CRM Recommendations Needed

[KleanerDude]

I quite recently downloaded a review of 40 CRMs for 2015.
I am looking for the best one for what our company does.

A KEY feature I would really like is one with tech support
that is based in the U.S. I am very supportive and have
been in the past very thankful for the tech support I have
always gotten, no matter what product or service I was
contacting a tech support person about.

BUT, too much of the time, the person I was contacting
for tech support was not from the U.S. but much of the
time, from India or some other country, overseas.

They were very helpful, no complaints about that, but I
have drawn a line in the sand and hope I can stick to my
position and principles in getting a CRM that has U.S.
based tech support.

Secondly, I would like to hear from those of you in here
who have purchased and are using a CRM that is more
than likely on this review list. Or, if you are also looking
at CRMs and can share what you have learned, that would
be great! I am looking at paying no more than $39 mo.

I am just trying to determine which CRM would provide
the best support for all of the things I and many of us have
to do while marketing and selling carpet cleaning. I need
a CRM that can follow the client from that first contact
and continue to follow them in all of the future activities
that will transpire between our company and that possible
lifetime client.

I hope I am being clear enough in what i am looking for
in the way of feedback. Here is the link to the Review
Guide for CRMs for 2015:

https://user-assets-unbounce-com.s3...549690&Signature=HHSaP2mAJLPRioiHBzKv0/9+5Cs=

Thanks to those of you who can offer some insightful and
practical recommendations. I would like to get some feed
back from those of you who have a more "techie" background,
too - because I feel you may provide some added depth and
knowledge that would be helpful in my making a final decision.

I want to get a CRM that has what I need but I don't want to
get something that is maybe too technical.

 

[Mikey P]

I prefer the original Brush Pro.

 

[CanadianRuss]

I prefer the original Brush Pro.

Nice Mike. Lol.

 

[smastio]

take a look at nutshell.com

 

[renegade_cowboy]

You should start with your database and add on the features that you want and need. Zoho is the poor man version of salesforce.. not as technical either but very robust because you pick and choose what you want with your crm.

 

[KleanerDude]

I'm looking @ close.io and Base as they are phone-friendly
but I also not only want a CRM but i want something with
a good marketing aspect, as well.

 

[jkowalski]

The vast majority of cleaners (including here) use us. We are completely 100% US based (support, development, and sales) and have deep roots in the industry.

We are $80/month though. You get what you pay for, just like a good cleaning. :-)

www.servicemonster.net

Btw. We will be offering a fully featured mobile only subscription for single owner operators in Q1 2016 for $30/ month (thats the plan for now at least)

 

[KleanerDude]

Have had a trial with Zoho but just too many CRMs out there, so
I am going over quite a few of them before we make any decision.
Many of them are excellent, but like it is said, we just have to find
the right one that is a "fit" for our company. Thank you for your
Zoho recommendation.

Must be US-based for software and tech support. Must be no more
than $40/$50 monthly for at least 5/6 users, phone-friendly would
be nice but haven't felt comfortable with Base or Close.io and they
are both fitting that bill. Want not only excellent client management
but excellent marketing capabilities, as well.

Nutshell looks good and it has phone-friendly aspects and looks very
pleasant to the eye, which is also being considered.

Sitting in front of a computer a lot and having to look at such a program
for a lot of hours, the "look" and "feel" of the software is going to count,
as well. I liked Nutshell's "look" and "feel" - maybe even Insightly, as well.

You should
start with your database and add on the features that you want and need.
Zoho is the poor man version of salesforce.. not as technical either but very
robust because you pick and choose what you want with your crm.

 

[TomKing]

If you are 1 truck "Service Monster" will be more than you probably will be able to implement or use.

If you are 3-5 trucks with a CSR you will be able to use most of what it can do.

The problem will not be the software if will be your ability to implement.

Chem Dry the largest carpet cleaning company in the world uses it. It might work for you also. Just saying.

If you have 5-6 users I would say you should be doing $650 - $1mil plus depending on your clients and services. You really only want to spend $600 tops annually? The question should not be how much you are spending but how much are you losing?

Last week one of our CSR's used SM to call 12 -18 month clients and booked $1,200 worth of work. The week before it was used to call 12 month commercial clients we booked a $2,500 job.

I used the analytics for ROI on advertising sources and cut $3,000 out of a spend with one vendor last year and we did not miss a beat.

I spend I think $125 monthly. I paid for it in 2 weeks from one CSR. Correct me if I am wrong on my costs Joe!

If you would like to talk live happy to help. Message me.

 

[Mikey P]

Just saying.

dont.

 

[renegade_cowboy]

Have had a trial with Zoho but just too many CRMs out there, so
I am going over quite a few of them before we make any decision.
Many of them are excellent, but like it is said, we just have to find
the right one that is a "fit" for our company. Thank you for your
Zoho recommendation.

Must be US-based for software and tech support. Must be no more
than $40/$50 monthly for at least 5/6 users, phone-friendly would
be nice but haven't felt comfortable with Base or Close.io and they
are both fitting that bill. Want not only excellent client management
but excellent marketing capabilities, as well.

Nutshell looks good and it has phone-friendly aspects and looks very
pleasant to the eye, which is also being considered.

Sitting in front of a computer a lot and having to look at such a program
for a lot of hours, the "look" and "feel" of the software is going to count,
as well. I liked Nutshell's "look" and "feel" - maybe even Insightly, as well.

I just got to look at the new servicemonster overhaul and its quite impressive from the little I saw.. so it might be best to wait till their new overhaul comes out before crossing them off the list.

To be honest.. you want something that has features that you can grow into if you aren't using them already and you won't find that at the $40-$50 price range..

 

[jkowalski]

Thanks guys!!

 

[jkowalski]

Btw. Over 50% of our clients are single owner operators and they get the most improvement.

 

[mirf]

We use service monster and would highly recommend it. Tom is right it does more than I use but we are getting better. So are they.

 

[KleanerDude]

Tom,
Very helpful. Very informative and educational. I plan to bookmark your
post. I am still in the early stages of choosing a CRM and it will be done by
not only myself but the owner I work with, so it will take a lot of time and
research. I am not completely sold on SM but it is on my list.

 

[TomKing]

Are you sitting on some serious cash to grow a carpet cleaning company? Say around a million. Do you have a plan to grow to 30-40 trucks in a major market?

Dude if not you are just like the rest of us 2-5 truckers.

This industry is far from rocket science. Focus on the important stuff agonizing over a CMR program is a waste of time. IMO.

SM has lots of stuff I wish it would do but spending time trying to find a non industry specific program adjusting it to our industry and implementing it is just not worth the next 6 months of my life and the time it will take away from me selling and growing my business.
It does not do some of the obvious but the core stuff it rocks at.

SM is the only industry specific program I know of that has any serious market share.

I would be focusing on managment structure and marketing. Assuming you have a solid system to deliver results in the home each and every day. These things are my biggest problems not a crm program.

How many trucks does your company run each day on average?

 

[WillS]

^^^^^ Listen to him. I've taken Tom's advice several times on here, he knows what hes talking about. Good info.

 

[Papa John]

Tom,
Very helpful. Very informative and educational. I plan to bookmark your
post. I am still in the early stages of choosing a CRM and it will be done by
not only myself but the owner I work with, so it will take a lot of time and
research. I am not completely sold on SM but it is on my list.

I say sign on w SM and be done with it!

 

[TomKing]

I say sign on w SM and be done with it!

Lest you think I am a salesman for SM.

I have never received anything free other than the referral program for signing up new members that was in effect a few years back.

Although I wouldn't mind being influenced with a cool SM t-shirt size xxl to be worn on my next cruise. LOL

 

[rolandal]

Hey John -

Take a look at HouseCall Pro, you should do a 1:1 live walkthrough to see if you like it. Everything is made and built in the USA (San Diego), unlike some others mentioned in here.

There are several pricing tiers which start at $0 for owner/operators, up to $199 for 10+ truck operations.

If you decide you like it, make sure you go through this discount portal for Mikey's Board: http://tryhousecall.com/mikeysboard or call me at 858-345-9675