A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system helps businesses keep track of contacts, leads, deals, and more. You’ve probably heard of tools like HubSpot or Zoho—but sometimes, a business’s needs are so specific that building a custom CRM is the better choice.
Before you start coding, ask yourself:
Do you really need a custom build? Off-the-shelf tools are fast to set up and affordable. But if they lack crucial features, can’t integrate with your other systems, or get too costly as you scale, building your own may make sense.
What’s your goal? Be clear about the problem your CRM will solve. Use the SMART approach—make it Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
What’s in your MVP? Start with the basics: contact management, lead tracking, tasks, sales pipeline, and simple reports. You can add advanced features like chatbots or lead scoring later.
How much will it cost? A small, functional custom CRM might take 3–7 months to build and cost $30K–$65K, depending on complexity and team rates.
Pro tip: Begin with a lean version, test it with real users, and improve over time. A custom CRM’s biggest advantage is flexibility—you’re in control of features and growth.
📚 Want to dive deeper? Check out this full guide:How to create a CRM system
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