A customer relationship management (CRM) consultant helps find workflow solutions for digital platforms that manage a businessโs customer support functions, such as nurturing relationships with customers, and sales prospects and leads.
Companies use CRM software to improve lead generation and conversions, and consultants can help them make decisions on CRM selection and on enhancements to that software to optimize their work.
Once decisions are made on the processes required, an adequate third-party system can be implemented or enhanced either by the consultant, depending on the complexity and whether they possess the necessary skills, or by a CRM developer. They can create additional functionality for the automation of marketing campaigns, data migration, and other tasks.
CRM consultants can advise on the right CRM for your business, the software cost, CRM implementation costs, pricing plans, and any hidden costs. They can also advise on data cleansing and data migration if implementing a new CRM system, develop plans for end-user adoption of new systems and apps, and customize fields in software forms that are suited to a businessโs sales and marketing processes.
Itโs important to have a detailed plan of your CRM projectโincluding your technical and strategic business needs, sales processes, and types of functionality requiredโalong with an estimated budget. With that information, your prospective CRM consultant can better assess their ability to complete your project and whether your goals fit within your budget.
Experience and expertise
CRM consultants often have a marketing or engineering degree, and take certification courses in CRM consultancy or specific software solutions. They should possess strong communication and collaboration skills, and an aptitude for project management and problem solving. They need to be able to recognize pain points in a companyโs sales processes and know which CRM solutions can best solve them. They typically have knowledge of sales and marketing, data mining, search engine optimization, and social media.
These consultants have extensive knowledge of various CRM platforms, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Oracle NetSuite, Pipedrive, HoneyBook, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and many others. They know how various CRM vendorsโ products work best in which business processes. They are familiar with add-ons and plug-ins that facilitate additional functionality.
The range of skills for CRM consultants on Upwork varies widely from those with deep software knowledge to those who may be well-versed in setting up, using, and maximizing the return from both third-party software and the many tasks they enable. Their pay rates range from $16 per hour to more than $35 per hour.
An entry-level CRM consultant who is still developing a client base or one who focuses primarily on getting the most out of an existing CRM will price their consulting services more competitively, roughly $16 to $20 per hour. They may be experts on a specific third-party system and how to maximize its effectiveness for a small business.
Intermediate-level CRM consultants will likely have at least several years of experience and a greater breadth of education and skills that enable them to better advise you on developing a system. They charge roughly $20 to $25 per hour.
An expert-level CRM consultant usually has extensive knowledge of sales and marketing and CRM systems. Theyโve seen approaches that work well and can advise you on setting up a new system or maximizing an existing one. They will command anywhere from $25 to $35+ per hour.
Scope of work
The complexity of your CRM project and experience of your professional will drive the expense. When seeking guidance on setting up larger and more complex systems, an intermediate- or expert-level CRM consultant is best.
Timeline
Most independent CRM consultants charge hourly rates. While more experienced consultants cost more, their expertise often makes them more efficient and produces superior results, making them well worth the higher rate. Consider your budget and the complexity of your project, and try to strike a balance between cost and experience.
Geography
Location will have a significant effect on the rate your CRM consultant will charge. Independent professionals are most expensive in North American and Western European countries, while those in other countries often charge less. Consider the possible effects of communicating with offshore professionals, both in terms of time lag and language skills.
Popular CRM Consultant projects & costs examples
The complexity of your customer relationship management system needs will dictate the cost.
Setting up a new CRM for small business
The cost to plan, build, and implement a CRM for a 10-person sales team can cost $10,000 to $20,000. Hiring a consultant to advise on your plan could cost about $500 to $700 for every 10 hours.
Adding to an existing CRM
A consultant could make suggestions on potential new modules to enable new processes or maximize existing processes. For a system with an average level of complexity, it might cost $500 to $1,000 to hire a consultant for 10 hours.
Maximize an existing CRM
Youโve got a CRM but your team is not getting the most out of your sales and marketing system. A CRM consultant who specializes in the use of a particular platform might be able to find new ways for you to improve your metrics. Hiring one could cost about $300 to $500 for 10 hours.
Find talent at the worldโs work marketplace
Engage with top CRM consultants of all experience levels on Upwork. You can check their profiles which list their skills and contain customer reviews to help you find the right fit for your project.
Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.