How to Set Up HubSpot CRM
Step-by-step guide to setting up HubSpot CRM. Create your account, import contacts, customize properties, and configure your pipeline.
Step-by-step
How to Set Up HubSpot CRM
Create your HubSpot account
Sign up at hubspot.com — the CRM is free with no credit card required. Choose your industry and company size during setup to get relevant default settings.
Import your existing contacts
Go to Contacts → Import and upload a CSV file. Map columns to HubSpot properties (name, email, company, etc.). HubSpot deduplicates automatically based on email address.
Customize contact properties
Go to Settings → Properties to add custom fields your business needs. Common additions: lead source, product interest, subscription tier, customer segment.
Set up your deal pipeline
Go to Settings → Deals → Pipelines. Customize stages to match your sales process (e.g., Discovery → Demo → Proposal → Negotiation → Closed Won/Lost).
Tips
Pro tips
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Start with the free CRM and add paid Hubs only when you need specific features
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Connect your email (Gmail or Outlook) immediately — HubSpot auto-logs all email activity
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Use 'lifecycle stages' (Subscriber → Lead → MQL → SQL → Customer) to track contact progression
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