As a plumber, you know the importance of having the right tools for the job. But when it comes to running your business, you’ll need more than just the tools in your toolbox.
That’s where a CRM system comes in. A CRM is the unsung hero of efficient scheduling, communication, and happy customers. But choosing the best CRM for plumbers can feel like picking the perfect wrench out of a hardware store—you need one that fits your business like a glove.
Keep reading to learn how to choose a CRM that will make your plumbing business flow as smoothly as the pipes you fix.
Choosing the best CRM for plumbers:
What is a CRM for plumbers?
CRM stands for customer relationship management. A CRM is a tool that helps you keep track of customer interactions, contact details, and job details with clients throughout a service and beyond. The best part is that you can do all of these workflows from one place.
For licensed plumbing companies, this means less time juggling paperwork or chasing down phone calls and more time focusing on what you do best: solving plumbing problems.
You can think of a CRM as the ultimate tool to stay organized, grow your customer base, and deliver top-notch service.
Why you need a plumbing CRM system
The benefits of a CRM for plumbers go beyond just keeping your business organized—it’s a game changer for productivity and customer satisfaction.
A CRM allows you to maintain a clear record of customer history. When you receive a customer call about a problem, you can pull up their information and job history to quickly devise solutions.
Other benefits of a CRM for plumbers include:
- Leverage automation to streamline your workflows
- Use an all-in-one system to manage your business
- Save time on repetitive tasks
- Improve customer communication
Plus, some CRM systems offer additional features like scheduling and dispatching, quoting, online bookings, and more.
For example, the best apps for plumbers let you assign jobs to the right team members and provide real-time updates to customers. Plus, plumbing contractors often respond to emergency situations. With the right CRM for plumbers, you can quickly assign your nearest plumber to the job when a new job comes in.
The best CRM software also helps you create, track, and send accurate quotes to your customers. It’s even better if customers can approve the quotes online so you can get the plumbing job started right away.
A CRM helps you work smarter, not harder, while delivering a seamless experience to your customers. Let’s take a look at some of the top plumbing software features to look out for when choosing the best tool for your business..
Plumbing CRM software features to look for
These must-have CRM features for plumbers can transform your daily workflow and help you deliver exceptional service with ease.
Job management
The best CRM for plumbers has various job or project management features to ensure that your skilled plumbers are always delivering a top-notch customer experience.
With job management tools, you can assign tasks to specific plumbers, monitor their job progress with streamlined communication, and update job details as needed—all from one central platform.
Look for job management features such as:
- Appointment reminders to customers
- Job forms and checklists
- Automated follow-ups
These features also make it easy to store important information, like customer notes, photos, or service histories, so your team is always prepared when arriving at a job site.
Jobber lets you track and manage work requests, customer information, and job details in one place.
With features such as online request forms and the ability to add notes and attachments to client profiles, you can ensure that your team is always on the same page and keep your customers happy.
READ MORE: 58 plumbing interview questions to find top plumbers
Quoting
Use a CRM to speed up the process of creating accurate, professional quotes for your customers.
Instead of juggling spreadsheets or handwriting estimates, you can use the CRM to generate detailed quotes in just a few clicks. Customizable templates can help you ensure consistency, reduce errors, and leave a great impression on customers.
Plus, after you price a plumbing job, some CRM systems, such as Jobber, allow you to send quotes directly via email or text and track when they’re viewed.
Jobber also lets you send automated quote follow-ups to customers you haven’t heard back from yet to ensure that you never leave work on the table.
Scheduling
A CRM with scheduling features makes it easier to manage appointments, maximize efficiency, and keep customers happy.
With built-in scheduling tools, you can quickly book jobs, assign them to the right plumbing contractor, and ensure there’s no overlap or missed appointments.
Choose a CRM with real-time updates. This will allow you to notify customers of changes or send reminders to prevent no-shows.
Better yet, choose a CRM that optimizes routes and schedules, cutting down on travel time and increasing the number of jobs you can handle in a day.
Jobber lets you visualize your visits for the day, and make quick changes on the fly. As new work comes in, you can assign it to the closest team member based on their GPS waypoint for maximum efficiency.
Invoicing and payments
The right CRM for plumbers simplifies your billing process and helps you get paid faster.
Instead of manually creating invoices, you can generate them automatically once the job is complete, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
Many CRMs allow you to send invoices directly to customers via email or text and offer secure payment options, such as credit cards or digital wallets.
Jobber’s CRM can track which invoices have been paid and send automated reminders for overdue payments, saving time and reducing the stress of chasing down money.
Marketing features
A CRM can be a valuable tool for lead management, retargeting past customers, and executing your overall plumbing marketing strategy.
A CRM with marketing capabilities can help you:
- Build a plumbing business website to capture more plumbing leads
- Create email campaigns to advertise your plumbing services
- Automatically request Google Reviews upon job completion
With Jobber, you can leverage your customer data to send email campaigns that bring in new work. Jobber lets you segment your audience based on factors like job history, ensuring your marketing messages are relevant and effective.
READ MORE: How to bid plumbing jobs and win more work
Integrations
Adding a CRM to your plumbing management software system doesn’t have to be complicated.
The best CRMs for plumbers integrate seamlessly with other common tools to create your perfect all-in-one solution.
Make sure that your CRM integrates with the other plumbing tools that you use, such as:
- Accounting software
- Routing software
- Payment processing platforms
- Calendar tools
Jobber integrates with well-known tools such as:
Best CRM for plumbers to consider
Not all plumbing CRMs are alike. To choose the right CRM for your business, it’s important to your business needs and the features that can help you reach your goals.
If you’re not sure where to start your search for the best CRM for plumbers, we’ve got you covered. Check out these CRM options to determine if one of them fits your business needs.
Salesforce CRM
Salesforce is a good choice for plumbing businesses looking for a highly customizable and scalable CRM solution.
The Salesforce platform is packed full of features that help plumbing companies streamline operations, enhance customer service, and optimize technician schedules. These features include:
- Real-time job scheduling and dispatching
- Automated follow-ups, invoicing, and reminders
- Work order management
- Customizable workflows
However, Salesforce’s suite of features may be overwhelming and present a steep learning curve for small plumbing businesses. It is also more expensive than industry-specific CRMs.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot is a great choice for plumbing businesses that want to link their customer relationship management and their marketing. The best part is that you can start with the free version of the platform.
With HubSpot, you can take advantage of features such as:
- Organize leads from web inquiries, phone calls, and email campaigns in one place
- Assign leads or new jobs to specific team members for faster response times
- Create and automate email campaigns for plumbing promotions
It’s important to note that many businesses quickly outgrow HubSpot’s free plan. The free plan’s scheduling capabilities are particularly limited. HubSpot’s paid plans are some of the priciest options on the market, making them inaccessible to small businesses or businesses just starting out.
SageCRM
SageCRM is best for plumbing businesses looking to strengthen their sales process. It integrates directly with Sage Accounting software, allowing plumbing businesses to streamline invoicing, payment tracking, and financial reporting.
SageCRM’s top features include:
- Coordinate daily operations with integrated calendars
- Set reminders for follow-ups or routine maintenance calls
- Run targeted marketing campaigns to promote seasonal services
- Manage service contracts and recurring maintenance plans
While Sage CRM has tools for scheduling and managing customer records, it lacks a few capabilities that plumbers need, such as route optimization and real-time job tracking.
Jobber: Best plumbing CRM software for small businesses
For small plumbing businesses, Jobber is the best software for plumbers looking to improve every aspect of their business.
Jobber’s plumbing software lets you manage leads, update job history, and track customer communication—all from one platform for a seamless workflow.
With Jobber’s mobile app, you can keep track of important customer information from the office or from the field, with the ability to make changes at your fingertips.
However, Jobber goes above and beyond normal CRM capabilities by optimizing your everyday workflows to save time and maximize efficiency.
For example, Jobber lets you schedule plumbing jobs with just a few clicks. When you need to reassign your plumbers for last-minute jobs, all you have to do is click, drag, and drop.
Create professional plumbing quotes with one of Jobber’s template options, which you can customize with your own company branding. Plus add optional line items to upsell your services.
You can also use Jobber’s plumbing software to:
- Accept credit card payments in-person and online
- Optimize routes to cut down on travel time and fit more jobs in the day
- Accept and manage online bookings
- Convert job details into invoices to send to your customers
- Create email campaigns to promote your services
- Integrate with QuickBooks, Fleetsharp, and other popular tools
Jobber grows with you and really takes your business to the next level—whether it’s cash flow, payments, organization, scheduling, or customer relations.
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Choosing the right CRM for your plumbing business can help you stay organized, streamline operations, and deliver excellent customer service.
With your new understanding of these key features and benefits, you can find a plumbing solution that fits your unique needs and takes your business to the next level.