The Best CRM for Solo Contractors (Or Why You Might Not Need One)
Enterprise CRMs are overkill. Here's what solo operators actually need—and what they can skip.
The Best CRM for Solo Contractors
Software companies want to sell you $100/month CRM subscriptions.
You might not need them.
What CRMs Actually Do
What Solo Contractors Actually Need
Must have:
- Calendar (scheduling)
- Phone contacts (customer info)
- Way to send quotes/invoices
Nice to have:
- Automated reminders
- Review requests
- Job history
Rarely needed (for solos):
- Team scheduling
- Inventory management
- Dispatch routing
The Free Stack
Google Calendar: Scheduling
Phone Contacts: Customer info
QuickBooks/Wave: Invoicing
Fixly: Call answering + reminders + reviews
Total cost: $0-50/month
When You DO Need a Full CRM
- 3+ employees
- 50+ jobs/month
- Complex quoting/estimating
- Need detailed job costing
At that point, Jobber ($50/month) or Housecall Pro ($65/month) make sense.
The Comparison
| Solution | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free stack | $0-50/mo | Solo, <30 jobs/mo |
| Jobber | $50+/mo | Small teams, growth |
| Housecall Pro | $65+/mo | Field service focus |
| ServiceTitan | $200+/mo | Large operations |
The Verdict
Start simple. Add complexity when you have a real problem to solve.
A spreadsheet you actually use beats a CRM you ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a CRM?
If you're doing <20 jobs/month, probably not. Google Calendar + phone contacts might be enough.
What about Jobber or Housecall Pro?
Great for growing teams. Often overkill for solo operators. Evaluate based on your actual needs.
Related Articles
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You don't need more leads. You need to convert more of the leads you have. Here's how.
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