How to Choose a CRM for Your Australian Small Business

Overview

Choosing a CRM is a significant decision for Australian small businesses. This guide walks you through the key considerations.

Step 1: Define Your Needs

List the features you need: contact management, pipeline tracking, email integration, reporting. Avoid overbuying.

Step 2: Consider Your Budget

CRMs range from free (HubSpot, Zoho) to hundreds per month (Salesforce). Start small and scale.

Step 3: Test Before Committing

Most CRMs offer free trials. Use them to test with real data and workflows.

Step 4: Check Australian Support

Ensure the vendor supports Australian businesses—time zones, currency, and local compliance matter.

Recommended Tools

• HubSpot – Free tier, good for inbound
• Zoho CRM – Affordable, full-featured
• Pipedrive – Sales-focused, simple

Try HubSpot Try Zoho CRM Try Pipedrive

FAQ

Do I need a CRM as a sole trader?

It depends. If you have more than a handful of leads, a CRM helps. Free options like HubSpot make it low-risk.

What about GST and Australian compliance?

Most CRMs don't handle GST directly—that's for your accounting software. But they should integrate with Xero, MYOB, etc.