Best CRM for Consulting Business
This directory highlights the best CRMs for consulting firms, showing how the right tool aligns the sales cycle with project delivery. It compares all-in-one platforms and specialized solutions, detailing features like pipeline management, quotes, collaboration, budgeting, and reporting. Learn which CRM fits your practice—from full‑featured agency management to affordable, lean options—and get guidance on usability, scalability, and vendor support.
Ideal Customer Profile
Consulting firms and independent consultants needing an integrated CRM with project management, quoting, and team scheduling.
Common Pain Points
- •Errors in contact management and data consistency
- •Fragmented and inefficient workflows
- •Increased risk of missed opportunities due to lack of data
Top CRM Picks
5 expert-vetted recommendations
Ranked recommendations based on feature depth, pricing transparency, and adoption within the industry.
Perfect For
All-in-one CRM + project management for consulting firms
⚡ Key Features
- Sales pipeline and communications management
- Proposals and quotes
- Sales team performance reporting
- Project and task management for won deals
- HubSpot integration
Pros
- ✓Integrated CRM with project management and budgeting
- ✓360-degree view of performance
- ✓Resource planning and scheduling
- ✓Real-time forecasting and reporting
- ✓HubSpot integration
"360 view of how the company is performing regarding resources, efficiency, and profitability."
Perfect For
Enterprises and teams needing heavy customization and analytics
⚡ Key Features
- Customer data management
- Sales & marketing AI and automation
- Sales engagement intelligence
- Sales forecasting & analytics
- Website and app personalization
Pros
- ✓Highly customizable
- ✓Comprehensive analytics
- ✓Large ecosystem and integrations
Cons
- ✗Costly and complex
- ✗Requires dedicated implementation resources
"Implementation and integration determine experience; poor implementation leads to poor experience."
Perfect For
Smaller teams seeking easy adoption and integrated marketing automation
⚡ Key Features
- Email marketing
- AI-powered lead automation
- Prospecting & deal management
- Sales and marketing automation
- Marketing campaign management
Pros
- ✓User-friendly
- ✓Strong free tier
- ✓Good for integrated marketing automation
- ✓Flexible pricing
Cons
- ✗Not as feature-rich as Salesforce for large enterprises
"It’s pretty great what you can get for free."
Perfect For
Supports project delivery with light CRM; not a full CRM on its own
⚡ Key Features
- Multiple project views
- Custom dashboards
- Agile management
- Time tracking
- Basic resource planning
Pros
- ✓Versatile project management views
- ✓Strong collaboration features
- ✓Flexible for various use cases
Cons
- ✗CRM is light; no integrated budgeting or invoicing
- ✗Some users report bugs and performance issues
"ClickUp’s CRM features are light and best for supporting project delivery rather than a full CRM."
Perfect For
Sales-focused CRM suitable for multiple industries
⚡ Key Features
- Email templates
- Marketing automation
- Lead management
- Contact management
- Marketing & sales analytics
Pros
- ✓Good value for money
- ✓Fairly easy to use and set up
Cons
- ✗No native Xero integration; QuickBooks only among listed accounting apps
"Good value for money and easy to use and set up; some prefer more robust options like HubSpot."
Buying Guide
Step-by-step guide to finding your perfect CRM
Strategic considerations to shortlist the right CRM platform for your workflow, tech stack, and growth roadmap.
- 1
Define your ideal sales pipeline stages to reflect consulting workflows and project delivery.
- 2
Evaluate integrations with project management, accounting, and email tools.
FAQ
Common questions answered
Quick answers to common questions digital teams raise when evaluating CRM platforms.
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