RELATED: CRM Platforms Used For Gyms | CRM Systems Best For Agencies | Best Mortgage Broker CRM Systems

At its peak, contracting can be a steady, reliable business with substantial profits. But it can also face instability and volatility, weathering the worst of economic downturns and restricted spending. Therefore, contractors should be working hard to retain as well as attract new clients – this is where CRM comes in. By investing in CRM software you are investing in the future of your firm, to grow and develop alongside changing economic and social landscapes. Whether you’re an independent contractor or part of a firm, the CRM solutions below will help you consolidate your business and achieve success with your clients.

Top 8 Best Contractor CRMs

  1. Procore — Best CRM for All-Round CRM
  2. CoConstruct — Best CRM for Advanced Functionality
  3. BuilderTREND — Best CRM for Ease of Use
  4. Capsule — Best CRM for Remote Use
  5. Engage Bay — Best CRM for Contractors on a Budget
  6. Salesforce — Best CRM for Scalability
  7. Salesmate — Best CRM for Remote Teams
  8. ActiveCampaign — Best CRM for Larger Contractor Enterprises

1. Procore — Best CRM for All-Round CRM

PRICING: Available on request.

Procore consolidates all aspects of project and client management. Tracking everything from financial metrics to equipment orders, it provides a comprehensive solution to any contractor.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Unlimited users
  • Daily logs using real-time data
  • Invoice management

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Merges tasks in one place
  • Stay on top of appointments with the project management calendar
  • Access support 24/7

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not every desktop feature is available on the app
  • Expensive

2. CoConstruct — Best CRM for Advanced Functionality

PRICING: Standard plans from $99/month with introductory offer, $349/month thereafter.

CoConstruct offers a user-friendly project management system to manage clients, finances, and everything in between. Its focus leans towards project delivery, but its CRM capabilities are strong and it also offers excellent financial management.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Contract writing
  • Mobile app
  • Merges all channels of communication with client: emails, SMS, and phone calls in one place

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Accessibility
  • Does it all

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Costly – significant price jump after initial 2 months
  • Dated interface

3. BuilderTREND — Best CRM for Ease of Use

PRICING: Free trial, plans from $99/month.

BuilderTREND neatly reconciles all areas of communication and administration. It’s simple enough for beginners to learn but offers advanced solutions to key problems. Overall, BuilderTREND will save time and costs through its organisation abilities.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Provides account manager
  • Detailed reports
  • Appointment calendar

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Seamless integration with other software to expand capabilities
  • Remote accessibility

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Takes time to integrate your information

4. Capsule — Best CRM for Remote Use

PRICING: Free 30-day trial and free basic version, premium plans from $18/month.

Founded in the UK, Capsule assures careful customer relationship management wrapped up in an attractive website and app. Its ethos of simplicity makes it an attractive option for beginners and independent contractors, whilst the advanced features are suitable for large firms and management experts.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Access to complete records of customer interaction
  • Create tasks applicable to individual clients
  • Simple integration with other software
  • Mobile app

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Highly secure
  • Organised
  • Intuitive interface

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Free version is very limited

5. EngageBay — Best CRM for Contractors on a Budget

PRICING: Free 30-day trial, free version, paid version from $10.79/month

EngageBay encapsulates all the fundamentals of customer relationship management, in addition to project management and some accounting features. It automates the necessary tasks and altogether provides a reliable service. It’s fuss-free approach is best suited to small to medium-sized businesses looking for rudimentary rather than advanced tools.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Pop-up messages for ultimate time management
  • Drip campaign setup
  • Integrates well

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Affordability
  • Helpful customer support
  • All-rounder

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Better UX design with alternative software

6. Salesforce — Best CRM for Scalability

PRICING: Free trial, plans from $35/month.

Considered the world #1 customer relationship management platform, Salesforce nurtures loyalty and trust in contractor – client relations. It boasts compliance, security and drive as key values. Choose Salesforce if you’re looking to successfully grow your business with ease.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Sales Cloud collaboration with Slack
  • Clearly grouped data
  • Customisable

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Remote access
  • Makes communication quicker and easier
  • Boosts productivity
  • Powerful

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Cheaper alternatives available
  • Requires a dedicated Salesforce expert to maximise its potential

7. Salesmate — Best CRM for Mobile Experience

PRICING: Plans from $12/month per user.

Although contract work involves on-site projects, it’s helpful for the backstage administrative processes to be accessible from anywhere. The collaborative nature of Salesmate positions it as the ideal software for teams with employees working remotely.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Visible sales pipeline
  • Centralised customer interaction hub
  • Built-in calling
  • Chrome extension

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Builds high trust relationships
  • Consolidates business tools
  • Competitive pricing

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Requires integration for advanced email marketing

8. ActiveCampaign — Best CRM for Larger Contractor Enterprises

PRICING: From $49/month for the CRM inclusive Plus plan.

ActiveCampaign delivers a powerful CRM experience that makes it suitable for businesses with a large workload. Its pricing may look less affordable than other options, but for the features available it offers superb value for money. If you find sending emails and online customer interaction onerous, then ActiveCampaign and its extensive automation is the CRM for you.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Automatic email replies
  • Customisable automated workflows
  • Performance tracking and reports

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Value for money
  • Powerful marketing capabilities
  • Saves significant time through automation

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Difficult to find the best price plan amongst extensive options
  • Initially time-consuming to learn

Frequently Asked Questions

How will CRM benefit me as a contractor?

Essentially, using a CRM platform as a contractor will streamline and therefore speed up your off site tasks. Consistent customer interaction is tantamount to building strong relationships, so that you understand your client and they trust you in turn. Contractor disorganisation can threaten the development of your business, demonstrating indifference to clients and potentially losing you money.

Moving reams of paperwork to a digital platform and creating a visually clear calendar will make your work significantly easier.

How to optimise CRM use

Deciding to invest in a CRM platform is great, but it requires additional work to properly integrate with your business.

Firstly, you need a clear idea of who will be using the software. If it’s just you, then ensure you properly understand its features before moving across your entire client base.

A lot of the CRM systems available offer customisation, which allows you to further adapt the software for your needs. Make sure to get in contact with the respective customer support teams, as they will be able to properly guide you through their product and maximise its potential for you.