Last updated on August 25th, 2023
This article breaks down the key features a CRM for solopreneurs has that can help you organize and scale your solo business.
You’ve taken the great leap of starting your own business...
With this leap comes a new excitement about what’s ahead in your career and even your life.
In the US alone, around 70% to 73% of the 30 million-plus small businesses are operated by solopreneurs.
But, solopreneurship brings lots of requirements along with it:
There’s learning about taxes, technology software, servicing your clients, managing your time, gaining industry knowledge, communications and so much more.
The truth is...
It’s A LOT.
And as a solopreneur, you only have so much time in a day.
So what’s a solopreneur to do?
They need the right tools that simplify tasks and systemize their business. One of those tools is a CRM system
But before we talk about CRMs let’s break down the aspects of being a solopreneur.
This will help us better understand just how important systemizing your tasks are!
- What exactly is a solopreneur?
- 5 Benefits a solopreneur can get from a CRM
- Solopreneur CRM checklist
- The BEST CRM for solopreneurs
What Exactly is a Solopreneur?
A solopreneur is a business owner that operates by themselves, without the help of employees, contractors, or co-founders.
Hence the word “solo.”
The lean business of a solopreneur allows them location independence and awesome scheduling flexibility.
And most of all:
The ability to work on their passion.
However, there’s another side to this:
If you’re a solopreneur, you may find yourself wearing a ton of hats in your business — which takes up precious time and willpower.
When you’re constantly busy doing so many tasks, business growth can be almost impossible.
Why?
Because your business isn’t systemized, meaning you’re relying on your manual work to grow your business, which, unfortunately, reaches a glass ceiling.
So what’s the answer?
Using the right CRM for solopreneurs.
There are findings that CRMs improve productivity by up to 34%, and boost forecast accuracy by 40%. Don't believe us, see a report from Tech.Co for more proof.
With the help of a CRM, you’ll find your business taking a turn for the better with more efficiency.
So let’s breakdown 5 amazing reasons to use a CRM system as a solopreneur.
5 Great Ways a Solopreneur Benefits from a CRM
CRM stands for customer relationship management.
It’s the holy grail of time efficiency and task completion as a solopreneur — these are MUST-HAVE benefits.
As passionate as you may be about your business, simplicity will help you enjoy it even more.
- CRMs Save Solopreneurs More Time
Whether you’re an artist, consultant, blog writer, or coach — communication is a constant in your business.
You’re always communicating with someone via email, text messages, or over the phone.
Many CRMs allow you to do all these communications from one place, saving you tons of time in any given month.
You’re also given the ability to save your best email and text message templates for when you need them again.
Compared to manually sending out communications, the efficiency is better.
- CRMs Can Save Solopreneurs Money
How much cold-hard cash are you dumbing into multiple software?
Even if the software you’re using is free, it’s still costing you efficiency.
An all-in-one CRM has your most-necessary software in one place, for a specified price, especially, it is also integrated with a bookkeeping system like Xero, Quickbooks, or Zoho.
Compared to using multiple software licenses — you’re saving hundreds!
And this money you’re saving could be reinvested back into your business or stored in your business’s war chest.
- CRM Automations Bring Efficiency
With the many hats, you wear as a solopreneur, efficiency is your best friend.
Systemizing your one-man-shop using CRM automation saves you time and effort in the short and long term.
How many times have you forgotten to send an invoice, send a proposal, or follow-up with a lead?
Sure you’re human and make mistakes but forgetting tasks can bring a giant hamper to your business.
- CRMs Bring Organization
The truth is when we think about business ownership we may think about passion, revenue, serving customers, and growth.
Organization usually isn’t the first thing that pops in mind.
Yet organizing your business from customers to tasks is what you need for sustainable business.
CRMs list all of your important metrics, tasks, business revenue, and sales pipeline all in one place.
Without a way of seeing where your customers are on your pipeline, you won’t know how to follow-up with and approach them.
As a matter of fact:
You may even forget to follow-up all together leading to a disorganized sales process and less revenue than there should really be.
- CRMs Allow The Solopreneur To Forecast
As much as you may love your day-to-day tasks:
As a business owner, it’s crucial to think ahead into the future.
Meaning 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, etc.
With sales reporting on your CRM, it’s very easy to predict how your revenue will look as time goes on.
On top of that:
Forecasting allows you to see potential business problems before they even come up.
Anticipating problems is crucial for a solopreneur because they don't have a team to “soften any blows.”
Let’s now break down the important CRM checklist!
Solopreneur CRM Checklist: 10 Things To Consider Before Using One
Quick question:
You don’t just buy any random car in the lot when shopping for one, do you?
There’s a big chance you have specific criteria and features you’re looking for the car to have.
Then this is the same case with CRMs. Not all CRMs are made equal so you need to choose one that will fit your needs!
Here’s a 10 item checklist of what to consider when investing into a CRM as a solopreneur.
- Quality Reporting
Sales reporting is a crucial feature every solopreneur, freelancer, or sole proprietor should lookout for.
The CRM you choose should have clear metrics and should allow you to customize and move around your deals at your discretion.
Never underestimate how important this is, even if your customer list isn’t too long.
- Multiple Communication Channels
With today’s technology we communicate in so many ways and so do your customers.
Look for a CRM that helps you use email, text messengers, and social media to get in touch with your customers.
These are the 3 mediums your prospects and customers use on a daily basis.
Having multiple communication channels fits in line with the “efficiency” benefit we outlined earlier in this article.
- Automation
Your CRM should save you time by leveraging automation. An example of this would be autoresponders.
What do they do?
Autoresponders help answer emails and text messages sent to you while you’re away.
It helps let your customers know they’ll be taken care of either directly (the autoresponder answering a question) or indirectly (You’ll get to them soon).
- Quality User Experience
The UX design of your CRM must have a smoothness to it.
As a busy solopreneur, the last thing you need is a buggy or slow CRM that’s adding frustration to your workflow. In addition, too many clicks and slow data entry consume time. An easy-to-use CRM is vital.
Think about the type of interface you’d like to see in your CRM.
- Robust and easy-to-use Sales Pipeline Feature
Your sales pipeline gives a birds-eye view of your sales funnel.
Sales pipelines organize your funnel and help you tangibly see your current and potential revenue.
Find a CRM that allows you to use your company's unique sales cycle by editing pipeline stages to your liking.
- Integrations
A great CRM has the ability to be flexible and customizable. Look for one that allows you to integrate your favorite tools into it!
- Activity Management
Planning your calls, reminders, and tasks should easily be done with your chosen CRM.
You can use the email and text message features within the CRM to send reminders to prospects about your scheduled calls.
- Task Management
As a solopreneur there are 101 different tasks for you to do.
Task management in your CRM allows you to prioritize the most important tasks for the betterment of your business.
Oftentimes, the most important tasks will be those that involve bringing in more sales.
In this example, the VipeCloud CRM’s task management system is being used for crucial follow-up reminders.
- Lead Nurturing
Almost every prospect requires multiple touchpoints.
Your CRM should allow you to manage and implement drip campaigns to keep your prospects in the loop.
If not?
You could unfortunately be losing thousands in deals.
- Ongoing Support
With the different CRMs out there, there may be a learning curve.
Make sure the company providing your CRM has helpful guides, videos, and tutorials on how to use it efficiently. Additionally, it is important to make sure the CRM company you work with has a helpful service team.
VipeCloud’s customer support team is the perfect help when you use our Marketing and Sales CRM.
The Best CRM for Solopreneurs: VipeCloud’s Marketing & Sales Suite
Vipecloud’s popular Sales and Marketing Suite is your all-in-one CRM solution for your business
This is the best CRM for freelancers, solopreneurs, or all sorts of individuals operators. And if you decide you want to scale your business, your VipeCloud account will grow with you.
Hundreds of business owners have used VipeCloud for their sales and marketing needs.
Read what Joshua had to say about it:
Our marketing and sales suite gives you all the important information you need to simplify your business.
How?
Vipecloud’s easy-to-use Sales & Marketing Suite has tools to handle your:
- Email and Text messaging
- Sales pipeline
- Content management
- Auto Responders
- Managing Contacts
And so much more.
With a great user experience, it checks all the boxes of what an exceptional CRM is all about.
Here’s what our client Kristin had to say about VipeCloud’s Sales and Marketing Suite:
We want to show you just how perfect VipeCloud’s CRM is for your business.
Request your FREE demo today and see the results for yourself.
Take your Solopreneurship journey to the next level with VipeCloud!
FAQ Around the Best CRM for Solopreneurs
Because Solopreneurs usually rely only on themselves, they require a CRM that assists them in properly managing client interactions and administrative responsibilities. Through workflow automation and third-party app integration, their CRM should assist liberate them from repetitive work.
CRM software provides a deal pipeline that helps solopreneurs collect, track, and onboard leads and potential clients. Through frequent communication and email marketing, they can nurture their leads. CRMs assist Solopreneurs increase sales by providing digital marketing solutions.
Since Solopreneurs handle all aspects of their business by themselves, their biggest struggle is time management. If you’re a solopreneur doing thousand and one things at the same time, a CRM system can help you automate processes and achieve a higher level of productivity.
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