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Client management software for successful businesses (all sizes)

Mariam Ispiryan • Sep 14, 2022 • 14 min read

The best business strategy is to prioritize customer happiness. That means the key to any kind of successful business is maintaining strong relationships with your clients. 


But as your client base grows, it becomes increasingly challenging to manage your customer relationships effectively. That’s where client management software comes in. And there are lots of options on the market to choose from.


In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about client management software and help you choose the best one for your business.



Table of Contents


1. What is client management software?

2. 6 best client management software

3. Benefits of using client management software

4. Must-have features in client management software

5. Which client management software should you choose?

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What is client management software?


Client management software helps you automate and keep track of your interactions with clients, making it easier to manage those relationships, keep track of communications and tasks, and work more productively overall.


For example, a SaaS company might implement client management software to track customer support tickets, feature requests, and billing information. Similarly, an e-commerce site selling masks and custom scrub caps online could use it to store customer purchase history and contact information and send automated order follow-ups and shipping confirmation emails.


The goal of client management software is to help you understand your clients and manage relationships making it easier to work with them and provide the best possible experience. This should lead to more loyal customers and more business for you.

6 best client management software


There are many great client management software options on the market, and the perfect choice for you depends on your specific needs. To help you make a well-informed decision, we've compiled a list of the six best client management software.

1. Softr: Best for DIY 

Softr allows you to create CRMs and other custom web apps using pre-generated templates and intuitive building blocks

Softr allows you to create CRMs and other custom web apps using pre-generated templates and intuitive building blocks



If you like to have complete control over your software, then Softr is the perfect solution for you. It's a powerful no-code builder that lets you create tailored software solutions (like white label portals and client portals) without any coding required. And since it's fully customizable, you can build a client management tool or contact management software that’s perfectly designed for your needs.


Main features:

  • Fully customizable and user-friendly
  • Allows for role and permission-based access for team members
  • Wide variety of integrations so you can connect all the business tools you love
  • Easily accessible on the web with any device
  • The free version lets you create unlimited applications
  • Useful free plan to get started with, and budget-friendly paid plans



Drawbacks:

Currently only integrates with Airtable and Google Sheets. (But new integrations are coming soon!)

Keep your business running smoothly with a custom client management system.

Softr can help you build a system tailored to your business so you can focus on what you do best.

Sign up for free

2. Close: Best for sales


Close gives sales reps the ability to make 300+ calls a day

Close gives sales reps the ability to make 300+ calls a day



Close CRM is the perfect tool if you want to make it easy to follow up with new leads, close deals, or efficiently manage your sales team. It offers intuitive dashboards, analytics and reporting, and tracking features that will give you all the insights you need to make impactful decisions and grow your business. 


Main features:

  • Lets you store up to 2500 leads in the basic plan and unlimited leads in the paid plans 
  • Tools for effective email marketing campaigns like email scheduling, bulk sending, automatic follow-up reminders, an undo-send feature, and HTML customization capabilities
  • Unified communications with the multichannel inbox from phone calls, email, and SMS 
  • Lots of useful integrations including Slack, Mailchimp, Intercom, Zendesk, and Zapier


Drawbacks:

  • SMS messaging is limited to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia
  • No free trial


3. HubSpot CRM: Best for small to medium-sized businesses


Hubspot CRM’s dashboard view allows you to visualize pending tasks on a Kanban-style board

Hubspot CRM’s dashboard view allows you to visualize pending tasks on a Kanban-style board



One of the most popular CRM software on the market, Hubspot CRM allows you to automate reminders, review metrics, and generally keep track of your sales pipeline. Hubspot CRM also integrates with Hubspot Marketing, so you can easily track your marketing and sales efforts in one place.


Main features:

  • Ready-to-use email templates and features
  • Forms enable data capture from your website, social media, or landing page
  • Offers a selection of tools like live chat, dynamic lists, and email marketing 
  • Migration and population enables a single customer view to keep track of leads and customers at different stages 
  • Tools to automate and streamline workflows 
  • Email campaign features with sequencing and scheduling options
  • Customizable dashboards and landing pages


Drawbacks:

  • The free version has limitations like access to only 200 email tracking notifications per month which can get maxed out quickly 
  • The tool gets expensive quickly as your needs increase


 4. Salesforce: Best for eCommerce


Salesforce lets you automate your CRM workflow

Salesforce lets you automate your CRM workflow



Salesforce is a robust CRM platform that helps manage everything from sales to marketing and customer service processes. Their platform can work well for businesses of all sizes, but it's especially well-suited for eCommerce businesses.


Main features:

  • Customer service features including self-serve portals
  • Integrates with external systems like DMS, ERP, ITSM, and other platforms including social media and e-commerce 
  • A forecasting feature that shows sales and budget predictions and real-time insights
  • Offers customization to develop apps, widgets, and custom objects without the need for coding skills
  • Automated messaging and workflows for easy tracking of customer service and relationships 


Drawbacks:

  • Paid add-ons are required to get the most out of the software
  • Configuration and setup can be complex and time consuming

5. Nimble: Best for small SaaS companies and start-ups


Nimble automatically ties your team's tasks, events, and communications to each of your deals

Nimble automatically ties your team's tasks, events, and communications to each of your deals 



Nimble is an affordable CRM software that helps you track your sales pipeline, social media activity, and client communications in one place. 


Main features:

  • Auto set-up function based on user requirements
  • Intuitive dashboard for an overview of your sales pipeline
  • Smart contacts app makes it easy to add contacts into Nimble
  • Offers integrations across platforms like Mailchimp, Zapier, HubSpot, Pabbly, and many more, which are available on their website  


Drawbacks:

  • Limitations of 25000 contacts storage
  • No email tracking 
  • No Facebook message integration

 6. Honeybook: Best for creatives


Honeybook offers a variety of ready-to-use invoice templates

Honeybook offers a variety of ready-to-use invoice templates



Honeybook offers tools for everything from onboarding and offboarding to project management and client communication. It's perfect for entrepreneurs and small business owners working on a per-project basis.


Main features:

  • Offers customizable and ready-to-use templates for emails, brochures, invoices, contracts, and more 
  • Pipelines let you see where each client is in each step of their journey 
  • Integrates with tools like Google, Zapier, and QuickBooks
  • Enables embedding lead capture forms into your website HTML code
  • Handy automations for reminders, notifications, invoices, contracts, and sending proposals


Drawbacks:

  • Limited integrations
  • Expensive for larger teams

Benefits of using client management software


If you’re still on the fence about whether or not client management software is right for you, here are a few benefits that may help you make up your mind.



1. Better serve your customers


With a 360-degree view of each client, you’ll be able to provide them with the best possible service. All of their information will be in one place, so you’ll be able to better meet their needs without wasting time digging through old emails or files.



2. Stay organized and avoid letting things fall through the cracks


You can set up custom alerts and reminders for yourself and your team, so you’ll always know when a client meeting is coming up, or a project is due. You can also centralize all your client communications, so you can see what's been done and what still needs to be done at a glance.



3. Make data-driven decisions


Most client management software includes robust reporting and analytics features. Use these insights to identify which marketing campaigns are working, what needs to be changed in your sales process, and where you need to focus your efforts more generally.



4. Save money and boost sales


With the right client management software, you can automate repetitive tasks like sending out invoices and follow-up emails. This frees up your time so you can focus on selling, providing an excellent customer experience, and expanding your network.

Must-have features in client management software


Not all client management software is created equal. Here are some stand-out features and capabilities you should look out for when searching for the right solution for you.



Secure and easy to access


Safe, seamless accessibility is crucial. After all, you'll be storing sensitive customer data with your software of choice, so it must be secure and only accessible to authorized users. The software should be easy to access from any device, whether in the office or on the go. This ease to access will be vital for you and your team.

Softr’s permission and conditional filters let users see and edit only the tasks that were assigned to them

Softr’s permission and conditional filters let users see and edit only the tasks that were assigned to them 



A client management tool like Softr enables you to set permissions and conditional filters so the right people have access to the right data. And since it's cloud-based, you can access it anywhere on any device. You can also create a document portal with Softr to store your files and essential data in one accessible portal.



Powerful automations


Automation can help you manage your client relationships more effectively by freeing up time you’d otherwise spend on manual tasks. For example, as a SaaS company, you’d have to send billing emails to each client every month manually. With automation, you can set up a system to do that for you automatically, letting you focus on more high-value work. 


With its Airtable, Zapier, Stripe, MailChimp, and other business tools integrations, Softr helps you automate tasks like updates and payment follow-ups, so you can focus on building relationships with your clients instead of managing paperwork.



A wide variety of integrations


You likely have a tech stack full of tools you use to manage different aspects of your business, and might not want to give some of them up. Flexible software like Softr integrates with popular business tools, giving you a powerful, connected stack to manage your business effectively. 



Different ways to view your data


Data is only useful if you can understand it and use it to make decisions. Segmentation and filtering by industry, company size, location, and other data points can help you better understand your clients and their needs so you can target them more effectively.


Softr lets you transform your Airtable data into a visual dashboard with the ability to establish custom user groups and advanced access permission. Interactive, role-based filtering ensures that your users only see the data that's relevant to them. 



Easy-to-interpret dashboard


Real-time insights are important for understanding what's working and what isn't in your client relationships. A dashboard that's easy to interpret at a glance can help you quickly identify areas of opportunity and make necessary changes. You should be able to view your most important data points easily and monitor how your client relationships are progressing. 



Great customization capabilities

Softr lets you create web apps using pre-generated templates like client portals, sales CRM, and more

Softr lets you create web apps using pre-generated templates like client portals, sales CRM, and more



Customization capabilities like custom fields and workflows give you the power to make your client management solution work exactly the way you want it to. Softr's intuitive platform makes it easy to customize your B2B portal without any coding or special knowledge required. It’s simple to add fields, build workflows, and design your app to match your exact brand specifications.



Handy client communication features


Client communication features like in-app chat or chatbot, email templates, and activity logging can help you stay in touch with your clients and nurture stronger relationships. These features make it easy to keep track of your conversations, so you can quickly get back up to speed and have real-time conversations to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

So, which client management software should you choose?


Client management software is essential if you want to build and maintain strong relationships with your customers. When choosing client management software, consider your specific business needs and budget. The right tool for you depends on the size of your business, the type of clients you have, and your highest priority features.


Softr is an excellent option if you’re looking for a customizable solution that can be easily tailored to your needs with a bit of DIY. It’s no-code, beginner-friendly, and can get your client management software up and running in no time.

Keep your business running smoothly with a custom client management system.

Softr can help you build a system tailored to your business so you can focus on what you do best.

Sign up for free

Frequently asked questions about client management software

The difference between a CRM system and a CMS is that CRM is focused on managing customer relationships while a CMS is for creating, organizing, and publishing digital content. Both are important for a wide range of online businesses, but they serve different purposes.

Softr is a good app for keeping track of clients. It’s easy to use and has all the features you need to manage client relationships, including contact management, task management, and project management. Sign up for a free trial!

Some of the best CRMs for small businesses include: - Softr - HubSpot - Salesforce - Nimble - Honeybook

The benefits of client management software include: - Better customer service - More efficient project management - Ability to make data-driven decisions - Customer retention - Improved communication

The cost of a CRM depends on the size of your business and the features you need. On average, a CRM can cost anywhere between $10 to $12 per user per month for small businesses, and $50 to 150 for larger enterprises, and some CRM also charge implementation fees.

The benefits of CRM include: - Dashboards that can visually showcase data - Real-time reporting and monitoring - Efficiency in workflow with automated tasks - Improved collaboration - Higher productivity

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