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What Is a CRM, When to Start, and How to Start for Free

Find out when a CRM makes sense, why HubSpot is perfect for beginners, and how to get started easily, even with zero experience.

By Mark Koemans 2 min read

Title card with the German line Du brauchst kein CRM, bis du wirklich eins brauchst, set in black type on a light grey background

This article is also available in German.Read the German version

Do I Really Need a CRM? And Why Everyone’s Talking About HubSpot

You're calling leads, sending quotes, juggling three Excel sheets, and slowly losing track of who’s who?

It’s time for a CRM.

But don’t worry, this isn’t some overpriced tool for huge corporations. You can start free, simple, and fast. One of the best tools for that? HubSpot.

📌 When Does It Make Sense to Use a CRM?

Easy answer: If you have more than 10 to 20 people you're regularly speaking or emailing with. Or: the moment you forget to follow up with someone you actually meant to.

What it does for you

  • Keeps all your contacts organised
  • Tracks calls, notes and follow ups
  • Shows who is ready, who is interested and who needs time
  • Stops you dropping a hot lead again

🤔 What Even Is a CRM? (Plain English Version)

CRM = Customer Relationship Management.

Sounds fancy, but it just means:

👉 A place where you keep track of your leads, conversations, emails, and deals.

It’s like having a second brain that reminds you:

  • “You were supposed to call Sarah today.”
  • “Tom asked for a quote, time to follow up.”
  • “Here’s what you last talked about with Lisa.”

🚀 Why We Recommend HubSpot (and Not Just Any CRM Tool)

There are lots of CRM tools out there. But HubSpot is ideal if you’re just starting because:

Why HubSpot in particular

  • There is a genuinely free version
  • It is simple to use
  • No technical skills needed
  • You can grow into it over time
  • It is available in several languages, German included

🧪 What’s the “MVP” Version of HubSpot? (What You Really Need to Start)

If you’re new to this, you only need a few basics:

  • 📇 Add contacts and companies
  • 🗒️ Write down notes and track conversations
  • 🔔 Set reminders for follow-ups
  • 📥 Send or log emails right from HubSpot

You can do all of this for free.

💸 So, What Does HubSpot Actually Cost?

Free plan

$0

Contacts, notes, tasks and email, enough to run a small pipeline

First paid tier

$20 to 50

Per month, once you want automation, landing pages or reports

What HubSpot costs to start

Honestly, if your needs are basic you can stay on the free plan forever.

🎓 Crash Course: HubSpot for Dummies

Here’s how to get started, even if you’ve never used a CRM before:

  1. Create a free account at hubspot.com.
  2. Add a few contacts, with name, company, email and phone.
  3. Take notes after each call, for example "interested, follow up next week".
  4. Set follow up tasks so you never forget again.
  5. Connect your email to send and log messages from one place.
  6. Done. You now have a small sales headquarters.

If you can send an email, you can use HubSpot. For a worked example, see how we went from empty account to a delivered campaign in 22 minutes.

✅ Bottom Line

You don’t need a team or a big budget to work professionally with your leads and customers. A simple CRM like HubSpot helps you stay organized, for free, and without stress.

Yes, you can do this.