The Best CRM Systems for Small Businesses in Canada

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If you’re researching the best CRM systems for small businesses, things must be getting busy for you – great stuff! Now let’s take your business up another notch.

Researching the best CRM software can be tedious. Good news is, Expert Market has done the grafting for you.

Taking into consideration popularity, reviews and the all important dollar sign, we’ve come up with a handy list of the best CRM systems for small businesses.

To help you out further, we’ve stated the ‘best for’ for each software package in the table below. That way, you can be really confident that you’re investing in the best system for you.

If you’re keen to get an idea of how much a CRM system will cost, click the ‘Get Free Quotes’ button and up to four of our suppliers will be in touch with prices. Want to learn more? Scroll down for our top five.


The best CRM systems for small businesses

Below, you’ll find small business CRM software from leading CRM suppliers including Copper, Thryv, amoCRM, Salesforce and Marketing 360 (Madwire).

1CopperBest for low budget
2Marketing 360Best for customer support
3amoCRMBest for customization
4SalesforceBest for integration
5ThryvBest for easy to use

1.Copper

Offering a heck of lot of bang for your buck, Copper is a great CRM for small businesses. Even big brands like Hello Fresh and Peugeot have turned to Copper to manage their customer bases.

The CRM software is compatible with G Suite, Google’s hub of handy business tools. With a professional package, you’ll also get email open tracking, integration with compatible mobile apps and some reporting and forecasting features, too.

The sacrifice for a cheap CRM software package is the customer support. For Copper, you’ll have to rely on online or self-service resources for help.

Pros

  • Lots of handy features
  • Professional package is good value
  • Intuitive interface
  • Integration with Google Suite

Cons

  • Customer service is basic
  • Not as customizable as other CRM systems
  • Limited to Gmail email accounts

2.Marketing 360

Reviewers really like Marketing 360 and that’s probably because it’s been designed with small businesses in mind. It’s a great all-rounder but top marks have to go to its customer service team, who are happy to listen to any hang-ups you may have.

The software features everything you need from a CRM system; customer relationship really is just the beginning. You can manage your social media and get more traffic coming to your website through SEO campaigns.There’s even a clever UXi development system, which enables you to design branded websites from scratch.

Of course, Marketing 360 isn’t the cheapest CRM software around. And you’re going to need someone who knows what they’re doing to really get to grips with the best of what the software has to offer.

Pros

  • Create entire marketing campaigns
  • Easy to use interface
  • Design websites
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • More expensive than others
  • Offers more features than you may need
  • Website designs look very templated

3.amoCRM

If customization is key, go for amoCRM. Unlike other software, amoCRM isn’t fussy when it comes to compatibility. It means you can play around with integrating other software packages until you’re satisfied that the CRM works for your business needs.

There are heaps of available extensions that are ready to go and if you’re particularly nifty with software, there’s a free API (Application Programming Interface) for tailoring your own CRM solution. Unlike other CRMs, you’re not limited to using a certain email provider, either.

The software is easy to use and the interface has been optimized for iPad – great if you’re out and about in the field. On top of this, amoCRM features a clever business card scanner for those all-important networking events.

Pros

  • Plenty of software integration options
  • Tailor your own CRM with the inbuilt API
  • Easy to use interface
  • Business card scanner

Cons

  • Will take time to learn all the features
  • Limited customer service
  • Exporting data can be a bit of challenge

4.Salesforce

Salesforce has recently been voted the best CRM for small businesses by Business News Daily. If that isn’t credibility, what is?

The great thing about Salesforce is its ability to integrate into any type of business. Adapt it to your business needs and when your requirements change, the Salesforce CRM can change with you.

Service, Marketing and Commerce packages are just some of the additions you can make once you feel the need for them. And if your business is growing, you can easily upgrade to a larger package at a later date.

If you’re looking for cheap CRM software, Salesforce isn’t half bad on price. Even the most basic package features plenty of management services – ideal for small businesses dipping their toe into CRM for the first time.

Pros

  • Variety of packages
  • Basic package is good value for money
  • Compatible with other cloud-based software
  • Desktop and app versions

Cons

  • Feature-heavy packages more complex to use
  • Prices hike up for upgraded packages
  • Customer service isn’t consistent

5. Thryv

Thryv claims it offers the only all-in-one software package for small businesses; we’re talking CRM to invoicing and everything in between – perfect if you’re looking to make a one-off investment.

Set up email campaigns and boost your online presence with the basic package. And if you’re looking to create staff accounts or use the software to manage social media campaigns, you can upgrade to the next version.

Because the system is an all-in-one, it lacks the depth of other CRM software packages. It means if you want to get into the nitty-gritty of a specific function, you may be better off going for a CRM that offers less but delivers more.

Pros

  • All-in-one system
  • Basic package offers a lot
  • Interface is easy to navigate
  • Desktop and app versions available

Cons

  • Expensive if you don’t need every feature
  • Some functions lack depth
  • Customer support not consistent

How We Test CRM Systems for Businesses

We tested 13 market-leading CRM systems to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, cost, scalability, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to Canadian businesses.

Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in six main categories of investigation and 13 subcategories – in fact, we covered 84 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and that's our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!

Our main testing categories for CRM systems are:

Features: the functionalities and capabilities provided by the CRM software, such as contact management, lead and opportunity tracking, and task and activity management.

Help and Support: the resources and assistance available to users when they encounter issues or require guidance while using the CRM software.

Customization: the ability to tailor the CRM software to suit the specific needs and processes of the organization, e.g. customizing fields, layouts, and workflows.

Scalability: the ability of the CRM software to accommodate the growth and changing needs of the organization, such as the capacity to handle a growing customer database.

Price: the cost associated with using the CRM software. It includes factors such as licensing fees, subscription plans, and additional charges for add-on modules or features.

Team Structure – Sales CRM: determining if a platform makes it easier to manage large sales teams, including team dashboards, team hierarchies, and team inboxes.

Usability – Small Business CRM: assessing the simplicity of the interface, the ease of navigating through menus and options, and the overall user experience.

 

Written by:
Rob Binns
Rob writes mainly about the payments industry, but also brings to the table industry-specific knowledge of CRM software, business loans, fulfilment, and invoice finance. When not exasperating his editor with bad puns, he can be found relaxing in a sunny (socially-distanced) corner, with a beer and a battered copy of Dostoevsky.
Reviewed by:
James thinks all businesses can improve if they use the right technology. At Expert Market, he utilises his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialised advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management.