Page 6 - What's an SMB

How to choose the best CRM for your business

Before spending a single dollar on a CRM there are a few questions every SMB needs to consider.
As we’ve said before, your business and sales process are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all
solution. That’s why it’s important to think about your size, budget, and expectations so you don’t

get overwhelmed by the number of options and vendors.

Begin the buying process by asking yourself a few questions like,

How much am I willing to pay? What do I expect to get from the CRM?

What are essential features I can’t live without?

After you answer these questions and have a road map of your expectations, it’s time to understand
a few key terms, the different types of CRMs on the market, and the various pricing models.

Cloud versus on-premise CRM
If you’ve been researching CRM software, you’ve probably noticed there are two types: on-premise
(also called installed) and cloud-based (or SaaS). The most obvious difference between the two is

where the software is installed and how much time and effort is required by you to make it work.

On-premise CRM

Requires on-site servers and is managed by your company’s IT team. The CRM is
installed on individual computers and stores all data on your company server

located in your office. Salespeople can only access the CRM on specific devices
and all software updates are completed manually by your IT team.

Cloud-based CRM
Software and data are stored by a vendor on remote servers. This CRM isn’t
located on a specific machine and is accessible using any web browser and any

device. Because there is no hardware to install and no need for a dedicated IT
team, cloud-based CRM is an easy and cost effective solution for SMBs across
every vertical. Any software updates happen automatically and do not
require business owners to purchase additional upgrades or re-install the CRM

on their machines. With cloud CRM, users can login to the system wherever they
are across multiple devices (laptops, tablets and smartphones).

What’s an SMB? It’s not what you’ve been told. 04 www.zoho.com/crm