Simple CRM for small business: what you actually need

You do not need an enterprise CRM. You need a place that answers: who are we talking to, what stage are they in, and what happens next?

When a spreadsheet is still fine

• One person handles all sales
• Fewer than a few dozen active opportunities
• No team handoffs
• You actually update the sheet

When you need a real CRM

• Leads fall through because reminders are mental
• More than one person touches the customer journey
• You cannot see a clean pipeline this week
• Quotes, calls, and emails are scattered

Three lightweight options

CRM setup that does not explode

1. Use 4–6 pipeline stages only.
2. Require next action date on every open deal.
3. Store the latest quote link and key notes.
4. Ignore vanity fields you will never filter on.
5. Review the pipeline once a week for 20 minutes.