If your organization spends $25,000 or more per month on Salesforce, you might be wondering: Is there a better way? The truth is, many businesses and non-profits struggle with high costs, slow processes, and limited flexibility, making everyday work harder and more expensive than it should be.
That’s exactly what happened to an EdTech non-profit that helps schools connect students with critical support services (mental health counseling, academic tutoring, food assistance, and social services). They relied on Salesforce to manage these connections, but it was too expensive, too slow, and not built for their needs.
Instead of continuing to pay $20,000 per month for Salesforce, they made a smart investment—spending $300,000 to build their own custom platform. The result? Huge cost savings, faster operations, and a system that truly worked for them.
Let’s take a closer look at how they cut costs, improved efficiency, and set themselves up for long-term success—and why your organization might want to do the same.
The Problem: High Costs and Slow Operations with Salesforce
The non-profit used Salesforce to help schools and service providers coordinate student support. But over time, it became clear that Salesforce was not the right fit for their needs.
Here’s why:
- Too Expensive – They were paying $20,000 every month just to keep Salesforce running.
- Slow Onboarding – Adding a new school district to the system took months, delaying important support for students.
- Data Issues – Different schools stored student data in different ways, making it hard to get a clear, accurate picture.
- Too Much Manual Work – Staff spent too much time handling data and requests manually because the system wasn’t built for their workflow.
- Rigid System & Poor UX – The organization had to adjust some of its business processes to fit Salesforce’s logic, sacrificing user experience and slowing down routine operations.
- Training Challenges – Due to Salesforce’s complexity, teams and external users required extensive training.
They needed something better—a system built for their specific needs that would save them time and money.
The Solution: A Custom Platform Built for Their Needs
Instead of sticking with Salesforce, the non-profit decided to build their own system. The new custom platform solved the problems they faced and saved them money in the long run.
How the New Platform Improved Operations
- 90% Faster Onboarding – Schools that used to take months to set up were now ready in 1–2 days.
80% Less Admin Work – Automation cut down on manual tasks, freeing up staff for more important work. - Better Data Integration – The platform automatically standardized student data from different schools, making reporting easier and more accurate.
- Designed for Their Needs – Unlike Salesforce, which required workarounds, the new system was built specifically for their processes.
- Huge Cost Savings – No more high monthly fees—just one upfront investment and lower ongoing costs.
The Investment: Was It Worth It?
At first, spending $300,000 to build a custom platform might seem like a big cost. But when you compare it to Salesforce’s ongoing costs, it was an easy decision.
Let’s break it down:
- Salesforce Cost: $20,000 per month = $240,000 per year
- 5 Years on Salesforce = $1.2 million
- Custom Platform Cost: $300,000 (one-time investment)
- Ongoing maintenance = A fraction of Salesforce’s cost
In just 15 months, the new system paid for itself, and every year after that meant over $200,000 in savings.
Long-term savings? Over $1 million.
Is It Time for Your Organization to Move On from Salesforce?
If you’re spending $25,000 or more per month on Salesforce and struggling with slow, inefficient processes, it might be time to consider a custom solution.
A custom platform can help you:
✔ Save Money – No more expensive license fees.
✔ Work Faster – Automate tasks and speed up operations.
✔ Take Full Control – Own your system and customize it to your needs.
Want to Explore Your Options? Let’s Talk.
Switching from Salesforce might seem like a big step, but with the right team, it’s easier than you think.
- During your free consultation, we will:
- Analyze your current Salesforce setup – Identify unnecessary costs and inefficiencies.
- Estimate potential savings – See how much you can save by switching to a custom platform.
- Outline a migration strategy – Plan a smooth transition without disrupting your operations.
- Showcase successful case studies – Learn how others have saved $200K+ per year.
- Answer all your questions – Get expert advice on timelines, costs, and next steps.
Don’t stay stuck with high costs and slow processes—let’s explore a better, more affordable solution together.
Book Your Free Consultation Now!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Salesforce can be expensive, slow, and not always the best fit for your unique needs. Many organizations struggle with high licensing fees, slow onboarding, manual work, and limited customization. A custom platform can help you save money, automate tasks, and gain full control over your system.
Yes! While the initial investment may seem high, it quickly pays for itself. For example, the EdTech non-profit in our case study spent $300,000 upfront but saved over $1M in five years. The break-even point was just 15 months.
If you’re spending $20,000–$25,000 per month on Salesforce, you could be saving over $200,000 per year with a custom platform. A one-time investment eliminates ongoing licensing fees and reduces operational costs.
The timeline depends on your specific needs. However, most organizations complete the transition within a few months. Unlike Salesforce, where onboarding new users can take months, a custom solution is built for speed and efficiency from day one.
No. With a structured migration strategy, we ensure a smooth transition. You’ll still have access to critical data, and we minimize downtime by implementing step-by-step deployment.
Lower costs – No expensive monthly fees
Faster operations – Automate workflows & reduce admin work
Better data management – Standardized, integrated data across all users
Full control – Own and customize your system without limitations
Yes! Custom platforms are built with modern security measures tailored to your organization’s needs. Unlike generic solutions like Salesforce, you have full control over security protocols, user access, and compliance requirements.
A custom platform is scalable and adaptable. You won’t be limited by pre-set features like in Salesforce—you can add, modify, or optimize functionalities as your business evolves.
Simple! Book a free consultation, and we will:
Step 1. Analyze your current Salesforce setup
Step 2. Identify cost savings & efficiency improvements
Step 3. Create a step-by-step migration strategy
Step 4. Answer all your questions about the transition
Book Your Free Consultation Now!
