Spreadsheet, CRM or deal workspace: what a solo broker actually needs
Most independent brokers start with a spreadsheet, try a CRM, and drift back. Here is what each option is good at, and where each one breaks.
The short version
| Option | Good at | Where it breaks |
|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet | Free, flexible, fast to start | Always behind the conversation; no link to the messages or the people |
| CRM | Structure, reminders, reporting, email sync | Messaging apps sit outside it; updating it becomes a separate job |
| Merger | Deals, contacts and documents built from the conversations themselves | Early access on Windows; network availability varies by service |
Spreadsheets
A spreadsheet is the right first tool. It costs nothing and takes any shape. It breaks when the deal count grows, because every row has to be typed in from somewhere else, and that somewhere is usually a chat.
CRMs
A CRM adds structure, reminders and reporting. For a broker whose counterparties live on email, it works well. For one whose deals happen on WhatsApp and LinkedIn, the CRM becomes something to update after the real work, and it falls behind.
A deal workspace
Merger starts from the conversations: connected messaging in one list, a Deal Desk where suggested deals are reviewed before they are filed, a Rolodex built from introductions, and your own DocuSign account beside your contacts. If you already keep a CRM for reporting, Merger can sit next to it as the place the day-to-day work happens.