Why I Finally Ditched Spreadsheets for a CRM That Works

Why I Finally Ditched Spreadsheets for a CRM That Works

I used to spend way too much time trying to organize my business. I created color-coded spreadsheets, made fancy Notion dashboards, and kept handwritten notes everywhere. Every few months I would rebuild everything from scratch, convinced I had finally figured it out. But no matter how hard I tried, something was always missing.

I was frustrated and worn out. I remember venting to my husband about how none of the CRMs I tried actually worked for what I needed. The affordable ones were too limited. The more expensive ones felt overbuilt and still left out basic features unless I upgraded to a higher plan. I was tired of trying to force my workflow into systems that were not built for me.

The good news is that my husband happens to be a master developer. After listening to what I was struggling with, he helped build a CRM that actually worked for my small business. We focused on including everything I needed to manage contacts and companies efficiently without the clutter or the high price tag.

That is how 6DollarCRM was created.

We created it for my own use first, but I quickly realized that other small business owners might be dealing with the exact same problems I faced. So now we are sharing it. We kept it simple, effective, and priced it at six dollars a month because we wanted it to be something real businesses could actually afford. I use it every single day and genuinely love how it helps me stay organized and in control.

Everything in One Place

I can keep track of all the companies I work with and the contacts connected to each one. It is no longer a guessing game or a scavenger hunt across apps and emails. I can see everything about them at a glance which includes notes, tags, and tasks all in one clean view. Email sync is coming soon which will be included without upgrading. This has saved me so much time when I am preparing for a meeting or following up with someone I have not talked to in a while. It feels like having a digital assistant that always knows where things are.

Organized Task Management

Tasks used to live in my head, my notebook, and a mix of sticky notes. Now they actually live in one place where I can track them, prioritize them, and link them to the right person or project. Tasks can be connected to a contact, a company, or just exist on their own if I need a general reminder. I love being able to quickly check what I need to do today or this week without digging through emails or old lists. It helps me feel like I am staying ahead instead of constantly catching up.

Tags That Actually Matter

I have never had a system where tags felt this useful. Most apps treat tags as an afterthought, but in 6DollarCRM they are central to how I organize and search. I can tag companies by type, location, industry, or anything else that works for me. I work with lots of school districts, so I tag each school in the district and all the contacts within it. This lets me filter or search in ways that actually support how I work. It is flexible, simple, and incredibly powerful once you get the hang of it.

Easy Importing

One thing that usually holds me back from switching tools is the fear of losing my old info. I was relieved to find that importing my contacts into 6DollarCRM was quick and painless. I uploaded my existing spreadsheet and the system walked me through matching the columns to the right fields. It took minutes and I did not have to start over. Having all my data instantly available in a better format gave me the confidence to dive right in.

A Visual Funnel That Keeps Me Focused

The funnel view is such a helpful tool. I customized the stages to match my business needs like lead, in conversation, active, and closed. Now I can see exactly where every company stands. It gives me a clear picture of how things are moving. If I see too many companies sitting in lead, I know I need to do more outreach. If I see a lot in conversation, I know it is time to follow up and move things forward. It helps me focus my energy where it matters instead of guessing.

Notes That Stay Put

I take a lot of quick notes during calls, while reading emails, or even while thinking through something. Before, those notes were scattered. Now I attach them right to the company or contact. That way, the next time I reach out, I can see the last thing we discussed, what I promised, or what they asked for. It makes my communication feel more personal and organized. It also gives me peace of mind knowing I will not forget the little things.

If you are a small business owner trying to stay organized and feeling the limits of spreadsheets like I did, it might be worth taking a look at 6DollarCRM. It has helped me stay on top of my tasks, grow my business, and finally feel in control. And amazingly, it only costs six dollars a month which fits perfectly into my small business budget. It is one of the few tools I use every single day and actually enjoy using.