How is jinq different from buying Salesforce or SAP?

Those are rented software. You pay monthly per user, forever. We build a system you own outright. No recurring fees, no per-seat pricing, no vendor lock-in.

How long does a typical build take?

A focused CRM or ERP module typically takes 4-8 weeks. Full enterprise systems with multiple integrations take 3-6 months.

Can you replace our existing SaaS tools?

In most cases, yes. We audit what you're currently using, identify what can be consolidated, and build a custom solution that covers your actual needs.

Salesforce Alternatives for Small Business in 2026

Why small businesses leave Salesforce

Salesforce is powerful. It's also:

Expensive at $25-330/user/month depending on the edition
Complex, since most SMEs use 10-20% of the features
Rigid because customization requires a certified admin or consultant
Addictive: the more you build on it, the harder it is to leave

If you're a 15-person company paying $150/month for Salesforce Essentials, you're spending $27,000/year on a CRM. For contact management and a sales pipeline.

The alternatives

1. HubSpot CRM

Price: Free tier available, paid starts at $20/user/mo
Best for: Marketing-heavy businesses
Catch: Free tier is limited; paid plans add up fast with add-ons

2. Pipedrive

Price: $14-99/user/mo
Best for: Sales-focused teams
Catch: Limited beyond pipeline management

3. Zoho CRM

Price: $14-52/user/mo
Best for: Budget-conscious teams wanting a full suite
Catch: UI feels dated; integrations can be clunky

4. Notion/Airtable

Price: $10-20/user/mo
Best for: Very small teams who want flexibility
Catch: It's a database, not a CRM, so you're building from scratch without the tools

5. Build your own

This is the option nobody talks about, because no SaaS company benefits from telling you about it.

What it looks like:

A CRM built specifically for your sales process
Your fields, your pipeline stages, your reports
Connected to your email, calendar, and invoicing
Unlimited users, no per-seat fees

What it costs:

$10,000-$20,000 one-time to build
$50-100/month for hosting
$0 per seat, forever

How to decide

Ask yourself three questions:

1. How many people use the CRM? If it's 3 people, per-seat pricing is fine. If it's 15+, it's bleeding money.

2. How unique is your sales process? If you follow a standard pipeline, any CRM works. If your process has custom stages, approvals, or industry-specific workflows, a custom build saves you from fighting the tool.

3. How long will you use it? If you're testing a new market, use a cheap SaaS. If this is your core business and you'll be using a CRM for the next 5+ years, the math favors building.

The real question

It's not "which CRM should I buy?" It's "should I be renting a CRM at all?"

For many SMEs, the answer is no. A custom CRM pays for itself within 12-18 months and gives you something no SaaS can: complete control.