A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HUBSPOT

Allow me to romanticize to start: I was introduced to Hubspot 8+ years ago at a tiny startup. It’s where I learned and FELL IN LOVE with marketing automation and customer relationship management. It turned me from a career marketing generalist to a girl who found her niche and eventually built my own dream job and business here at REPLY-ALL. I will still say there is no better system for orgs to bring marketing and sales teams together in one tool, working on complex customer journeys. And I constantly refer junior marketers to HubSpot Academy for the best courses and certifications for newbies.

If you are a fast-growing organization with, let’s say, 5+ staff on both marketing and sales sides of the organization, you can stop reading here because HubSpot might actually be for you.

HOWMEVER: From someone who spends all her days studying and comparing small business software…

For them to claim they are made for small businesses is a lie.

It’s a lie they get away with because by definition, “small business” can mean anywhere from 0-100 (Canadian definition) or 0-500 (US definition).

Their $0-20/month subscriptions are almost useless.

You can’t automate anything and are gatekept out of / teased by all the features you could have access to, marketing with a tiny 🔒 icon as a constant reminder of what you’re missing.

These just a way to get you into their funnel until you quickly outgrow those plans and then realize the next level? Oh that’ll be a jump to $800+/month per user.

So let me be clear: In my opinion and years of experience, small businesses with less than 10 employees shouldn’t be on HubSpot. Or if you have more than 10 employees but only 1-2 marketing and 1-2 sales people.

To me, my small business clients are actually small, with fewer than 10 employees. Their other softwares cost them on average $50-100/month. They cannot and will not pay the $800 USD/month to upgrade Hubspot, so they come to me to switch to an alternative.

Small Steps Create Big Shifts

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Turn Intention Into Action

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Make Room for Growth

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.