Salesforce dominates the CRM market. But is it the right choice for every business? Let's examine when custom CRM development makes more sense.
The True Cost of Salesforce
Salesforce pricing looks straightforward until you dig deeper:
- Per-user licensing: $25-$300/user/month depending on edition
- Implementation: $10,000-$100,000+ for proper setup
- Customization: $150-$250/hour for Salesforce developers
- Integration: Additional costs for connecting to your systems
- Training: Ongoing investment as staff turns over
- Add-ons: Many features require additional paid packages
For a 50-person sales team on Sales Cloud Professional: approximately $90,000-$150,000 annually.
When Salesforce Makes Sense
- Standard B2B sales process
- Need for extensive third-party integrations available in AppExchange
- Requirement for industry-specific Salesforce clouds (Health Cloud, etc.)
- Organization with dedicated Salesforce admin
- Rapid scaling needs without development investment
When Custom CRM Makes Sense
- Unique sales process that doesn't fit Salesforce's model
- Heavy integration with proprietary internal systems
- Industry-specific requirements not covered by standard CRM
- Long-term cost concerns with per-seat licensing
- Data ownership and privacy requirements
- Need for specialized functionality (quoting, configuration, etc.)
Custom CRM Advantages
Perfect Fit
No forcing your process into Salesforce's structure. The system works how you work.
No Per-Seat Licensing
Add users without adding costs. Your team grows, your software costs don't.
Seamless Integration
Built to connect with your specific systems without middleware or API limitations.
Complete Ownership
No vendor lock-in. Your data, your system, your rules.
Custom CRM Investment
Typical custom CRM projects:
- Basic CRM: $40,000-$75,000
- Full-featured CRM: $75,000-$150,000
- CRM + Quoting/CPQ: $100,000-$200,000
- Annual maintenance: 10-15% of initial investment
Break-even vs. Salesforce typically occurs in years 2-4.
Evaluating CRM Options?
We'll give you an honest assessment—whether that leads to custom development or not.
Discuss Your CRM Needs