Salesforce Review

★ 3

Industry-standard CRM you don't buy, you build. Overkill for 90% of small businesses, essential for the other 10%.

On this page

    Salesforce is the 800-pound gorilla of CRM. Here's what that means—good and bad.

    The Standard-Bearer

    When enterprises say "CRM," they often mean Salesforce. With ~20% market share, it's the default choice for Fortune 500 companies. But is it right for your business?

    Key Features

    Infinite Customization

    You can build almost anything on Salesforce—custom objects, workflows, apps, portals. It's a platform, not just software.

    AppExchange Ecosystem

    Thousands of third-party apps that extend functionality. If you need something, there's probably an app for it.

    Enterprise Features

    Advanced reporting, AI (Einstein), territory management, CPQ (configure-price-quote), and more.

    Industry Solutions

    Vertical-specific clouds for healthcare, finance, manufacturing, etc., with pre-built compliance and workflows.

    Limitations to Consider

    • Complexity: Requires dedicated administrators; not for DIY small businesses
    • Cost: $25-300+/user/month, plus implementation, plus consultants
    • Implementation time: Proper rollouts take months
    • User adoption: Steep learning curve leads to resistance

    Pricing

    Essentials

    $25/user/mo

    Basic CRM (up to 10 users)

    Professional

    $80/user/mo

    Complete CRM

    Enterprise

    $165/user/mo

    Advanced customization

    Who Is This For?

    Good Fit:

    • Enterprise organizations with dedicated IT
    • Complex sales processes requiring customization
    • Companies with Salesforce budget & expertise

    Probably Not For:

    • Small businesses (use HubSpot or Pipedrive)
    • Teams without dedicated admin resources
    • Budget-conscious organizations

    The Bottom Line

    Salesforce is powerful but complex and expensive. It's often overkill for SMBs—but if you need enterprise CRM with maximum flexibility, it's the industry standard for a reason.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I set it up myself?
    Technically yes, but you will likely fail. Hire an expert.
    Is it good for marketing?
    You need 'Marketing Cloud' (formerly Pardot) for that, which is separate and pricey.