Short answer: To set up Bigin, sign up and pick the pipeline template closest to your business, then rename the stages to match how you actually sell. Import your contacts and companies from a cleaned spreadsheet, connect your email, and invite your team. Then add a few simple automations, like follow-up reminders, and install the mobile app. A small team can be up and running in a day.
Bigin is Zoho's CRM for small businesses that need something simpler than full Zoho CRM. It's built around pipelines, so setup is quick.
But quick isn't the same as right. Here's the order we follow so Bigin actually gets used.
Step 1: Pick a Plan and a Starting Template
Bigin offers a free plan for a single user and paid plans that add users, more pipelines, and more automation. Higher plans add features like telephony and Bigin's AI tools. Check Bigin's pricing page for current plans and limits.
When you sign up, Bigin asks about your industry and suggests a pipeline template. Pick the closest one. You'll customize it next, so it doesn't need to be perfect.
Before you start: Write down your sales stages on paper, from first contact to closed deal. Keep it to five to seven stages. Too many stages slow people down.
Step 2: Build Your Pipeline and Fields
- Rename the stages to match your paper list.
- Add a second pipeline only if you truly have a separate process, like new sales versus renewals, or residential versus commercial work.
- Add the few custom fields you need, like lead source, service type, or estimated close date. Resist adding fields "just in case." Every extra field is one more thing people skip.
- Set stage probabilities if you want simple forecasting.
Import your data: Clean your spreadsheet first: remove duplicates, fix company names, and split first and last names. Then import companies, contacts, and open deals. Spot-check a few records after the import.
Step 3: Connect Email, Add Automation, and Invite Your Team
Connect your email: Connect your Gmail or Outlook account so emails with contacts show up on their records. This is the feature that makes the CRM useful day to day.
Add simple automations: Start with two or three:
- A follow-up task when a deal hasn't moved in a set number of days.
- A welcome email or task when a new contact is added from your web form.
- A notification when a deal is won.
Capture leads automatically: Create a Bigin web form for your website so new inquiries land in your pipeline without retyping.
Invite your team and install the app: Invite users, give each one their own login, and have everyone install the Bigin mobile app. Show them how to log a call and move a deal, and that's usually all the training a small team needs.
Step 4: Keep It Clean, and Know When to Upgrade
- Review the pipeline weekly as a team. Close out deals that are dead.
- Add integrations as needed. Bigin connects with other Zoho apps and outside tools through its marketplace, called Toppings.
- Watch for the signs you've outgrown Bigin: you need custom modules, approval processes, enforced steps, or deep reporting.
When that happens, Zoho CRM is the natural next step, and Zoho supports moving from Bigin to Zoho CRM. We compare the two in Bigin vs. Zoho CRM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bigin free? There's a free plan for a single user. Paid plans add users and features.
Does Bigin have a mobile app? Yes, for iOS and Android.
Can Bigin send email campaigns? Bigin handles one-to-one email and some bulk email depending on plan. For full email marketing, connect a tool like Zoho Campaigns.
How long does setup take? A small team with a clean contact list can be running in a day.
Bottom Line
Bigin is easy to set up, which is exactly why it's worth setting up carefully. Keep the pipeline short, import clean data, connect email, and add only the automations people will notice.
TechnoMap helps small businesses set up Bigin and Zoho CRM so the team actually uses them, and helps you move up when you outgrow Bigin. Want help getting started? Book a 15-minute intro call.
