The challenges of a CRM for small businesses
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 4:30 am
Experts estimate that salespeople spend only 20% of their time selling . The rest is spent on administration, planning, meetings, and so on. Having to switch between non-integrated systems and resources, such as spreadsheets and Post-it notes, doesn't help optimize time.
CRM software can centralize these resources and greatly reduce the burden of administrative tasks. You'll be able to find a lead's address, a note from the last call, or the first email you sent in seconds.
An example of how a CRM can optimize an SME's workflow is the case of the language school Expanish . The school began to grow rapidly, entering 600 leads into its funnel per month. This workload was difficult for its sales team of just three people to manage with manual methods.
By starting to use Pipedrive and integrating it with apps to automate email responses and offer online chat, their conversions doubled (from 15% to 30%). And now their sales force is able to prevent leaks in their pipeline.
“Using Pipedrive and Automate.io together saves us four hours every day. It's helped us streamline our lead management and nurturing process, allowing our team to focus on what they do best: selling better.”
2. Can I pay for a CRM?
If you're still hesitant to invest in a CRM for fear it won't fit your budget, here's what you need to know about CRM pricing for small businesses:
CRMs are paid per user . The fewer people who need access to your CRM, the lower its monthly cost and impact on your cost of sales . A huge advantage for small businesses and teams.
CRM pricing typically comes in several tiers . A great CRM crypto users database won't force you to pay a premium for a bunch of features you don't currently need.
A good CRM for SMBs will allow you to choose a plan that fits your needs. So be sure to compare plans to choose the best one.
When you find the right CRM, you can save money by opting for an annual subscription . You'll make a single annual payment, but the resulting monthly rate will be much lower.
Whenever possible, try it for free . There are basic free small business software options and more comprehensive ones with free trials. If you're running a lean small business, paying for poor software, even for just a month, can strain your budget.
That's why it's best to try small business software for free. Seeing how a CRM helps you in your daily work will help you determine if it meets your expectations.
A CRM for small businesses typically costs from $15 per user per month for a basic plan to $50 per month for a more comprehensive plan. How can you tell if it's a good investment?
CRM software can centralize these resources and greatly reduce the burden of administrative tasks. You'll be able to find a lead's address, a note from the last call, or the first email you sent in seconds.
An example of how a CRM can optimize an SME's workflow is the case of the language school Expanish . The school began to grow rapidly, entering 600 leads into its funnel per month. This workload was difficult for its sales team of just three people to manage with manual methods.
By starting to use Pipedrive and integrating it with apps to automate email responses and offer online chat, their conversions doubled (from 15% to 30%). And now their sales force is able to prevent leaks in their pipeline.
“Using Pipedrive and Automate.io together saves us four hours every day. It's helped us streamline our lead management and nurturing process, allowing our team to focus on what they do best: selling better.”
2. Can I pay for a CRM?
If you're still hesitant to invest in a CRM for fear it won't fit your budget, here's what you need to know about CRM pricing for small businesses:
CRMs are paid per user . The fewer people who need access to your CRM, the lower its monthly cost and impact on your cost of sales . A huge advantage for small businesses and teams.
CRM pricing typically comes in several tiers . A great CRM crypto users database won't force you to pay a premium for a bunch of features you don't currently need.
A good CRM for SMBs will allow you to choose a plan that fits your needs. So be sure to compare plans to choose the best one.
When you find the right CRM, you can save money by opting for an annual subscription . You'll make a single annual payment, but the resulting monthly rate will be much lower.
Whenever possible, try it for free . There are basic free small business software options and more comprehensive ones with free trials. If you're running a lean small business, paying for poor software, even for just a month, can strain your budget.
That's why it's best to try small business software for free. Seeing how a CRM helps you in your daily work will help you determine if it meets your expectations.
A CRM for small businesses typically costs from $15 per user per month for a basic plan to $50 per month for a more comprehensive plan. How can you tell if it's a good investment?