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CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software

Explore affordable and efficient CRM software options like ChurchCRM, BreezeCHMS, and Planning Center to manage your church effectively.

Module 4 - Lesson 1
WebBuild Links: WebBuild Home Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5 Module 6 - Resources & Extras

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Software

In this lesson, we discuss online CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software for your church. There are many options available, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. However, many are too expensive or become unsustainable as your church grows.

I recommend three CRMs:

  1. ChurchCRM: A free, open-source, and powerful solution for churches. I’m an active developer for ChurchCRM, which has a dedicated community to resolve issues and continually improve the software.
  2. BreezeCHMS: A reasonably priced Church Management System that maintains affordability regardless of church size.
  3. Planning Center: A robust and user-friendly system with higher costs as your church grows. While feature-rich, the pricing may make it less suitable for smaller churches.

Let’s explore these systems in detail:

ChurchCRM

  1. Visit your ChurchCRM installation from Module 1 (e.g., crm.example.com).
  2. Log in using the credentials: Username: admin, Password: changeme.
  3. Change your password immediately and write it down.
  4. Configure your church details in the settings.
    • Connect to Google Maps API and Mailchimp.
  5. Add users manually or import data (use seed data for testing if necessary).
  6. Watch the video for an overview of ChurchCRM’s features.
  7. Explore the ChurchCRM Documentation.
  8. Report issues on ChurchCRM’s GitHub. Keep in mind this is an open-source project with voluntary contributors.

BreezeCHMS

  1. Visit BreezeCHMS.
  2. Explore the demo to understand its features.
  3. Watch instructional videos on using the software.
  4. If you find it suitable, sign up for a subscription.

Planning Center

This lesson focuses on the CRM portion of Planning Center. Planning Center Services will be covered in another module.

  1. Visit Planning Center Online.
  2. Sign up for an account.
  3. Watch the provided tutorial videos.
  4. If it meets your needs and budget, consider subscribing.

By carefully evaluating these options, you can choose a CRM system that aligns with your church’s size, budget, and management requirements.