Free Salesforce for small businesses: what you get and how to start
Salesforce has launched something no one expected: a free Salesforce CRM for small teams with up to two users included at no cost. You get lead, account, contact, and opportunity tracking, basic service tools, simple email marketing, and Slack integration with no credit card and no contract.
This move matters because small teams often face a tough choice between tools that lack features and systems that are too expensive. Now they can access a real Salesforce CRM for small business without paying anything. With 71% of small businesses using CRM systems today and 92% of small business marketers relying on CRM every day, the need for a strong, simple system is clear.
In this article, you’ll see what the free suite includes, how it compares to Salesforce Starter and Pro, and when an upgrade makes sense as your business grows.
What is Salesforce Free Suite?
Salesforce Free Suite is a new Salesforce free version designed for small and medium teams that need a real CRM without a subscription. It provides up to 2 users with access to tools for sales, service, basic marketing, and team communication. There is no credit card, no contract, and no time limit. As long as you keep logging in, your free Salesforce account stays active.
The idea behind the Free Suite is simple. Many early teams need a place to track leads, store customer details, follow sales work, and manage tasks, but they cannot afford a full CRM yet. The Free Suite solves this by giving access to a light version of Salesforce for small business features in one place.
It is also easier to set up than the classic Salesforce experience. The onboarding is guided and clear, so even users with no admin or technical background can start working right away. Think of the Free Suite as a friendly first step into the larger Salesforce product suite. When a team outgrows the free tier, they can move to Salesforce Starter Suite or Salesforce Pro Suite without losing their data or history.
In short, Salesforce Free Suite is the new entry point for anyone who wants a trusted Salesforce crm for a small business without paying for a plan from day one.
Key features in Salesforce Free Suite
Salesforce Free Suite gives small teams the core tools they need to manage sales, service, simple marketing, and daily work in one place. It focuses on essentials, without the extra setup or paid add-ons that larger companies use.
1. Sales tools
You can track Leads, Accounts, Contacts, and Opportunities in a clean, simple view. Small teams have a reliable way to follow each customer step and keep all details in one system. Basic dashboards and reports help you see what is moving and what needs attention.
Source: Salesforce.com
2. Service tools
The Free Suite includes case management so you can log customer issues, track progress, and respond faster. There is also a small knowledge base for common questions or instructions. It’s enough for early teams that handle a few service requests each week.
Source: Salesforce.com
3. Marketing tools
You can run simple email campaigns using built-in templates, with a monthly limit of 100 sends. You can send updates, basic onboarding messages, or small outreach efforts without the need for full marketing software.
Source: Salesforce.com
4. Collaboration tools
The bundle includes a connected Slack workspace for up to two users. You can share updates, send quick messages, and link sales or service work to Slack channels. Email and calendar sync with Gmail makes it easy to log conversations and follow tasks.
Source: Salesforce.com
5. Ease of use
The setup is guided and clear, so anyone can start without admin experience. All tools come preconfigured at a basic level, giving new users a simple way to start working with Salesforce for small businesses right away.
Salesforce small business pricing
Salesforce now offers three clear paths for small teams: Free Suite, Starter Suite, and Pro Suite. Each tier matches a different stage of growth, with Free focused on early needs, Starter on small teams with active sales motion, and Pro on teams that need more control and flexibility.
Salesforce Free Suite
- Price: $0 per user
- Up to two users
- Lead, Account, Contact, and Opportunity tracking
- Basic case management
- Simple email sends (100 per month)
- Slack workspace included
- Best for: very small teams testing Salesforce for small business tools for the first time or moving away from spreadsheets
Salesforce Starter Suite
- Price: from $25 per user per month
- Adds more sales tools, including Sales Flows and lead routing
- Better service tools like Email-to-Case
- More flexible marketing with dynamic email features and basic analytics
- Adds simple commerce options such as payment links
- Best for: small teams ready to automate basic tasks, send better campaigns, and use more than two users
Salesforce Pro Suite
- Price: from $100 per user per month
- Full automation across sales, service, and marketing
- Custom objects, stronger reporting, better forecasting
- Real-time chat and stronger collaboration features
- Access to more AppExchange options
- Best for: teams that treat Salesforce as their main system and want deeper customization
What’s limited in the small business Salesforce Free Suite
Salesforce Free Suite is a strong starting point, but it comes with limits that keep it focused on very small teams. These limits are intentional, since the free tier is meant to support early growth rather than full operations.
Source: Salesforce.com
1. Two-user limit
The Free Suite supports up to two active users. This fits solo founders or very small teams, but it becomes restrictive once you add sales reps, service agents, or anyone who needs regular CRM access. When a team grows past two people, an upgrade to Salesforce Starter becomes the next step.
2. Custom apps are not supported
You cannot build custom apps in the Free Suite. This means you must work with the preconfigured setup. Teams wanting their own app layouts or tabs must upgrade to a paid tier.
3. Custom fields available with limits
You can create custom fields on standard objects to store extra details like internal notes, tags, or basic classifications. However, the number of custom fields is limited compared to paid plans. Teams that want heavier customization will outgrow the Free Suite quickly.
4. Process automation is limited to 5 flows
You can build up to five flows in the Free Suite. This is enough for basic needs such as sending notifications or updating fields, but it does not support automation-heavy setups. Teams that depend on lead routing, multi-step sales logic, or more complex background tasks will need Salesforce Starter or Pro.
5. No custom objects
You can use standard objects like Leads, Contacts, Accounts, and Opportunities, but you can’t create custom objects to model your own processes. This matters when teams want to track extra data or build a more flexible system.
6. Marketing limits
Email marketing is basic: 100 sends per month with simple templates. You won’t find segmentation, forms, analytics, or journey logic here. These come with Starter and Pro.
7. No commerce features
Free Suite doesn’t include payment links, product catalogs, or storefront support. These features begin in Starter and become more capable in Pro.
Source: Salesforce.com
8. Light reporting
You can build simple reports and dashboards, but nothing advanced. There are no joined reports, historical dashboards, or deep analytics.
9. No AppExchange access
You cannot install AppExchange apps in the Free Suite, nor can you expand the system with add-ons such as document tools, scheduling apps, advanced reporting packs, or industry templates. Teams that rely on AppExchange tools will need to move to a paid tier to access the wider Salesforce ecosystem.
10. No sandbox environment
The Free Suite does not include a Sandbox for safe testing or training. Any change you make goes directly into your live environment. This is workable for new teams with simple setups, but it becomes risky once you introduce multiple flows, integrations, or new fields.
Why Salesforce released a free CRM
Salesforce Free Suite is more than a new product. It’s a clear shift in how Salesforce approaches the small business market. For years, many early teams chose tools like HubSpot or Zoho because they had a free tier, while Salesforce started at paid plans. The Free Suite changes that and gives small teams a way to start with Salesforce for small business at no cost.
The goal is simple. Small teams often grow fast, and once they outgrow spreadsheets, they look for the best CRM for small business. By offering a free entry point, Salesforce makes it easier for young companies to start on the platform early. When these teams need automation, more users, or stronger analytics, they can move to Salesforce Starter Suite or Salesforce Pro Suite without rebuilding their system.
This also helps Salesforce bring new users into the broader Salesforce suite of products. A free tier removes the biggest barrier for many founders: budget. It lets them try a reliable CRM without risk, manage contacts and leads right away, and avoid switching tools later.
Setup and onboarding of Salesforce free CRM
Starting with Salesforce Free Suite is quick because everything is already prepared for small teams. There is no need for a Salesforce free trial, payment details, or any technical setup. You simply create your free Salesforce account, log in, and follow the guided steps.
When you enter the system for the first time, Salesforce walks you through a short setup flow. It helps you add basic details, import contacts if you have any, and understand where to find your key tools. The interface is simpler than the standard Salesforce setup, so even users with no CRM background can start working right away.
Email and calendar sync with Gmail can be connected in a few clicks. Slack access is already included, so both users can start sharing updates immediately. Reports, simple dashboards, and list views are preconfigured to help you understand your data without building anything from scratch.
How our team helps you get the most value from Salesforce
Salesforce Free Suite gives small teams a simple way to start working with a real CRM from day one. It removes the need for spreadsheets, lowers the entry cost to zero, and helps founders stay organized without extra tools. When the team grows, moving to Salesforce Starter or Salesforce Pro Suite is smooth, since all data and history stay in the same system.
Our company has worked with Salesforce for years and supports both small teams and large international clients. With more than 400 certifications, hands-on experience across all major clouds, and a strong record of helping early-stage companies, we know how to shape Salesforce setups that match real business needs. We help founders configure their Salesforce org, clean their data, connect external tools, set up reports, and prepare a simple plan for future upgrades.
If your team is already thinking about scaling, we also implement paid tiers, build automation, set up custom objects, and support long-term CRM growth. Many of our clients started small and grew into full Salesforce setups with our help.
FAQs
What is the best CRM for small business?
The best CRM for a small business depends on how the team works and how fast it expects to grow. Teams that want to start at no cost can work with Salesforce Free Suite, which covers the basics and does not require setup skills. Teams that want early automation and more users usually choose Salesforce Starter. Small teams that need more control, deeper reporting, or custom objects often use Salesforce Pro. All three let teams stay in the same system as they scale, which prevents the need to switch tools later.
What are the benefits of CRM for small business?
A CRM helps small businesses stay organized, follow sales work more clearly, and avoid losing track of leads or customer issues. It stores all customer details in one place, which makes it easier to respond faster, plan work, follow progress, and focus on the deals that matter most. It also helps with simple marketing tasks, email follow-ups, task reminders, and basic support. Small teams that move from spreadsheets to a CRM usually gain better visibility, fewer missed tasks, and more predictable sales work.
Is Salesforce free?
Yes. Salesforce Free Suite is a real Salesforce free version that any small team can use without paying. There is no contract, no credit card, and no trial period that expires. You can stay on the free tier as long as you keep logging in from time to time. It is made for very small teams that want an easy way to start using Salesforce without cost or setup work.
How much is Salesforce per month?
Salesforce offers several pricing levels. The Free Suite is $0 and includes two users. Salesforce Starter Suite begins at $25 per user per month and adds simple automation, better email tools, service features, and basic commerce. Salesforce Pro Suite starts at $100 per user per month and includes custom objects, full automation, stronger reporting, and more options for sales and service teams. The exact cost depends on how many users you add as your team grows.
What is included in the free Salesforce CRM?
The Free Suite includes the core tools small teams need to track sales and simple support work. You get Leads, Accounts, Contacts, and Opportunities so you can follow every stage of your sales work in one place. You also get basic case tracking for customer issues, simple email sends for small outreach, a two-person Slack workspace, and Gmail sync for emails and calendar events. These features cover the minimum needs for teams starting with Salesforce for small business and help them replace spreadsheets right away.
Is Salesforce free for nonprofits?
Salesforce has a separate program for nonprofits, which is different from the new Free Suite. Through The Power of Us program, eligible nonprofits can receive donated licenses for the Nonprofit Cloud, plus discounts on additional products. The exact offer can vary by region and by the kind of organization applying. Nonprofits looking for more advanced tools than the Free Suite usually start here. You can read more about this in our article on Salesforce for nonprofits.
Is Salesforce good for small businesses?
Yes. Salesforce works well for small businesses because teams can start at no cost with the Free Suite, then upgrade to Salesforce Starter or Salesforce Pro Suite once they hire more people or need more control. Starter gives small teams better automation, forms, email tools, and basic commerce. Pro adds deeper features for sales, service, and reporting. Many small teams use Salesforce as their main system as they grow because they can start simple and add more tools only when they need them.
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