CRM & Pipeline
Best CRM for Solo Agencies
Choosing a CRM as a one-person or very small team is mostly about execution speed. The right pick should keep your pipeline visible, reduce manual follow-up, and avoid heavy setup overhead.
Published: February 12, 2026
Last updated: February 22, 2026
Quick verdict
If you need speed and simplicity, start with Pipedrive. If you want a broader platform and can tolerate higher complexity, HubSpot can work. If your workflow is highly sales-call driven, Close is often the better operational fit.
This page is for:
- Solo agency owners moving from spreadsheets to a repeatable sales process
- Small teams that need weekly forecast clarity without hiring RevOps
- Operators who care about setup time as much as feature depth
Before you use outbound links below: pricing and feature availability can change. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Setup friction | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipedrive | Fast setup and simple pipeline management | Lower tier, per seat | Low | Check current pricing |
| HubSpot | Teams planning to expand into marketing + service hubs | Free tier available, paid upgrades increase quickly | Medium to high | Compare plans |
| Close | Outbound-heavy teams managing call-first workflows | Paid only, per seat | Medium | Visit official site |
Detailed tool sections
Pipedrive
Pipedrive is usually the easiest path to consistent deal tracking. It gives enough structure to run weekly pipeline reviews without requiring a full CRM administrator.
Best for: Solo operators who need a visual deal pipeline in one afternoon
Not ideal for: Teams that need advanced marketing automation from day one
Price guide: Generally budget-friendly for small teams
Setup friction: Low
Pros
- Very quick to implement
- Strong pipeline visibility for small sales cycles
- Lower cognitive load for non-technical teams
Cons
- Less native marketing depth than full-suite CRMs
- Some automation depth requires higher tiers
- Reporting can need add-ons for advanced use
HubSpot
HubSpot offers broad functionality and clean UX, but the total stack cost can climb as your process matures. It is strongest when you intentionally use multiple hubs.
Best for: Agencies planning to consolidate sales, marketing, and service workflows
Not ideal for: Very lean teams with tight monthly software budgets
Price guide: Entry can be low, but scaling features can increase cost
Setup friction: Medium to high
Pros
- Large ecosystem and integrations
- Good UI and onboarding resources
- Strong long-term platform potential
Cons
- Cost can expand faster than expected
- Configuration can become complex quickly
- Overkill for agencies with simple sales motions
Close
Close focuses on direct selling workflows and communication speed. For call-heavy agency sales processes, it can improve follow-up execution and accountability.
Best for: Teams that run frequent calls and need efficient rep workflows
Not ideal for: Operators needing deep marketing campaign orchestration
Price guide: Premium relative to lightweight CRMs
Setup friction: Medium
Pros
- Built for direct sales execution
- Good communication workflow support
- Clear rep activity tracking
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem than larger CRM suites
- Pricing can be harder for tight budgets
- Not built as a full marketing stack
How we evaluated
- How quickly a solo operator can implement a usable pipeline
- Total monthly cost once core automations are enabled
- How reliably the system supports follow-up, forecasting, and handoffs
FAQ
Should a solo agency use a free CRM tier first?
A free tier can be useful for short validation, but most growing agencies outgrow free automation and reporting limits quickly. Pick the plan that supports your actual process for the next 6 to 12 months.
How long should CRM setup take for a small team?
For a lean pipeline and core automations, setup should usually take days, not months. If implementation stretches too long, simplify stages and custom fields before adding complexity.
Do I need deep reporting early?
Early on, weekly pipeline clarity and conversion stages matter more than advanced dashboards. Start with a compact report set and expand only after your process is stable.
What is the biggest CRM mistake small agencies make?
They over-configure too early. Heavy customization before a repeatable sales rhythm usually creates maintenance burden without improving close rate.
Shortlist one CRM and test it for 14 days
Pick the option that best matches your current sales motion, import active opportunities, and run one full week of follow-up from inside the CRM before committing long term.
Check current pricing