Should I use a spreadsheet or a CRM for leads?

Spreadsheets work fine for tracking leads when you get fewer than 10 per month. You can see everything at a glance, manually update statuses, and keep notes. The problem starts when volume increases or multiple people need access.

Spreadsheets cannot text you when a new lead comes in, send auto-response emails, remind you about follow-ups, or request Google reviews. They also break down when multiple people edit simultaneously, lack audit trails, and provide no automation.

The tipping point is usually around 15-20 leads per month. Beyond that, a spreadsheet becomes a liability. Leads get lost in rows, follow-ups are forgotten, and response times suffer. A CRM at $19/mo eliminates these problems and pays for itself with the first lead you would have otherwise lost.