Why I Deleted My CRM

I’ve always been on the hunt for the perfect CRM (Client Relationship Management) tool to streamline my business. Over the years, I’ve tried everything—Honeybook, Dubsado, ClickUp, Notion—you name it, I’ve tested it. Each one promised to make my workflow easier, but in reality, I found myself buried in backend tasks, losing precious time I could have spent on actual design work. The biggest frustration? The avalanche of emails. Every step in the process seemed to generate a new thread with a new subject line, and it got out of control fast.

Back in 2021, I had a project where a client and I exchanged over 30 emails, all with different subjects and details scattered across multiple threads. She was so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails that she couldn’t find the information she needed. That feedback really stuck with me. I realized I wasn’t making things easier for my clients—I was making them more complicated.

Fast forward to 2024, and now that I’m balancing motherhood with running a business, my top priority is simplifying everything.

So, I made the bold choice to delete my CRM and overhaul my process. Instead of juggling complex client portals, I now create a simple Google Drive folder for each project. All files, questionnaires, and feedback are collected there, and we stick to one email thread throughout the entire project. It’s so much easier for me—and more importantly, for my clients.

I also have pre-written email templates for every step of the process, so I’m not reinventing the wheel with every project update. For signing documents, I use DocuSign, and I handle all invoicing through QuickBooks. The result? Faster workflow, happier clients, and way more time for me to focus on what matters most.

And here’s the best part—I don’t miss my CRM tools at all.

Deleting them has given me back so much time, allowing me to focus on growing my business and spending more time with my family. Of course, this system won’t work for everyone, but as a freelancer handling up to eight client projects a month, it’s been a total game-changer. Sometimes, keeping things simple is exactly what you need to move forward.