Guide
Does a small trade business need a CRM
CRM sounds like something a sales department needs. For a trade business it just means one place where every enquiry, quote and customer lives, instead of being spread across a phone, a notebook and an inbox.
The signs you need one
If two or three of these are true, it is probably time.
- Enquiries occasionally get forgotten
- You cannot remember who is waiting on a quote
- Someone else answers the phone and you cannot see what they took
- You have no way to contact past customers
- You are quoting enough that a list in your head no longer works
When you do not need one
If you are on your own, doing a handful of jobs a week and nothing is slipping, a notebook and a phone are genuinely fine. Adding software to a system that works just adds admin.
We say this to people regularly, including people who came to us asking for a CRM.
What a good one does for a trade
Captures enquiries from the website straight in, tracks quotes through to won or lost, reminds you to follow up, and keeps a history for every customer.
That is it. Anything beyond that is usually features you will never open.
Getting it wrong
The common failure is buying something built for a sales team, spending a fortnight setting it up and abandoning it in a month. If it takes more effort than the notebook, it will not survive.
Our own system is built around how trades actually work, which is why it gets used. We set it up for you rather than handing you a login and wishing you luck.
Common questions
Is a CRM worth it for a one man operation?
Only if things are slipping through. If nothing is being lost, save your money and your time.
Can enquiries from my website go straight into it?
Yes, that is the main benefit. Every form goes in automatically so nothing depends on someone remembering.
Where to go next
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