Why Choose Google Sheets as a CRM?
Google Sheets is simple, accessible, and flexible — making it an excellent foundation for a custom CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. When combined with Google Apps Script, it becomes a powerful solution for managing leads, contacts, follow-ups, and reports — completely tailored to your business.
Key Benefits of Using Google Sheets + Apps Script as Your CRM
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Cost-Effective — No subscription fees or software licenses.
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Fully Customizable — Design your CRM structure and automation logic to fit your workflow.
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Automated — From reminders to dashboards, automate repetitive tasks.
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Integrated with Google Workspace — Works seamlessly with Gmail, Calendar, Forms, and more.
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Team Collaboration — Easily share with team members and manage permissions.
What Is Google Apps Script?
Google Apps Script is a cloud-based scripting language for light-weight application development in the Google Workspace platform. It lets you add custom functionality to Google Sheets, like:
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Sending automated emails
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Creating dynamic reports
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Auto-updating fields
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Connecting with other Google services
What Can You Automate with Apps Script?
Here’s what a CRM powered by Google Sheets + Apps Script can do:
1. Automated Follow-Up Reminders
Never miss a lead again. Apps Script can be used to automatically send an email reminder when a follow-up date is due. This is perfect for keeping leads warm without manual tracking.
2. Auto-Updating “Last Contacted” Field
Whenever a note or status is updated in the sheet, the system can automatically record the “last contacted” date. This saves time and ensures accurate tracking.
3. Smart Dashboards and Reports
Want to see a breakdown of your leads by status or source? You can set up a dashboard that updates itself — giving you insights at a glance. No need to sort or calculate manually.
4. Lead Entry via Google Forms
Connect a Google Form to your CRM to capture new leads. Apps Script can automatically:
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Add the lead to your CRM
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Assign a default status
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Set a follow-up date
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Send a confirmation email
Great for embedding on websites or sharing at events.
5. Scheduled Weekly/Monthly Reports
You can automate email reports that give you a summary of:
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Total leads added
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Follow-ups due
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Deals closed
Get it delivered straight to your inbox — without opening the sheet.
Who Should Use This System?
This setup works perfectly for:
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✅ Freelancers & Consultants — Manage client pipelines with full control
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✅ Real Estate Professionals — Track property leads and follow-ups
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✅ Sales & Marketing Teams — Monitor outreach, engagement, and conversions
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✅ Small Businesses — Build scalable CRM systems without high costs
How It Works (In Simple Terms)
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Design Your Sheet – Add columns for Client Name, Email, Status, Follow-Up Date, etc.
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Write Automation Logic – Use Apps Script to define what actions should happen and when.
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Set Triggers – Choose when your scripts should run (e.g., on form submit, every morning, on edit).
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Test & Go Live – Fine-tune your sheet and let the automation take care of repetitive tasks.
Final Thoughts
Google Sheets is more than a spreadsheet — when enhanced with Apps Script, it becomes a lightweight, intelligent CRM that:
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Saves time
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Improves consistency
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Reduces manual work
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Gives you complete control over your process
For growing teams, solo professionals, or anyone who wants an efficient CRM without breaking the bank — this is a powerful and scalable solution.
