In the Beginning Was the Napkin

onepagecrm

OnePageCRM is different from other CRMs at its very core. Because it wasn’t built to be yet another ‘dead database’. We wanted to create a CRM software that would allow salespeople to do more than just store their contacts. We wanted to make our system actionable.

OnePageCRM is built around a simple principle — the more sales actions you make, the more you sell. That’s why the Next Action is the heart and soul of our system. The moment you complete a sales action (say, send an email, make a call or send a quote), we push you to set the next one, making sure you never drop the ball.

At OnePageCRM, we believe that sales are very personal — they are all about people. That is why we built our system around contacts. It is the person across the table who signs your deal, not a company. And you need to know them, to earn their trust and build a relationship with them.

We believe that the best way to build that relationship is by having continuous communication and consistent follow-ups. And that is exactly what the Next Action is all about. Jim Rohn once said, “The Fortune is in the follow-up.” We re-phrased it. For us, The Fortune is in the Next Action.

At OnePageCRM, we are passionate about what we are doing and truly believe that our way is the way to go when it comes to productivity and sales. That is why we use our CRM software ourselves. We never drop the ball and deliver exceptional customer care. Just ask our clients.

Today, we are proud that thousands of small businesses from all over the world chose OnePageCRM to be their CRM software.

We came a long way to get here. It all started with an unsatisfied need, napkin sketch, and the inspirational words of Reid Hoffman and Seth Godin…

How it started

In the beginning was the napkin

Before OnePageCRM was even a napkin sketch (we’ll get to that), our founder Michael FitzGerald was looking for a CRM software to help him grow his website development business.

As it happens, all CRMs he looked at were pretty much sophisticated, “dead” databases. He thought, “Excel can do that, Excel doesn’t make you get up in the morning and go at sales.”

So one sunny December afternoon, he went out for lunch and returned carrying a bucket of ice cream for his team and a plan for a new, actionable CRM software sketched on the back of a napkin. The CRM was to be based on the GTD (Getting Things Done) productivity principle that encouraged a person to remove the clutter and focus on a task at hand. While his team was happily consuming the creamy treat, Michael announced that they were going to ship this new product… in three months time.
napkin sketch

2010

All in

We got our first paying customers and, most importantly, the first feedback. Our app was built with the clients, but with a strong conviction that our action method is the ultimate way to go for efficient sales. We believed (and still do) in our app and used it ourselves. All other distractions (including a profitable business) were set aside, and OnePageCRM became our main and only focus.
onepagecrm team
startup wins

2011-2012

Ready or not, here we
come

The strict deadline was a result of a hard lesson learned from a previous venture that never reached the customers’ hands due to continuous “improvements”. This time, Michael was guided by two principles. One was Seth Godin’s “Build in shipping as a feature,” which came down to the question: if shipping on a date was a key objective, what features could you leave out in order to ensure that was honored? And the second was a quote from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman: “If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.”

So on March 22nd, with the Activity Stream and the Next Action as its heart and body, OnePageCRM went live.

2013-2014

Investment in talent

We were fortunate to have secured funding from Enterprise Ireland and private investors. In addition to security, it gave us the needed financial boost. We could grow the business and invest in hiring the best talent, like engineers and marketeers. That’s also when we started building our customer support team.

Today, we pride ourselves on having a white-glove customer care. We believe in building long-term relationships with our clients and going above and beyond to answer any questions, queries, and jump on a webinar or a call whenever it’s needed.
investment and funding

2016

Top class sales on-the-go

We know that field sales can get hectic. That’s why we decided to make sure you can access your CRM software at any point in time, even when on the road.

In 2016, we launched native iOS and Android mobile apps, ensuring our customers always keep the ball rolling and have all the updates safely logged.

2017

CRM automation is key

We always believed that the only thing salespeople should spend their time on is… sales. It might sound trivial, but we have seen too many salespeople wasting their time on unnecessary admin tasks rather than investing in building relationships with their prospects.

In 2017, we decided to make this task easier. We have introduced Deal Items to build deals with a click. In addition, we’ve released Saved Actions to accelerate the sales process. As well as Email Templates and Bulk Send to avoid repetition of the same emails over and over, and Quick Quotes to assemble and send sales quotes in seconds.

2018

Walking in our customers’ shoes

In 2018, Michael set out on a 30-day trip around the UK, in a camper van the likes of Jamiroquai’s, to deliver a crucial message—for SMBs around the world it was time to think global.

During this trip, Michael had a unique opportunity to spend time with OnePageCRM customers, get to know them, their life stories and needs, sit by their side, and see our product through their eyes. As a result, he got invaluable insights into the way they use our system—some things you’ll never get from an email, a phone call or a web form.

Thanks to the wealth of knowledge and action points that Michael brought back, we got a direction on how to make OnePageCRM the best version of itself! Read more more
ceo tour
productive teamwork

2020-2022

Productivity is in our DNA

When the world faced the pandemic, we were doing the best to support our customers, the vast majority of whom run a small business, and our global and talented team.

In just one year, our tight-knit team released 14 new features that opened up new opportunities for small businesses that use our CRM on a daily basis.

We don’t only believe in productivity and the power of taking action, we live and work according to our core beliefs. Read more more

2023-…

To infinity and beyond!

In 2023, we are proud to be helping businesses in over 79 countries around the world, ranging from small consulting businesses, startups to solopreneurs. We’re passionate about what we’re doing and our product.

We are building the most effective CRM in the world. And our story is just beginning!
team culture

Why small businesses choose OnePageCRM

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The CRM you’ve been looking for

The CRM that makes your follow-up process easy, helps you generate sales, and build long-term relationships with prospects and clients. Simple and action-focused.
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No credit card required • 21-day free trial
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