Informative

Is HubSpot worth it? Honest insights for small businesses

February 27, 2025

Written by:
Ridhima Chatterjee
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So, you’ve probably heard a lot about HubSpot. Apart from being the holy grail of marketing templates and the single-most reliable ‘educational’ resource when it comes to small business marketing (yes, we’re biased – sue us!) – HubSpot is that all-in-one CRM and marketing platform that’s supposed to do everything for you—from lead generation to email marketing to social media management. 

But with so many tools out there for small businesses, you might be wondering: Is HubSpot really worth it?

As a small business owner, time and budget are often in short supply. If you’re looking to level up your marketing game, you’re probably eyeing HubSpot’s shiny marketing automation tools. We’ll break it down for you – starting with what HubSpot really is and if your business really needs it.

What is HubSpot and why should I pay for a subscription when I have Excel?

Think of HubSpot marketing as the Swiss Army knife of digital marketing. It’s a platform that combines multiple aspects of customer relationship management (CRM), content management, lead nurturing, sales tracking, operational management and customer support, all under one roof. 

Let’s say you’re running a B2B marketing campaign, targeting small businesses in your niche. You're already working hard on your LinkedIn outreach, and now you need a CRM to track every customer touchpoint. Boom, HubSpot saves the day, documenting each part of your customer journey. Maybe you’re getting help from an email marketing agency in the UK, but you’re not really sure what they’re doing or what numbers you should be looking at. Boom again! Instead of using software you’ve never seen before, you ask them to use UI-friendly HubSpot so you have full control over the content, the analytics and the outcomes! 

These are just two examples of how HubSpot offers convenience and control: multiply that with every marketing function that exists—automating social media scheduling, operations tracking, developing a content hub—HubSpot does it all. 

Why HubSpot is awesome for small businesses

  1. The all-in-one marketing hub 
    Small businesses often struggle with managing multiple tools—let’s face it, juggling accounts with an email marketing agency, a paid social agency, or a B2B advertising partner can get complicated. HubSpot solves this by consolidating your marketing efforts into one easy-to-use platform.
  1. Lead nurturing made simple 
    Let’s say you’re a service-based small business working with a digital marketing agency for small businesses to create a B2B lead gen campaign. You need a system to capture leads, nurture them with automated emails, and eventually convert them into paying customers. HubSpot does this brilliantly with its CRM integration, email workflows, and sales pipeline tools. You’ll never let a lead fall through the cracks again.
  1. Ease of use 
    If you’ve ever tried a complex CRM system or struggled with setting up campaigns, HubSpot might feel like a breath of fresh air. It’s intuitive and doesn’t require you to have a tech background (so no need to hire a B2B marketing agency in London just to get started.) Even if you’re not a tech expert, HubSpot’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to create campaigns that look professional.
  1. Scalability for growth 
    For small businesses, one of the most appealing aspects of HubSpot is how it scales with you. Start small with the free CRM, and as you grow, you can add on more advanced features, like email marketing, automation, and reporting. This is especially helpful if you’re thinking long-term and want a solution that adapts as your business evolves. Need help with implementation? That’s where a business marketing agency that specializes in HubSpot marketing comes in.
  1. HubSpot is really good at inbound marketing 
    HubSpot pioneered inbound marketing, and it remains one of the best tools for attracting leads through valuable content—blog posts, eBooks, webinars, etc. If you want to do B2B content marketing the right way, HubSpot’s content tools, SEO optimization, and automated lead nurturing give you everything you need to succeed.

But is HubSpot really the best? Let’s talk HubSpot alternatives

Okay, we know HubSpot sounds pretty great, but what if it’s not quite right for you? It’s always a good idea to look at the alternatives and make an informed decision. Here are a few to consider:

  • ActiveCampaign: Great for email marketing and automation, but it doesn’t have the same robust CRM or full suite of marketing tools that HubSpot offers. It’s a solid option if your main focus is email and you don’t need a full marketing platform.
  • Mailchimp: Once known for email campaigns, Mailchimp has expanded into the CRM and automation space. It’s a budget-friendly choice, but the lack of advanced CRM features might limit its scalability for growing businesses.
  • Zoho CRM: A decent alternative for businesses looking for a cost-effective CRM. While it has many features, it’s not as user-friendly or streamlined as HubSpot, which could be a deal-breaker for a small team.

All these alternatives have their merits, but here's the thing: HubSpot stands out for small businesses looking for a scalable marketing solution. It's designed to grow with your business and offers a huge range of features that your team will truly appreciate. It’s the go-to choice when you need a robust system that’s also beginner-friendly.

Why wonderwork is your perfect HubSpot partner

At wonderwork, we’re not just raving fans of HubSpot—we’re Diamond Partners, which means we have direct access to HubSpot’s top-tier resources and support. Our team is trained and certified in everything from CRM implementation to HubSpot marketing, so we know the ins and outs of the platform like the back of our hand.

As a B2B content marketing agency (we do a lot more, just saying), we specialize in HubSpot implementation and can help you get the most out of the platform. From optimizing your B2B marketing strategies to automating your lead nurturing processes, wonderworkers make sure HubSpot works for you—and doesn’t just sit there collecting dust.

Is HubSpot Worth It for Small Businesses?

So, is HubSpot worth it? Absolutely. If you’re looking for a marketing platform that can grow with your business, save you time, and offer all-in-one solutions, it’s a great choice. The integrations, automation, and lead nurturing capabilities make it stand out in a crowded market. For small businesses? That’s a huge win.

If you’re considering HubSpot but don’t know where to start, or you want a partner who can help you get the most out of the platform, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Not to brag, but we’re a business marketing agency that doesn’t just know HubSpot inside and out—we work with their teams to help all sizes of clients—small, medium and enterprise—make the most of the platform. 

We’ve been waiting to get to this: our show-don’t-tell moment! Request a case study on how we implemented HubSpot for a client with a £100,000 ad budget, streamlining their ad content and automating their email sequences. 

Ready to dive into HubSpot? Let’s chat and take your marketing to the next level.