If you’re a business owner you already know your “CRM” isn’t just software. It’s the backbone of your business – for leads, proposals, contracts, invoices, payments, and client communication. When it’s clunky, expensive, or stressful, your whole business feels (and is) harder than it needs to be.
And across many industries, pros are hitting their breaking points.
- 60% of small business owners regret a purchase they made in the past 12–18 months
- Buyers are also increasingly sensitive to pricing transparency and the true cost of ownership (not just the sticker price)
What does this actually mean? People aren’t just “switching for fun.” They’re switching because the gaps and pain points they are experiencing are real and they are costing real money, real time, and real peace.
Why Pros are leaving big CRM’s
When we look at what pros are consistently pointing to, the pattern is pretty clear: most CRM switching is driven by a mix of cost, functionality gaps or complications, and payment risks.
Here are the biggest “deal-breakers” showing up:
1. Pricing creep and unclear costs
Everyone just wants straightforward pricing, and frustration sets in when it feels like you need a sales call just to understand what you’re paying (and why).
2. Integration headaches and overly complicated workflows
We hear it at Rock Paper Coin almost weekly from new members; systems have gotten too complicated and pros are only using about 12% of a platform they pay 100% for. Even more stats to consider:
70% said they struggle to setup their CRM
32% said they needed to hire a pro to do it for them
What you actually want is:
✔️ Simple workflows that make sense and you don’t need to hire out setup
✔️ Contracts + invoices that don’t feel scary
✔️ A platform that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you
✔️ Support from real humans who know you
Wild concept. We know.
3. Payment risk and chargebacks
This one matters a lot because for event pros, this shows up as: The client booked and paid, the event happened as it was supposed to… and then the client filed a dispute for a refund. If you’ve accepted credit card payments for a while, chances are you’ve heard about chargebacks, (AKA payment disputes).
Now you are out the cash but you aren’t getting an answer from your CRM about how to fight the dispute or get help protecting your income. Thankfully, customer support is at the heart of RPC, and while we can’t prevent disputes from happening or guarantee what the resolution may be, we work hard to communicate every step of the process and advocate for you and your business.
Side note: Join us for next months RPC MoneyTalks session where we dive into this very topic with creative and small business attorney Kunbi Odubogun from Legally Set 👉 sign up here or watch the replay on our YouTube channel.
Why Rock Paper Coin Is Exactly What You Need in 2026
Rock Paper Coin is built specifically to simplify the booking process for small business owners of all sizes. As the easy and affordable alternative to those complicated and pricey booking platforms out there, our platform is actually built with event business owners in mind, no matter how big or small you are. We bring everything together; proposals, contracts, invoicing, and payments, into one smooth flow. This means your client bookings and payments get handled efficiently without breaking the bank.
And affordable doesn’t mean basic. It means:
- You keep more of your money
- You understand what you’re paying for
- You’re not punished for growing
And switching shouldn’t feel terrifying. That’s why we:
- Migrate your current contracts, invoices and documents
- Set you up properly and quickly
- Walk you through our platform
- Stay when you have questions
The Bottom Line
If your current system feels like:
- You’re paying more and getting less
- You’re duct-taping workflows together
- Support is slow when you need it most
- You’re carrying more financial risk than you should…
Then this is your moment to upgrade. 2026 is about clarity, confidence, and control.
Your systems should give you that – not anxiety, confusion, or regret. Schedule a time to meet with our team here to see if we can make you love your CRM again!
Source: Capterra
