An effective consultant CRM software prioritizes delivering consistent, efficient results to boost client retention & promote repeat business, going beyond just client acquisition. Management consultants continue to benefit from robust demand for strategic planning and marketing services, with industry revenue growing at 3.5% CAGR to reach $404.1 billion in 2025.
Without a structured CRM for consultants, even the most skilled professionals like yourself risk losing deals to disorganization. The right CRM system consultant tool does more than track leads; it automates follow-ups, centralizes client data, and ensures seamless project delivery.
Whether you’re an independent consultant or part of a large firm, a well-chosen CRM eliminates guesswork, reduces burnout, and maximizes your revenue. In this blog, we will explore the list of the top 7 CRM consultant software to support you in transforming your consulting business.
Why Your Business Needs a Consultant CRM Software
” A consultant is someone who saves his client almost enough to pay his fee.”
– Arnold H. Glasow
As a consultant, managing multiple clients, prospects, and projects simultaneously requires a high level of organization, something that you can easily achieve with CRM software.
A Capterra data reveals errors in contact management (41%), fragmented workflows (32%), and missed opportunities (11%) without a consultant CRM software. Missed opportunities due to data gaps are a risk you can’t ignore.
A top CRM consultant software helps you:
- Eliminate data chaos, ensuring consistent, accurate client information.
- Streamline workflows, boosting productivity and reducing admin time.
- Maximize opportunities, capturing every potential deal and growth.
- Enhance collaboration, keeping everyone aligned and informed.
As a consultant, you continuously seek to manage new business and client development, requiring distinct strategies. Without a system, you risk losing track of activities and revenue. Tracking interactions is paramount. The best CRM consultant software assists you in staying organized. A top CRM consultant software is a strategic investment in an asset.
With the best CRM consultant software, you get optimization, data, and security, and also gain a 360-degree customer view, boosting loyalty. The best CRM consultant software assists you with tools for optimizing your practice.
Also read: Business Consulting Software: Everything Consultants Need from Technology
Top 7 CRM Consultant Software
Choosing the right CRM software consultant is essential for streamlining your client management, sales, and project execution. The best CRM consultant software helps you automate tasks, centralize your practice, and provide valuable insights to boost efficiency, ultimately leading to client satisfaction.
1. Simply.Coach
Best for all consultants seeking streamlined client management with an intuitive interface
Simply.Coach is a versatile platform designed to make client management more efficient for consultants like you, no matter your business scale. It offers a user-friendly interface to centralize your client relationships, contact management, and automate critical tasks such as follow-ups, scheduling, and session note-taking. Simply.Coach provides you with a feature set that optimizes your overall business processes and improves client engagement with minimal effort.
Key features of Simply.Coach:
- Centralized client management: Keep client interactions and documents easily accessible in one central hub. Track every detail and maintain communication across each stage of your consulting process through personalized client workspaces.
- Automated scheduling: Eliminate the back-and-forth of scheduling. Simply.Coach syncs with your calendar and allows your clients to book time directly, optimizing your availability and reducing administrative work.
- Follow-up automation: Set up automatic reminders with nudges and follow-up emails, so you never miss an opportunity to engage with your clients, leading to better client retention.
- Client insights & analytics: With comprehensive reporting features, you gain valuable insights into client progress, engagement, and overall development. Customize action plans to track key metrics that matter the most.
- Integrations with leading CRMs: Simply.Coach integrates seamlessly with popular CRM systems like HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and Pipedrive, making it easy to centralize your business operations and connect with your existing tools.
- Client feedback & surveys: Gather feedback through customized forms that help you understand client satisfaction, identify areas for improvement, and refine your strategies for future projects.
Pricing:
- Starter: $9/month
- Essentials: $29/month
- Growth: $49/month
- Leap: $69/month
*Note: These prices are for the solopreneur plan, and the business plan prices are different. Check them out here.*
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Seamless CRM integrations
- Automated workflows for scheduling and follow-ups
- Comprehensive reporting tools
- Affordable pricing structure with a free 14-day trial to explore the platform with every plan
Cons:
- Learning curve might be there, but Simply.Coach’s excellent support team is by your side all the time
- Limited integrations with some niche CRM systems
Ratings:
- G2 Rating: 4.8/5 (117)
- Capterra Rating: 4.7/5 (35)
| For more information on Simply.Coach check out these videos – Simply.Coach Overview Digital Tools – Overview | Simply.Coach |
2. Productive
A powerful CRM that integrates project management, sales tracking, and client collaboration
Productive is an advanced CRM software consultant designed specifically for consultants like you who are looking to streamline their workflows. This comprehensive CRM system manages your customer data, offering a range of tools for project management, budgeting, reporting, and team collaboration. It helps you manage client relationships, track project progress, and make informed decisions to ensure business growth.
Key features of Productive:
- Customizable sales pipelines: Organize and track your deals through custom stages, each with tailored probability settings for better forecasting and revenue predictions.
- Project & task management: Convert your sales deals into projects and tasks, monitor progress, and keep your clients engaged throughout the process.
- Sales performance reporting: Track your team’s performance, monitor key metrics like win rates, lost deals, and sales forecasting to improve decision-making.
- Client communication & collaboration: Centralized email management allows you to track client communication directly in the CRM. Assign emails to deals and collaborate in one place.
- Proposal generation: Easily create customized proposals using pre-set pricing templates and send them directly to clients.
- Resource planning: Manage sales team scheduling and optimize resource allocation to avoid overloading team members while ensuring optimal utilization.
- Time tracking & budgeting: Track billable and non-billable hours, manage timesheets, and control your project budgets in real-time.
Pricing:
- Essential plan: $9/user/month – includes project & task management, budgeting, time tracking, reporting & more
- Professional plan: $24/month – includes custom fields, recurring budgets, advanced reports, billable time reports & more
- Ultimate plan: $32/month – includes HubSpot integration, advanced forecasting, overhead calculations & more
Free trial: 14-day free trial to explore the platform before committing
Pros:
- Comprehensive features
- Customizable pipelines
- Intuitive interface
- Effective resource planning
- Multiple integrations including Hubspot, Slack, Calendar & more
Cons:
- Pricing might be costly for smaller consulting firms or solo consultants
- Steep learning curve due to the platform’s range of features and customization options
Ratings:
- G2 rating: 4.6/5 (58)
- Capterra rating: 4.6/5 (98)
3. Monday CRM
Good for consultants who want a highly visual, customizable, and intuitive platform
Monday CRM is a fully customizable, no-code platform designed to help you improve efficiency at every stage of the customer journey. With Monday CRM, you can organize and manage your pipeline, automate manual processes, and gain valuable insights into all your data in one place. This platform is great for you if you are also looking for a flexible CRM system that adapts to your specific needs and business processes.
Key features of Monday CRM:
- Contact management: Automatically keep track of client interactions and log sent emails in one central location. Save your time with personalized email templates and AI-powered suggestions.
- Deal management: See all your client information at a glance and get a 360-degree view of your opportunities to clearly understand where each stands in your pipeline.
- Automation: Save valuable time and close more deals by automatically assigning leads to consultants, setting reminders for upcoming activities, and getting notified when a lead opens an email.
- Customization: Easily tailor the platform to your unique pipeline, workflows, and processes. Edit deal stages, add multiple columns, and manage unlimited pipelines and contacts.
- Visual dashboards & reporting: Gain insights into your CRM data with customizable dashboards, helping you monitor key metrics and make informed decisions.
Pricing:
- Basic plan: $12/seat/month – Includes customizable pipelines, contacts, templates, app & more
- Standard plan: $17/seat/month – Includes basic plus features like custom CRM automations & integrations, activity management, AI email generator & more
- Pro plan: $28/seat/month – Includes standard plus features like sales forecasting, quotes & invoices, sales analytics, mass emails, sequences & more
- Enterprise plan: Custom pricing – Tailored for large teams, including all features of the pro plan plus team goals, account management, HIPAA compliance & many more
Pros:
- Highly customizable
- User-friendly interface
- Automations
- Powerful integrations
- Performance tracking & overall organization of your practice
Cons:
- The tiered pricing plans may be costly for your consulting business, despite the features
- The platform’s wide range of customization options can create a learning curve for new users and may be too fancy
Ratings:
- G2 rating: 4.6/5 (918)
- Capterra rating: 4.6/5 (5404)
4. HubSpot
Great for all independent consultants and consultancy firms looking to scale
HubSpot CRM enables you to track every detail of your client relationships in one place. Whether you’re a one-person business or an established consulting firm with hundreds of accounts, its robust features for sales and marketing automation make it a powerful tool for managing leads, streamlining workflows, and scaling your consulting business effectively.
A Reddit user says this about Hubspot,
Key features of HubSpot CRM:
- Contact management: Organize and segment your client information centrally to improve relationship management and easy tracking of key details.
- Pipeline management: Visualize and manage sales pipelines to track potential projects, clients, and sales stages with ease.
- Task management: Automatically assign tasks, send follow-up emails, and streamline repetitive processes to boost efficiency.
- Lead generation: Build custom forms using a drag-and-drop builder to collect prospect data and automate lead nurturing through workflows.
- Marketing campaign management: Launch and manage marketing campaigns, track performance, and measure the success of your efforts.
- AI-powered lead automation: Use artificial intelligence to automate lead assignment and improve prospecting efforts for better conversion rates.
- Prospecting & deal management: Track all prospecting activities and manage your deals efficiently with full visibility into your sales pipeline.
Pricing:
- Free tools: $0 – Includes basic free tools from marketing to commerce
- Marketing hub starter: $20/seat/month – Adds marketing tools to engage and convert leads such as email marketing, live chat & more
- Starter customer platform: $20/seat/month – Includes marketing, sales, service, content, and operations software
- Marketing hub professional: $890/month – Offers comprehensive marketing software for automation, reporting, dynamic personalization and campaigns
*Note: This pricing is just for the marketing products offered by Hubspot. For more products and pricing information, click here.*
Pros:
- Includes a free plan
- All-in-one platform
- User-friendly interface
- Comprehensive automation
- Multiple integrations including Zapier, Gmail, WordPress & more
Cons:
- Pricing escalates quickly with the advanced plans, making it costly
- Lower pricing tiers may lack the flexibility and advanced features required by larger consulting firms
Ratings:
- G2 rating: 4.4/5 (12,376)
- Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (4,340)
5. Zoho CRM
Easily compatible with consultants and consulting firms of all sizes
Zoho CRM is a versatile CRM consultant software built for consulting businesses at every stage—from solo practices to enterprise-level firms. With a mix of AI, customization, and automation, it lets you focus more on growing your business than managing backend tools. It offers a lower-cost alternative to platforms like Salesforce while still delivering solid performance for lead management, client nurturing, and reporting.
A user on Reddit says,
Key features of Zoho CRM:
- Sandbox testing: Test CRM customizations before rolling them out to your team with Zoho’s built-in sandbox environment.
- Sales AI & automation: Use Zoho’s AI assistant, Zia, to automate repetitive tasks and suggest next steps based on client behavior.
- Omnichannel contact management: Engage your clients via email, phone, chat, and social media while tracking all interactions in one place.
- Sales process management: Score leads, manage deals, and collect executive approvals with customizable sales stages and contract tracking.
- Lead capture tools: Use drag-and-drop web forms and integrations with tools like Zendesk and Salesforce Desk to gather and manage your leads.
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0 – Includes the longevity of forever with basic features of leads, accounts, standard reports & more
- Standard plan: $14/user/month – Includes mass emails, custom modules, sales forecasting, workflow, and more
- Professional plan: $23/user/month – Standard + blueprint, inventory management, Google Ads integration, webhooks & more
- Enterprise plan: $40/user/month – Professional + Zia – AI assistant, multi-user portals, sandbox, approval process & more
- Ultimate plan: $52/user/month – Enterprise + data preparation, advanced customization, augmented analytics & much more
Pros:
- Comprehensive feature set
- Highly customizable to suit different consulting workflows
- Integrates easily with other Zoho tools and third-party apps
- Solid value for money, especially for small to mid-sized teams
- Offers a free plan that lasts forever
Cons:
- Many useful features are locked behind higher-tier plans
- Customer support can be slower compared to other top CRM platforms
Ratings:
- G2 rating: 4/1 (2,739)
- Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (6,938)
6. Salesforce CRM
Great for consulting firms who need to collaborate across practice groups
Salesforce CRM is a powerful, cloud-based platform designed to help consulting firms streamline business processes and drive sales growth. With its comprehensive suite of tools, Salesforce enables you to improve data management, gain actionable insights, and boost collaboration across practice groups. Salesforce CRM offers features to serve your business size & needs.
Key features of Salesforce CRM:
- Automation: Use AI, real-time data, and automation to enhance productivity, improve efficiency, and provide faster insights across every team.
- Collaboration: Bring your teams together with unified client experiences, supporting collaboration through shared workspaces.
- Analytics: Gain comprehensive insights into your client interactions and sales processes with in-depth reporting, helping you make informed business decisions.
- Custom app building: Build custom applications to meet your specific consulting needs using the Salesforce Lightning App Builder.
- Sales engagement intelligence: Track client interactions, automate follow-ups, and capture sales engagement data to improve conversions.
- Lead and opportunity management: Automate lead scoring, routing, and nurturing while managing opportunities effectively across your consulting practice.
Pricing:
- Sales cloud starter: $25/user/month – Includes email integration, lead, account, contact, and opportunity management & more
- Sales cloud professional: $100/user/month – Starter + greater customization and automation, enhanced real-time chat & more
- Sales cloud enterprise: $165/user/month – Professional + conversational intelligence, workflows, and approvals automation & more
- Sales cloud unlimited: $330/user/month – Enterprise + predictive AI, premier success plan, full sandbox & more
- Salesforce Einstein 1 sales: $500/user/month – Unlimited + generative AI, performance management, team collaboration with Slack & more
Pros:
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting
- High customization
- Collaboration tools
- Sales automation
- Strong mobile app & multiple integrations
Cons:
- Salesforce can be one of the expensive options
- The platform can be overwhelming for new users, and advanced customizations may require dedicated support or a Salesforce consultant
Ratings:
- G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (23,251)
- Capterra Rating: 4.4/5 (18,786)
7. Pipedrive CRM
Great user-friendly, customizable CRM for all scales of consulting businesses
Pipedrive CRM offers a visually intuitive and customizable platform designed to help you manage your sales pipeline efficiently. Pipedrive is built with simplicity in mind, making it a great choice for all of you looking for a straightforward yet powerful CRM that you can tailor to your specific sales processes and client engagement strategies.
Key features of Pipedrive CRM:
- Pipeline management: Visually track and manage your deals through customizable stages, helping you focus on the most promising opportunities.
- Customization: Build personalized workflows that match your consulting business’s unique processes and needs.
- Mobile app: Access and update CRM data on the go, ensuring you stay productive even when you’re out of the office.
- Sales forecasting: Use Pipedrive’s forecasting tools to predict revenue, helping you plan and manage future growth.
- Lead segmentation: Qualify leads based on specific criteria and segment them for targeted engagement.
- Integrations: Sync with over 400 apps, including Google, Xero, Asana, Slack, and Kixie for seamless workflows.
Pricing:
- Essential: $14/seat/month – Includes core CRM features such as lead, calendar, and pipeline management, integrations, & more
- Advanced: $29/seat/month – Essential + automations builder, live chat support, meeting, email, video call scheduling & more
- Professional: $49/seat/month – Advanced + AI-powered sales assistant and emailing tools, revenue forecasts, team management & more
- Power: $59/seat/month – Professional + project planning, tracking, delivery, phone support & more
- Enterprise: $79/seat/month – Power + unlimited reports & customizations, enhanced security preferences & more
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Highly customizable
- Mobile access
- Strong & diverse integrations
- Privacy & security with GDPR compliance
Cons:
- Unlike some other CRMs, Pipedrive lacks triggers for automated workflows
- Pipedrive does not offer a free plan, which might be a drawback for businesses looking for a no-cost solution
Ratings:
- G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (2376)
- Capterra Rating: 4.5/5 (3,044)
9 Considerations Before Choosing the Right Consulting CRM
Selecting the ideal CRM consultant software is crucial for streamlining your consulting business. You need a system that enhances efficiency without unnecessary complexity. Here are nine key criteria to guide your decision:
- Ease of use: You need a CRM that simplifies your processes, not complicates them. As a consultant, you need to avoid tools with excessive features. Opt for user-friendly interfaces.
- Ease of configuration: Look for a CRM with a simple wizard-based setup without a steep learning curve. This allows you to quickly tailor the system to your unique needs and workflows, customizing and optimizing the platform.
- Customization: Ensure the CRM adapts to your straightforward workflow, not the other way around. Avoid tools that force unnecessary steps. A consultant CRM software should be a mallet, not a sledgehammer.
- Automation: Choose a CRM that automates tasks based on your defined cadence. Automated scheduling, follow-up reminders, client review reports & feedback are essential.
For more information about scheduling software, you can also read: 8 Best Online Appointment Scheduling Software
- Mobile accessibility: A CRM accessible on phones and tablets provides flexibility and lets you update information on the go, reducing friction. Mobile accessibility also increases convenience for you and your clients in terms of increased availability.
- Integration with other tools: Streamline processes by integrating your CRM with existing tools such as email, calendars, Zapier, video conferencing platforms & more. A CRM for consultants should be integrated with all the desired tools for your ease. Simply.Coach is a tool that connects with multiple CRM consultant software easily.
- Customer support: Test support responsiveness. Ensure access to human assistance for advanced setup and unique use cases. The best CRM consultant software should value customer support.
- Pricing: Don’t let price be the only decisive factor. Calculate ROI by assessing how the CRM saves time and increases pipeline value. The best CRM consultant software will provide value over price.
- Reporting and metrics: Select a CRM that provides essential business data analytics without manual input. Track pipeline value to ensure it aligns with revenue goals. An effective CRM consultant software understands and relieves your administrative burden, allowing you to focus on your clients more.
Step-by-Step Process to Choose the Best CRM Consultant Software
The entire process is divided into 4 steps for you to consider as you choose your CRM consultant software. Let’s look into each one individually.
Step 1: Define your requirements: Before diving into the specifics of CRM features, start by defining what you need from a CRM. Think about your goals, processes, and how a CRM can help make your current systems more efficient.
Step 2: Assess your budget: Now that your requirements are clear, it’s time to think about your budget. Calculate what you’re willing to invest and consider the potential return on investment (ROI). Since consulting firms face constant competition, a CRM that streamlines processes and enhances sales efforts can give you a competitive edge.
Step 3: The vendor selection process: With a defined budget and clear requirements, you’ll need to decide between a lightweight SaaS solution or a more bespoke, enterprise-level CRM.
When evaluating CRM vendors, make sure to cover the following key points:
- Business goals: Clearly outline what you’re aiming to achieve, including your revenue goals for the next year.
- Company information: Share your consulting firm’s mission and the problems you solve for clients. Let vendors know what you bring to the table.
- Timelines: Establish clear milestones for implementing your CRM and ask vendors for a timeline on how they’ll support the process.
- References: Request references from other consulting firms who have used the CRM so that you can gather unbiased feedback.
Step 4: Evaluate and make a decision: Once you have a shortlist of CRM platforms, it’s time to test them out. Here’s how to evaluate them effectively:
- Request demos from the vendor’s sales team to walk you through the CRM’s features.
- Review case studies and testimonials to understand the value other consulting firms have gotten from the CRM and how well it protects client data.
- Always request a limited trial of the CRM. A hands-on trial will help you better understand how the system works and if it’s truly a good fit.
By following these steps and evaluating CRM vendors based on usability, customer support, scalability, and pricing, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals.
Also read: Differences and Similarities Between Coaching and Consulting
Connect Your Chosen CRM Consultant Software with Simply.Coach
Efficiently managing leads and client relationships is crucial for every consultant, including yourself. Simply.Coach makes this process easier with seamless CRM integrations through Zapier, centralizing your business operations.
By integrating Simply.Coach with your CRM, you can automate client interactions, track progress with reports, and measure marketing campaign performance. This integration creates a fully digital consulting environment, where the platform handles the back-end tasks, letting you focus on your clients.
Ready to experience the benefits? Schedule a demo or sign up for a free 14-day trial with Simply.Coach today and see how it can elevate your client management and business operations.
