Best CRMs for Xero: top picks, evaluation criteria, and rollout tips

As a Xero user, managing your financial data is already streamlined, but keeping track of client relationships, sales pipelines, and communications can be challenging without the right tools.

A CRM system that integrates with Xero can help you manage your contacts, automate follow-ups, and track deals, all while syncing seamlessly with your accounting data. With the right CRM, you can improve efficiency, streamline your workflows, and ensure no client or lead slips through the cracks.

In this blog post, we'll explore the best CRM options for Xero users like you, highlighting tools that will enhance both your financial and client management efforts.

Waarom u een CRM nodig hebt

Implementing a CRM can revolutionize how you manage your business operations, especially when integrated with Xero. It streamlines processes, enhances customer relationships, and drives growth.

Uitdagingen zonder CRM

Managing Xero without the right CRM can lead to several challenges you might already be experiencing.

• Disorganization: Data scattered across multiple platforms, making it hard to track and manage.
• Missed opportunities: Inability to follow up on leads and sales, resulting in lost revenue.
• Inefficient processes: Manual data entry and repetitive tasks consume valuable time.
• Lack of insight: Difficulty in analyzing data and generating actionable insights.
• Inconsistent communication: Disjointed interactions with clients and team members.

Voordelen van een CRM

Fortunately, the right CRM can help you address these challenges and provide some extra benefits.

• Centralized information: All customer data and interactions in one place, simplifying management.
• Enhanced efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows.
• Improved customer relationships: Better understanding and engagement with clients.
• Better decision-making: Access to real-time data and analytics for informed decisions.
• Increased sales: Efficient lead management and follow-up processes boost revenue.
• Consistent communication: Unified communication channels ensure seamless interactions.
  

Hoe een CRM evalueren en kiezen

With a lot of CRMs on the market to choose from, it can be hard to figure out which one fits your specific requirements best. For growing businesses with teams of 20-50 people using Xero, finding the right balance between functionality and ease of use becomes crucial. To help you with your decision making process, we've put together these top tips that you can adapt according to your needs.

1. Bepaal uw vereisten

When seeking the best CRM for Xero, it's crucial to identify the key features that align with your business needs. Consider aspects like seamless Xero integration, contact management, sales pipeline tracking, and automation capabilities. Ensure the CRM can handle your specific industry requirements and supports your business growth.

Key Features of a CRM for Xero

• Automated processes: Streamlines tasks by automating repetitive workflows. This integration ensures that your team can focus on high-value activities, rather than manual data entry and administrative tasks.
• Contact enrichment: Automatically finds leads and customers' email addresses and contact information, enhancing efficiency. This feature helps you maintain an up-to-date and accurate contact database, crucial for effective communication and marketing efforts.
• Structured pipeline: Tracks leads and customers through defined stages, ensuring process clarity and effectiveness. A well-organized pipeline helps you monitor progress and identify bottlenecks, enabling you to optimize your sales process.
• Mail merge and email sequences: Increases communication efficiency with follow-up templates and automated sequences. By automating your follow-up emails, you can ensure consistent communication with your prospects and customers, improving conversion rates.
• LinkedIn connection: Seamlessly imports leads and customers from LinkedIn and tracks conversations within the CRM. This integration allows you to leverage LinkedIn's vast network for lead generation and maintain a comprehensive record of interactions.
• Analytics: Provides essential data analysis and predictive insights for better planning. Detailed reports and forecasts help you make informed decisions, set realistic goals, and track your progress towards achieving them.

2. Budgettaire overwegingen

Finding a balance between cost and return on investment is essential. Look for a CRM that offers a good mix of affordability and functionality. Evaluate different pricing plans and consider the long-term benefits of having an integrated CRM with Xero. Remember, the cheapest option might not always provide the best value.

3. Selectieproces

To choose the right CRM vendor, start by researching and shortlisting options that offer robust Xero integration. Read reviews, request demos, and engage with customer support to understand the level of service provided. Consider the vendor's reputation, reliability, and the scalability of their CRM solutions.

4. Vraag een demo aan

Try and compare different CRM platforms to find the best fit for your Xero-based tech stack. Take advantage of free trials to test the integration with Xero, user interface, and overall ease of use. Gather feedback from your team and make an informed decision based on performance, user experience, and how well the CRM meets your business needs. Get started with a demo of folk to see if it's the right fit for your Xero-based operations.

👉🏼 Try folk now to organize contact-based reminders with your team and sync them to Xero

3 tips voor het implementeren van een CRM

At this stage, it's all about getting familiar with your CRM in as short a time frame as possible. To help you ensure a smooth implementation process, we suggest ticking off these three things as soon as possible.

1. Importeer uw gegevens in uw nieuwe CRM

Transitioning to a new CRM can be seamless if you properly import your existing data. Start by exporting your data as a CSV file from your current CRM. This ensures that all your customer information, sales data, and other vital records are preserved. And, helps you to avoid adding contact information manually which can be time consuming.

2. Maak je eerste pijplijn

Once your data is imported, set up your first sales pipeline with statuses that align with your Xero processes. This might include stages like "Lead Generated," "Contacted," "Proposal Sent," and "Closed." Tailoring the pipeline to your Xero workflows ensures consistency and efficiency in managing your sales activities.

3. Neem uw team mee aan boord

Effective CRM implementation requires your team to be on board and well-trained. Conduct training sessions to familiarize them with the new system and its integration with Xero. This will help in maximizing the CRM's potential and ensuring smooth daily operations.

The 5 best CRMs for Xero

1. volksmuziek

folk is a modern CRM platform for managing contacts, workflows, and relationships, offering customizable pipelines, AI-driven tools, and integrations to enhance deal management and prospecting. For small businesses and accounting firms with teams of 20-50 people using Xero, folk CRM stands out as the ideal solution that scales perfectly with growing organizations.

Belangrijkste kenmerken

• Contactverrijking: verrijkt automatisch contactgegevens door e-mailadressen en LinkedIn-URL's te vinden, waardoor efficiënte outreach mogelijk is zonder handmatige gegevensinvoer of extra kosten voor e-maildiensten.
• LinkedIn-integratie: importeer naadloos contacten uit LinkedIn en Sales Navigator om contacten binnen folk bij te houden, en gebruik sjablonen voor snellere, gestroomlijnde communicatie.
• Mail merge and email sequences: Full email sync compatible with Gmail and Outlook, with access to templates, and tracking features, enabling users to manage all communications directly from the CRM.
• AI-aangedreven functies: AI-tools helpen bij het beheren van contacten en relaties, het automatiseren van routinetaken en het voorstellen van acties om de productiviteit te verbeteren.
• Integrations: folk integrates seamlessly with over 6,000 apps, including Gmail, Zapier, and Make, allowing users to centralize their workflow and reduce manual data entry. Connect with Xero through Zapier.

Voordelen

• Gebruiksgemak: folk wordt geprezen om zijn intuïtieve interface, waardoor het zelfs voor niet-technische gebruikers toegankelijk is met een snelle onboarding en een minimale leercurve.
• Alles-in-één: folk stroomlijnt uw workflow door u in staat te stellen contacten uit LinkedIn te importeren, automatisch hun e-mailadressen te vinden, contact op te nemen via aanpasbare e-mailreeksen en interacties in een pijplijn bij te houden, waardoor u geen meerdere tools meer nodig hebt en tijd en geld bespaart.
• LinkedIn-integratie: importeer naadloos contacten uit LinkedIn, volg gesprekken binnen folk en gebruik sjablonen voor snellere, gestroomlijnde communicatie.
• Customizability: Custom fields, pipelines, and workflows.
• Integrations: folk integrates seamlessly with over 6,000 apps, including Gmail, Zapier, and Make, allowing users to centralize their workflow and reduce manual data entry.

Nadelen

• Reporting: folk offers advanced analytics, including pipeline and deal stage reporting, revenue forecasting with weighted probabilities, performance breakdowns by owner/channel/industry/region/custom fields, and revenue insights.
  

Prijs en abonnementen

Je kunt Folk gratis uitproberen met een proefperiode van 14 dagen. Daarna zijn er maandelijkse of jaarlijkse abonnementen beschikbaar, zoals hieronder weergegeven.

• Standaard: $ 20 per gebruiker, per maand.
• Premium: $40 per gebruiker, per maand.
• Custom: Starts from $60 per user, per month.

2. HubSpot

HubSpot CRM is een gebruiksvriendelijk, schaalbaar platform dat geïntegreerde tools biedt voor het efficiënt beheren van verkoop, marketing, klantenservice en bedrijfsvoering.

Belangrijkste kenmerken

• Marketing Hub: Perfect for generating and nurturing leads, this feature includes email marketing, ad tracking, and landing pages, seamlessly integrating with Xero to manage customer data.
• Sales Hub: Essential for tracking deals and managing sales pipelines, this feature offers sales automation and reporting that syncs effortlessly with Xero, ensuring your customer data is always up-to-date.
• Service Hub: Provides robust customer service tools like ticketing and live chat, helping you manage customer inquiries and support tickets directly linked to your Xero contacts.
• Operations Hub: Syncs and automates business processes across different systems, including Xero, to streamline your operations and ensure data consistency.
• Lead scoring: Prioritize leads with predictive scoring to improve sales efficiency, making it easier to focus on high-potential customers recorded in Xero.

Voordelen

• User-friendly interface: The intuitive design makes it easy for users of all skill levels to navigate and manage leads and customers synced with Xero.
• Comprehensive free plan: Offers a robust free version that includes essential CRM features, ideal for small businesses using Xero.
• Seamless integration with marketing tools: Integrates smoothly with its marketing, sales, and service hubs, creating a unified platform for managing Xero contacts.
• Automation capabilities: Provides powerful automation tools for tasks like email marketing and lead nurturing, saving time and improving efficiency for Xero users.
• Customizable dashboard and reports: Allows users to create customized dashboards and reports to track metrics and gain insights into business performance, directly linked to Xero data.

Nadelen

• High cost at higher tiers: Pricing can become expensive as you move to higher tiers, which may be prohibitive for small businesses scaling their Xero operations.
• Limited customization in free plan: The free plan and lower tiers have limited customization options, restricting flexibility for growing businesses using Xero.
• Email marketing limits: Email marketing functionality in the free plan is restricted by limits on the number of emails you can send, a drawback for businesses with larger lists in Xero.
• Additional costs for add-ons: Many useful features come as paid add-ons, increasing the overall cost for businesses looking to enhance their Xero integration.
• Dependence on HubSpot ecosystem: The platform works best when fully integrated with HubSpot's other tools, which can limit flexibility if you use other software alongside Xero.

Prijs en abonnementen

‍
Xero users may be more likely to make use of HubSpot's Sales Hub. Its annual subscription plans are as follows.

• Startpakket: $ 15 per gebruiker, per maand.
• Professional: $90 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $150 per user, per month.
  

3. Salesforce

Salesforce is een robuust CRM-platform voor grote ondernemingen, dat tools biedt voor verkoop, marketing, service en analyse, met uitgebreide schaalbaarheid.

Belangrijkste kenmerken

• Comprehensive ecosystem: Salesforce offers a unified platform that includes CRM, marketing automation, and customer service, making it ideal for managing leads and customers in Xero.
• Customization and scalability: The platform is highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor it to their specific needs, such as tracking customer interactions and financial data in Xero.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) integration: Salesforce Einstein provides AI-driven insights and automation, helping businesses optimize customer management and sales strategies.
• Extensive integration capabilities: Salesforce integrates seamlessly with Xero, enabling smooth data flow and comprehensive financial management.
• Advanced analytics and reporting: Powerful analytics tools allow businesses to gain deep insights into customer data and financial performance, enhancing decision-making.

Voordelen

• Comprehensive feature set: Salesforce offers extensive features covering sales, service, and marketing, making it a powerful tool for managing all aspects of customer relationships alongside Xero.
• Highly customizable: Businesses can tailor Salesforce to their specific needs with custom fields, objects, and workflows, enhancing their Xero integration.
• Extensive integration capabilities: Salesforce integrates with a wide array of third-party applications, including Xero, ensuring seamless data flow across platforms.
• Scalability: Salesforce is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, with the ability to grow alongside your business needs.
• Advanced analytics and reporting: The platform provides robust analytics and reporting tools, allowing businesses to gain insights into their data and make informed decisions.

Nadelen

• Hoge kosten: Salesforce kan duur zijn, vooral voor kleine tot middelgrote bedrijven, met hoge licentiekosten en extra kosten voor add-ons en aanpassingen.
• Steile leercurve: vanwege de uitgebreide functies en complexiteit vereist Salesforce vaak veel tijd en training voordat gebruikers er vaardig mee kunnen omgaan.
• Complexe installatie en aanpassing: De eerste installatie en aanpassing kunnen een uitdaging zijn en vereisen vaak deskundige hulp of gecertificeerde consultants, wat de totale kosten verhoogt.
• Gebruikersinterface: Sommige gebruikers vinden de interface van Salesforce verouderd en minder intuïtief dan andere moderne CRM-platforms, wat de bruikbaarheid kan belemmeren.
• Overweldigend voor kleine teams: De krachtige functies van Salesforce kunnen voor kleinere teams of bedrijven overbodig zijn, waardoor de mogelijkheden van het platform niet volledig worden benut.

Prijs en abonnementen

On an annual subscription, Salesforce's Service Cloud plan is as follows.

• Starter suite: Starts from $25 per user, per month.
• Pro suite: Starts from $100 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: Starts from $165 per user, per month.

4. Zoho

Zoho is a CRM system with a strong sales focus. It has journey orchestration, sales process management, and workflow automation features. There's also something for marketing teams, including event management and customer segmentation.

Belangrijkste kenmerken

• Sales automation: Automates sales tasks like lead management, deal tracking, and follow-up actions, ensuring a streamlined workflow that complements Xero's accounting processes.
• Customizable dashboards and reports: Allows users to create and customize dashboards and reports for in-depth analytics, making it easier to track financial metrics and customer interactions.
• Lead and contact management: Manages customer information, tracks interactions, and segments contacts for targeted campaigns, integrating seamlessly with Xero's contact management.
• Email integration: Integrates with popular email services for seamless communication and email marketing, enhancing customer relationship management alongside Xero's invoicing and billing.
• API and integrations: Supports integration with third-party applications and services via APIs, including Xero, ensuring smooth data flow between your CRM and accounting software.

Voordelen

• Affordability: Zoho CRM offers competitive pricing with various tiers, making it accessible to small and medium-sized businesses using Xero.
• Customization: Extensive customization options allow businesses to tailor the CRM to their specific needs, including custom fields, modules, and workflows that align with Xero's features.
• Integration with Zoho suite: Seamless integration with other Zoho products (like Zoho Books, Zoho Projects, and Zoho Campaigns) creates a comprehensive ecosystem for managing different business functions alongside Xero.
• Multi-channel communication: Zoho CRM supports email, phone, social media, and live chat, enabling businesses to manage all customer interactions from a single platform, complementing Xero's financial management.
• AI-powered features: Zia, the AI assistant, provides intelligent insights, predictive analytics, and task automation, helping to improve sales and marketing efficiency, which can be directly beneficial for businesses using Xero.

Nadelen

• Steep learning curve: The extensive customization options can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a significant time investment to master the platform and its integration with Xero.
• Complex setup: Initial setup and configuration can be complex, particularly for businesses without technical expertise or dedicated IT resources, especially when integrating with Xero.
• Performance issues: Occasional reports of slow performance, especially with large datasets or complex operations, can hinder productivity, impacting the efficiency of Xero integration.
• Limited third-party integrations: While Zoho integrates well with its own suite of products, integration with third-party applications can be limited or require additional effort, potentially complicating its use with Xero.
• Feature limitations in lower tiers: The lower-priced plans may lack advanced features, pushing users to upgrade to more expensive tiers for essential functionality, which may be necessary for full Xero integration.

Prijs en abonnementen

Zoho's free plan is limited to three users. After that, for more features and seats, an annual subscription plan is as follows:

• Standard: $14 per user, per month.
• Professional: $23 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $40 per user, per month.

5. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is een webgebaseerd CRM-systeem voor kleine bedrijven, dat leadbeheer, automatisering, e-mailintegratie en aanpasbare pijplijnen biedt om de verkoop te optimaliseren.

Belangrijkste kenmerken

• Lead- en dealbeheer: gecentraliseerde tools voor het beheren van klantgegevens, interacties en verkooppijplijnen, zodat teams snel kunnen reageren op kansen.
• Verkoopautomatisering: Workflowautomatisering voor het afhandelen van repetitieve taken, zoals het doorsturen van leads, follow-ups en e-mailreeksen, zodat verkoopteams zich kunnen concentreren op het sluiten van deals.
• E-mailintegratie: volledige e-mailsynchronisatie, sjablonen en trackingfuncties, waardoor gebruikers alle communicatie rechtstreeks vanuit het CRM kunnen beheren.
• Geavanceerde rapportage en analyse: realtime data-analyse en aangepaste rapportagetools om verkoopprestaties bij te houden, omzet te voorspellen en bruikbare inzichten te verkrijgen.
• Aanpassing en beveiliging: opties om pijplijnen, velden en gebruikersrechten aan te passen, met robuuste beveiligingsmaatregelen om gegevens te beschermen.

Voordelen

• User-friendly interface: The CRM is known for its intuitive and visually appealing interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage their sales pipelines.
• Sales pipeline focus: Specifically designed for managing sales pipelines, offering a visual approach that helps sales teams track deals and activities effectively.
• Customization: Allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the platform to their specific sales processes with custom fields and workflows.
• Affordability: Offers competitive pricing, making it accessible to small and medium-sized businesses without sacrificing essential CRM features.
• Automation features: Includes automation tools that help streamline repetitive tasks, such as sending follow-up emails and moving deals through the pipeline, saving time and boosting productivity.

Nadelen

• Limited advanced features: Lacks some of the more advanced CRM features, such as extensive marketing automation and AI capabilities, which are available in other platforms.
• Basisrapportage in lagere niveaus: De rapportage- en analysefuncties in de basisplannen zijn enigszins beperkt, waardoor upgrades nodig zijn om toegang te krijgen tot meer diepgaande inzichten.
• No built-in email marketing: Does not include built-in email marketing features, requiring users to integrate with third-party email tools for such functionality.
• Limited customer support hours: Customer support is not available 24/7, which can be inconvenient for businesses operating in different time zones or needing immediate assistance.
• Price increases with add-ons: The cost can increase quickly when additional features or integrations are added, making it less cost-effective for businesses with growing needs.

Prijs en abonnementen

Pipedrive's annual subscription plan basis is as follows.

• Essential plan: Starts from $24 per user, per month.
• Geavanceerd abonnement: vanaf $ 44 per gebruiker per maand.
• Power plan: Starts from $79 per user, per month.
• Enterprise-abonnement: vanaf $ 129 per gebruiker per maand.

Conclusie

👉🏼 Try folk now to never miss a follow-up by syncing deals and contacts with Xero

Choosing the best CRM for Xero can significantly enhance your business operations by streamlining workflows, automating repetitive tasks, and improving customer relationships. Whether you opt for the robust and scalable features of Salesforce, the user-friendly interface of Hubspot, the affordability and customization of Zoho, or the sales-focused tools of Pipedrive, integrating a CRM with Xero will help you manage your business more efficiently. However, for growing businesses with teams of 20-50 people, folk CRM emerges as the clear winner, offering the perfect balance of modern features, intuitive design, and scalable pricing that matches the needs of mid-sized Xero users. For those looking for a modern, all-in-one solution, folk offers a comprehensive platform with seamless LinkedIn integration, AI-powered tools, and extensive app compatibility. Don't miss out on the opportunity to boost your business's productivity and growth—try folk for free here.

Hulp nodig? Gebruik onze gratis tool om de perfecte CRM-oplossing voor u te vinden.

Veelgestelde vragen

Wat is het beste CRM-systeem voor kleine bedrijven?

Needs vary. Common picks include folk, HubSpot, Zoho, and Pipedrive. For teams of 20–50 using Xero, folk stands out with LinkedIn capture, email sequences, customizable pipelines, and a Zapier-based Xero sync.

How do you connect a CRM to Xero?

Use a native Xero integration or connect via Zapier/Make. Authenticate both apps, map fields (contacts, companies, invoices), set triggers, test with sample records, then enable ongoing sync. Review permissions and audit logs regularly.

What features matter most in a CRM for Xero users?

Prioritize two-way Xero sync, contact enrichment, LinkedIn capture, pipeline tracking, email sequences, task automation, clear reporting, role-based permissions, and integrations via Zapier/Make to link forms, calendars, and support tools.

How much does a CRM cost per user?

Pricing in this guide ranges roughly $14–$165 per user/month. Lower tiers cover basics; higher tiers add automation, advanced reporting, and support. Most vendors offer free trials; factor add-ons and integration costs when budgeting.