We all know that running a small business can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding, but it's not without its challenges. From navigating the complexities of cash flow to managing a team of employees, owning a small business requires dedication, determination, and a tireless work ethic. And if you're not careful, it can be easy to get bogged down by the countless administrative tasks that come with the territory. That's where excellent client relationship management (CRM) platforms for small businesses come in.

A high-quality CRM can help you free up precious time and focus on what you do best by streamlining your sales, marketing, and customer service efforts. But with so many options on the market, how can you choose the best CRM software for your small business? In this article, we've rounded up our top picks for the best CRM platforms for small businesses so that you can find the perfect solution to help your business thrive.

What is a CRM, and What Are the Benefits of Having One? 

Business owners are always looking for tools and technologies that can help them streamline their operations and grow their businesses. A CRM platform is one such tool that all business owners should consider investing in. A CRM is a software that helps you manage customer and prospect interactions. It is designed to help you track customer data, drive leads, and automate sales processes, among other things.

While many consider CRM a tool for large corporations, it is just as useful for small businesses that want to build and nurture strong customer relationships. With a CRM in place, you can improve your sales efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive growth for your business.

Best CRM Software for Small Businesses 

Salesforce

As one of the oldest and biggest names for CRM software, Salesforce began as a hub for sales tools. Later, they expanded into marketing, customer service, and many other uses. One of the critical features of this software is its industry-specific suites, giving users a more customized experience based on the industry they work in, whether it be healthcare, real estate, retail, or financial services.

Some of the software features users can expect to receive when using Salesforce include marketing automation, email marketing, contact management, workflows, customer support, analytics and reporting, and a slew of Salesforce Integrations, just to name a few.

This software is truly customizable to meet your business needs, and they have plans to match every budget as well. There are over ten pricing plans, ranging from $25/user/month to $3,750/month, depending on your desired features.

Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a powerful web-based CRM and pipeline management tool that helps businesses plan sales activities and track deals. With an activity-based sales approach, Pipedrive simplifies turning potential opportunities into successful sales. Because this solution is cloud-based, it can be accessed from anywhere at any time using a web browser or dedicated mobile app.

Pipedrive offers sales teams a clear and comprehensive overview of diverse sales pipelines. Its dynamic interface showcases the advancement stages for every deal, including detailed information on forthcoming tasks. The platform's activity and goal feature lets users keep tabs on in-progress activities within each pipeline. Additionally, Pipedrive provides bespoke sales reporting tools that monitor individual and team goals, facilitate sales data analysis, and generate illustrative reports.

The mailing system offered by this software has effortless integration with various email service providers such as Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo, allowing users to manage emails from different accounts directly through their Pipedrive accounts. Moreover, Pipedrive's solution is designed to work harmoniously with leading CRM tools, facilitating the transfer of contact information, communication records, and other pertinent data between applications. Beyond these integrations, Pipedrive works seamlessly with Google Maps, MailChimp, and Zapier, among 350 other integration capabilities.

Business owners can take advantage of a 14-day free trial, and if they enjoy the platform, they can choose from five plans to fit their needs and budget. Pricing to use Pipedrive after the free trial period ends starts at just $14.90/user/month, but you can unlock even more features and security preferences with their higher tiers, which vary from $27.90/user/month to $99/user/month.

HubSpot

HubSpot is a cloud-based customer relationship management platform that aids businesses of all scales in tracking, nurturing leads, and analyzing key business metrics. Appropriate for both B2B and B2C enterprises across diverse sectors such as accounting, marketing, sales, retail, and real estate, HubSpot offers a myriad of features. These include outbound and inbound marketing, automated sales processes, sales pipeline administration, customer relationship management, email monitoring, and lead and contact management.

HubSpot provides a dynamic dashboard that gives an instant visual representation of the entire sales pipeline. With this CRM system, companies can automatically monitor all customer engagements across multiple channels - email, social media, live chat, and phone calls. Each interaction is chronologically arranged in a timeline for each lead. Furthermore, HubSpot's CRM marketing tool enhances lead generation and automates email marketing. This feature assists businesses with creating, managing, and tracking the performance of their email templates.

Business owners can use HubSpot CRM for free if they are only looking for foundational tools to get started. However, as your business grows and you develop a need for more advanced features, you can get an advanced plan for as little as $30/month.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a comprehensive business management platform hosted in the cloud, designed to serve a wide range of business sizes. It encompasses automation tools for sales and marketing, along with features for helpdesk, analytics, and customer support.

The platform allows users to engage with customers across various channels in real time. Zia, the AI-driven sales assistant within Zoho CRM, can predict the optimal time to reach out to customers. It can also scan emails to identify urgent matters and display pertinent statistics or documents during searches.

Furthermore, Zoho CRM offers seamless integration with third-party systems, including G Suite, WordPress, MailChimp, Evernote, and Unbounce. For those seeking to customize their CRM experience, Zoho CRM's software development kits offer the necessary tools to create custom functions that enhance the CRM's capabilities.

Zoho CRM offers a free plan for up to three users, but you also have other pricing plans that offer more users and features. Each program offers a free trial, and after the trial ends, depending on your plan, you can expect to pay between $20/user and $65/user when billed monthly. The platform also offers a lower price point per user if you pay annually.

What CRM Software is Best for Your Business? 

The importance of robust CRM software for small businesses cannot be overstated. These platforms streamline customer relationship management and bolster sales and marketing efforts. They can transform how small businesses operate, leading to enhanced productivity, improved customer satisfaction, and increased profitability.

Fortunately, funding solutions are available to small businesses that can help with the costs associated with getting an effective CRM up and running for their business. Business credit can help you propel your business forward without the need for collateral or giving up equity in your company, all while maintaining a 0% interest rate. Click here to learn more about how you can use business credit to achieve your goals.

While there are endless options available, the best CRM software for small businesses is one that aligns with their unique needs, budget, and growth aspirations. By making an informed choice, small businesses can harness the power of CRM software to drive their success to new heights.