The good news is that a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution can fix that, and you don\u2019t need expensive or complex software to get started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you can even build your own CRM template<\/strong> using simple tools like Google Sheets or Excel\u2014it\u2019s easier than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this blog post, we\u2019re going to guide you step-by-step through the process of setting up a CRM <\/strong>on both platforms. Plus, we\u2019ll introduce you to four easy-to-use Google Sheets and Excel CRM templates that could be exactly what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s not all. Stick around for a bonus B2B CRM software<\/a> that takes your sales pipelines and customer relationship building to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get started.\ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n\n\n 1. Open the Google web browser<\/strong> and type\u2019 sheet.new\u2019 to create a new Google Sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Once the spreadsheet opens, click the name field <\/strong>in the top-left corner, replace \u2018Untitled spreadsheet\u2019 with a suitable name, and press \u2018Enter.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Rename the tab<\/strong> at the bottom by right-clicking on it (usually named \u2018Sheet1\u2019), selecting \u2018Rename,\u2019 and giving it a relevant name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. In the first row, set up your headers <\/strong>for the CRM data you\u2019ll track. Suggested headers could include Client ID, Name, Contact Info, Status, Lead Source, Assigned To, and so on, as shown in the screenshot below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1Pro Tip:<\/strong> Bold the header row and give it a background color for easy identification.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Now, freeze the header<\/strong> row to be visible even when you scroll down the sheet. To do so, select the first row, click \u2018View\u2019 in the menu bar, then go to \u2018Freeze\u2019 and choose \u20181 row.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. In the \u2018Client ID\u2019 column (A), add the following formula in cell A2 to auto-generate IDs<\/strong> when you add a client\u2019s name (in Column C):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018=IF(C2=””, “”, TEXT(ROW(A1), “C000”))\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Drag the formula down <\/strong>to cover more rows for future entries. When a new name is added to the sheet, it automatically generates a Client ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Enter sample data<\/strong> for testing your CRM functionality. You could populate it with the top-level information you have on your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Next, create a new sheet<\/strong> within the same file by clicking the plus sign (+) at the bottom-left corner and name it \u2018Dropdowns.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. In this new sheet, list the options for fields like \u2018Status\u2019 (e.g., New Lead, In Progress, Closed) and \u2018Lead Source\u2019 (e.g., Referral, Website, Event). Populate the columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11. Now, return to your main CRM sheet<\/strong> and select the column you want to track. For this example, let\u2019s pick \u2018Status\u2019 (e.g., Column H).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12. In the top menu, navigate to \u2018Data,\u2019 then select \u2018Data Validation\u2019 from the dropdown menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13. A \u2018Data validation rules\u2019 pane will open on the right side. Click \u2018Add rule.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n 14. In the \u2018Data Validation\u2019 settings, under \u2018Criteria,\u2019 choose \u2018Dropdown (from a range).\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 15. For the range, type \u2018Dropdowns!A1:A\u2019 (this references your \u2018Status\u2019 options in the \u2018Dropdowns\u2019 sheet). This will display your options in a dropdown list. Click \u2018Done.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16. Repeat the above process for the \u2018Lead Source\u2019 column. Enter the range \u2018Dropdowns!B1:B\u2019 (which references your \u2018Lead Source\u2019 options in the \u2018Dropdowns\u2019 sheet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dropdown will look something like this in the main sheet for \u2018Lead Source:\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n After this, your CRM is all set and ready <\/strong>for basic client management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Open Microsoft Excel and select \u2018Blank Workbook\u2019 to make a free CRM Excel template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Once the workbook opens, go to File > Save As<\/strong> and save your file with a relevant name, like \u2018CRM Workbook.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rename the tab<\/strong> at the bottom by right-clicking on it (usually named \u2018Sheet1\u2019), selecting \u2018Rename,\u2019 and giving it a relevant name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Create your headers for the CRM data in the first row of the sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common headers may include Client ID, Name, Contact Info, Status, Lead Source, Assigned To, and so on, as shown in the screenshot below.<\/p>\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1Pro Tip:<\/strong> Format the headers by bolding the text and applying a background color for easy visibility. You can do this by selecting the entire row, then going to the \u2018Fill color\u2019 icon in the ribbon, and using a color of your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n 4. To keep the headers visible while scrolling through data, go to the \u2018View\u2019 tab and select \u2018Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row.\u2019 This will lock the header row in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. In the \u2018Client ID\u2019 column (A), enter this formula in cell A2 to auto-generate a unique ID for each client:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018=IF(B2=””,””,TEXT(ROW(A2)-1,”C000″))\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the \u2018Name\u2019 (in column B) is filled in, this formula will generate a unique client ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Drag the formula down <\/strong>through as many rows as needed. This will ensure each new client gets a unique ID when their name is entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Enter sample data <\/strong>for testing your CRM functionality. You could populate it with the top-level information you have on your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n 8. Add a new sheet<\/strong> to your workbook by clicking the (+) icon at the bottom and name it \u2018Dropdowns.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n 9. In this new sheet, list the options for fields<\/strong> like \u2018Status\u2019 (e.g., New Lead, In Progress, Closed) and \u2018Lead Source\u2019 (e.g., Referral, Website, Event). Populate the columns.<\/p>\n\n\n 10. Now, go back to the main CRM sheet and select the column you want to track<\/strong>. For this example, let\u2019s pick \u2018Status\u2019 (e.g., Column H).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11. Navigate to the \u2018Data\u2019 tab and click \u2018Data Validation.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n 12. In the \u2018Data Validation\u2019 dialog box, under the \u2018Settings\u2019 tab, select \u2018List\u2019<\/strong> from the \u2018Allow\u2019 dropdown menu.<\/p>\n\n\n 13. In the \u2018Source\u2019 field, type: \u2018=Dropdowns!$A$2:$A$11.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n This will create a dropdown list based on the values from your \u2018Dropdowns\u2019 sheet. Press \u2018OK.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n 14. Repeat the same process<\/strong> for the \u2018Lead Source\u2019 column, but this time, reference the list in column B of the \u2018Dropdowns\u2019 sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can now populate lead sources and statuses on the main \u2018ClickUp CRM\u2019 sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we’ve covered how to create a CRM spreadsheet in Excel, let’s look at how pre-built CRM templates can get you there much faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n HubSpot\u2019s Monthly Sales Dashboard<\/a> offers a practical solution if you\u2019re tired of managing sales numbers in a spreadsheet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s available for both Excel and Google Sheets, allowing you to transform raw sales data into clear, actionable insights without manual tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can set, group, and monitor critical metrics for easy comparison and analysis, organize the dashboard to view the most vital information first, and add interactive features, such as filters, slicers, and drill-down options, to dig deeper into the data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salesflare\u2019s CRM template for Excel<\/a> offers a clear, structured way to optimize your sales process. You can manage team members, set KPIs, and choose when you\u2019ll get a reminder to follow up with a lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key data like deal size, expected closing date, and the sales rep managing the deal are built into this sales pipeline template. This helps you forecast your revenue, shows how your sales reps are performing, helps you assess conversion performance, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1Pro Tip:<\/strong> Check out these 10 Free Sales Pipeline Templates<\/a> to enhance your sales efficiency and close more deals.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n Another free CRM tool built for Google Sheets is the Simple CRM by OneSheet CRM.<\/a> It\u2019s designed specifically for small businesses to help organize contacts, track sales, and close more deals with less effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All you have to do is sign up on the tool and enter or paste your data. Unlike some Excel CRM templates<\/a>, it\u2019ll automatically save changes, so you never have to worry about losing any information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for an efficient way to grow your sales rapidly, then the CRM T<\/a>emplate for Sales Conversion Rate<\/a> by ActiveCampaign won\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It creates a single source of truth for all your sales leads, including their contact information, stage of the buying journey, and more. That way, you always have accurate and relevant information at your fingertips to close the sale and analyze important metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of those free CRM templates<\/a> that works with both Google Sheets and Excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While both tools are great because they\u2019re free and simple to use, they\u2019re not ideal for managing a full-fledged CRM in the long run. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manual data entry and updates on Google Sheets and Excel can be time-consuming. While basic automation can be set up through formulas or scripts, it requires technical knowledge. It lacks the seamless workflow automation provided by a dedicated CRM and tools in the sales tech stack<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing large datasets on these tools becomes slow and cumbersome as your customer base grows. Searching, filtering, and analyzing data can be inefficient, especially with thousands of entries. Performance issues like freezing or crashing are common as spreadsheets reach their limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating reports and dashboards on both tools requires manual setup. Advanced features like custom S&OP process creation, live data analytics, and visual progress reports are either unavailable or demand complex workarounds, which can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n Read More:<\/strong> How to Create a Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) (+Template)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n Both tools allow you to share spreadsheets and collaborate in real time, but they don\u2019t offer CRM-specific features like task assignments and notification alerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes tracking responsibility difficult, especially in a multi-user environment where version control and live updates are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google Sheets and Excel sheets don\u2019t have built-in email, phone, or messaging integrations, forcing you to log communication history manually. This increases the likelihood of missed touchpoints, impacting overall communication efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve discussed areas where using Google Sheets CRM<\/a> and Excel spreadsheets falls short, the next task is finding an intuitive and scalable alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But how to pick a CRM<\/a> that\u2019s perfectly suited to your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cloud-based CRM, also known as SaaS CRM (CRM Software as a Service), is popular among modern enterprises due to its ease of use and accessibility.\u00a0A SaaS CRM solution that cuts through the chaos, highlights opportunities that are likely to close, and drives growth for your business is ClickUp<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If breaking down silos and promoting teamwork with collaborative CRM features is a priority, then the ClickUp CRM<\/a> won\u2019t disappoint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n ClickUp CRM is a unified workspace that combines a cloud-based customer relationship management system with task management, document sharing, data storage, and more. You can create Custom Fields, workflows, and views on the platform that best suits your operational preferences and requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also define tasks, set due dates, and allot them to team members with ClickUp Assign Comments <\/a>in one centralized place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, you can gain actionable insights with ClickUp Dashboards<\/a>. This feature lets you select from 50+ customizable dashboard widgets to create high-level views of critical metrics, such as average deal sizes, sales performance, customer lifetime value, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n You can invite customers into ClickUp as guests and share a client portal for real-time project updates. Integrate your Dashboard with many of your day-to-day tools, like Salesforce and Zoho, further elevating your ability to track and analyze sales data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want insights from your Dashboard in seconds?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ClickUp Brain<\/a> can quickly respond to your queries about projects, papers, and contacts without requiring you to actively search for information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also use its AI Writer for Work tool to create precise, tone-appropriate communications, proposals, and emails, assuring high-quality client interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n To enable a process-driven environment, you need free CRM templates <\/strong>that save you time, ensure consistency, and yet remain flexible enough to adapt to specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ClickUp CRM Template<\/a>, for example, is designed to help you start managing customer relationships quickly. With seven statuses to track task progress and five different ways to visualize your work, it\u2019s a template to help you hit the ground running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This CRM template empowers you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1Pro Tip:<\/strong> You can also utilize the CRM Template by ClickUp<\/a> to separate account details and closed deals into different lists, minimizing confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n When you think about CRM, it\u2019s hard not to think about sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ClickUp Sales Project Management Software<\/a> helps you take full command of your sales process with customizable, user-driven views like Lists, Kanban Boards, or Calendars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you can view all of your customer data in a spreadsheet format using the Table View in ClickUp<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\nHow to Create a CRM Using Google Sheets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Naming](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Naming-a-new-sheet-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
![\"Renaming](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Renaming-a-sheet-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Adding-column-headers-in-Google-Sheets-1400x499.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Freezing](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Freezing-rows-in-Google-Sheets-1400x693.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Adding-formula-to-a-cell-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Drag](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Drag-a-formula-down-to-cover-more-rows-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"CRM](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CRM-data-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Click](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Click-the-icon-to-add-a-new-sheet-in-Google-Sheets.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Add](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Add-options-for-fields-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Steps](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Steps-to-set-data-validation-rules-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Setting](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Setting-a-new-data-validation-rule-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\u2018Dropdown](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/\u2018Dropdown-from-a-range-in-data-validation-settings-in-Google-Sheets-1319x1400.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Adding-values-to-dropdown-menu-in-Google-Sheets-1224x1400.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Dropdown](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Dropdown-menu-in-Google-Sheets.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Create a CRM Using Excel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Opening](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Opening-a-Blank-Workbook-in-MS-Excel-1400x758.png\")
![\"'Save](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Save-As-option-in-MS-Excel.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Sheets](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sheets-tab-in-Microsoft-Excel.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Column](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Column-headers-in-MS-Excel-1400x287.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"Freeze](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Freeze-a-row-in-Excel-1400x339.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Adding-a-formula-to-a-cell-in-MS-Excel.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"CRM](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CRM-data-in-MS-Excel-1400x485.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Rename](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Rename-a-sheet-in-MS-Excel.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Sample](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sample-CRM-data-in-MS-Excel.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Setting](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Setting-data-validation-rules-in-MS-Excel.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"'List'](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/List-option-in-the-\u2018Data-Validation-dialog-box-in-Excel.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"'Source](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Source-option-in-the-\u2018Data-Validation-dialog-box-in-Excel.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nGoogle Sheets and Excel CRM Templates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Monthly Sales Dashboard by Hubspot<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Monthly](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Monthly-Sales-Dashboard-by-Hubspot-1400x1096.png\")
2. CRM Template for Excel by Salesflare<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"CRM](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CRM-Template-for-Excel-by-Salesflare.png\")
3. Simple CRM by OneSheet CRM<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"Simple](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Simple-CRM-by-OneSheet-CRM.png\")
4. CRM Template for Sales Conversion Rate by ActiveCampaign<\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"CRM](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CRM-Template-for-Sales-Conversion-Rate-by-ActiveCampaign-1400x268.png\")
Google Sheets and Excel CRM Limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Lack of automation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Limited scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Limited reporting and analytics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. No native collaboration features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. No integrated communication tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best Alternative for Spreadsheet CRM: ClickUp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"ClickUp](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image-12.gif\")
![\"ClickUp](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ClickUp-3.0-Dashboard-Bundle-With-Team-Goals.png\")
![\"AI-Overview-GIF\"](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/AI-Overview-GIF.gif\")
![\"ClickUp](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-620.png\")
\n
![\"ClickUp](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ClickUp-Sales-Project-Management-1400x1102.png\")
![\"ClickUp](\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ClickUp-Sales-CRM-template.png\")