Definition
Everything a CRM costs over a period: seats, required fees, add-ons, usage, integrations and the time to run it.
Total cost of ownership explained
First-year cost is the most useful comparison: twelve months of seats on the plan you'd actually need, plus onboarding and any must-have add-ons. Over several years, admin time and integration upkeep matter too.
A $9 CRM that needs a $1,500 onboarding fee and a higher tier for one feature can cost more than a $30 CRM that includes everything.
Where Total cost of ownership comes up
Also referenced in: Seat minimum · Paid add-on · Free plan · Requirements brief · Implementation partner