per user per month.

Features of Less Annoying CRM

• Contact & Account Management
• Opportunity & Pipeline Management.
• Task / Activity Management
• Desktop Integration
• Email Marketing
• Lead Management
• Data Import & Export Tools
• Reporting & Analytics
• Mobile CRM
• Social CRM

Thryv CRM

Thryv CRM is a great customer relationship management software suitable for for small business.

It lets you manage your contacts, leads, notes, calendar, to-do’s and more, all from one simple web app.

See Thryv CRM pricing

Features of Thryv CRM

• Marketing Automation
• User Management
• Helpdesk Automation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Sales Automation
• Sales Enablement
• Sales Engagement
• Pipeline Management
• Analytics and Intelligence
• Video Conferencing

Onpipeline CRM

Onpipeline is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) solution for sales teams that offers visual pipeline management, as well as email and calendar integration.

Onpipeline CRM does not need software installation. It helps you to easily manage your sales pipeline, contacts, leads and activities anytime and anywhere.

It supports multiple languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian.

Plan	Price	Duration
Pipeline	$12	Monthly
Standard	$25	Monthly
Advanced	$49	Monthly

Features of Onpipeline CRM

• Visual Sales Pipeline
• Contacts and Profile Management
• Activity Management
• Reporting and Analytics
• API Integration
• Multi Language Support
• Multi Currency Support
• Mobile CRM
• Bulk Emails

MailChimp CRM

MailChimp CRM software allows small business to keep track of and analyze customer information and interactions. Their CRM marketing software helps businesses provide their customers with a more personalized and convenient experience.

Mailchimp CRM tools that make it easy for small business to store, manage, and analyze customer data.

Plan	Price	Duration
Free	Free	—-
Standard	$17	Monthly
Essentials	$11	Monthly
Premium	$299	Monthly

Features of MailChimp CRM

• Marketing Automation
• Email Marketing
• User Management
• Helpdesk Automation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Sales Automation
• Sales Enablement
• Sales Engagement
• Pipeline Management
• Analytics and Intelligence
• Video Conferencing

Conclusion

In this article we have been able to explain what customer relationship management is all about and why all businesses and companies need a software that will help them manage their crm.

If you own a small business and you don’t know which CRM software to go with, This article will be a definitive guide to you.

After going through the list of affordable CRM software in this post I’m sure you will be able to come up with a comforting and formidable choice of CRM solution to employ in your business.