10/10/2025
Picking a CRM is like choosing a toolbox. You can buy the fancy set, the job‑specific set, or build your own that fits exactly what you use.
(The right choice depends on the work you actually do not the brochure.)
Here’s the plain‑English breakdown:
1) Industry‑specific CRMS (like Jobber)
Why it wins: niche specific features for your industry
Tradeoffs: Great if you fit the mold, clunky if you don’t.
When to pick it: You need jobs done, there’s a good out-of-the-box solution and you don’t need customization.
2) Big platforms (HubSpot, Pipedrive)
Who it’s for: sales‑led teams that need reliable pipelines, automations, and reporting.
Why they win: mature email + task sequences, deal stages, dashboards, integrations. You get scale and support.
Tradeoffs: cost and complexity rise with add‑ons. Powerful, but you must keep the data clean or it turns into a junk drawer.
When to pick it: multiple reps, clear stages, marketing + sales handoffs, and you want native email + calling + dashboards.
3) Custom‑built (Notion, ClickUp)
Who it’s for: operators who want workflows that match the business, not the other way around.
Why it wins: you model your exact process (intake, fulfillment, renewals, SOPs) in one workspace. Cheap to start, flexible forever.
Tradeoffs: you own the setup and maintenance. No "out‑of‑the‑box" magic. You need templates and guardrails.
When to pick it: unique delivery model, mixed sales + ops, or you want CRM + project management + docs in one place.
How to decide in 10 minutes:
- Map your process on paper first (stages, handoffs, required fields)
- Circle your must‑haves (email sequences? scheduling? field jobs? reporting?)
- Choose the category that matches your reality, not your wish list
- Pilot with real deals/jobs for 2 weeks and measure time‑to‑update
Bottom line: pick niche specific if you want out of the box, HubSpot/Pipedrive if you run a sales room, Notion/ClickUp if you run a custom playbook.