CRM in Markdown

A simple, local-first CRM system built entirely with Markdown files.

No subscriptions. No lock-in. Just plain text you control.

Who This Is For

This system is designed for:

• Freelancers
• Consultants
• Writers and creators
• Small business owners
• Anyone who prefers simple, private, text-based tools

If you like tools like Obsidian, Logseq, or plain text files—you’ll feel at home here.

Why Use Markdown for a CRM?

Most CRMs are:

• Overbuilt
• Expensive
• Hard to customize
• Locked behind SaaS platforms

Markdown gives you:

• Full ownership — your data is just files
• Portability — works with any editor
• Simplicity — no UI complexity
• Longevity — plain text never breaks

This is a CRM you can still open 10+ years from now.

What This Is (and Isn’t)

This is:

• A lightweight CRM system
• A structured set of templates and workflows
• A starting point you can customize

This is not:

• A full SaaS CRM replacement
• A dashboard-heavy analytics tool
• A “set it and forget it” system

You actively maintain it—like a notebook for your business relationships.

Features

• Customer Profiles — One Markdown file per contact
• Interaction Logs — Track calls, emails, meetings
• Task Tracking — Follow-ups and reminders
• Simple Organization — Folder-based structure
• Customizable Templates — Adapt to your workflow

Folder Structure

crm-markdown/
│
├── contacts/
├── companies/
├── interactions/
├── tasks/
├── templates/
└── archive/

---

Example Contact

# Jane Doe

- **Company:** Acme Inc
- **Email:** jane@acme.com
- **Phone:** +1 555-555-5555
- **Status:** Lead
- **Tags:** design, warm
- **Last Contact:** 2026-04-10
- **Next Follow-Up:** 2026-04-18

## Notes

Interested in redesigning landing pages.

## Interactions

- [[2026-04-10 - Intro Call - Jane Doe]]

## Tasks

- [ ] Follow up on proposal

Example Interaction

# Intro Call with Jane Doe

- **Date:** 2026-04-10
- **Type:** Call
- **Contact:** [[Jane Doe]]
- **Company:** [[Acme Inc]]

## Summary

Discussed website redesign needs.

## Next Step

Send proposal by Friday.

Getting Started

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/CLSherrod/crm-markdown.git

2. Open in Your Preferred Tool

Works great with:

• Obsidian
• Logseq
• VS Code
• Any text editor

3. Create Your First Contact

Duplicate the template and start adding real data.

4. Log Interactions

Create a new note for each call, email, or meeting.

5. Track Follow-Ups

Use tasks or dates to stay on top of relationships.

Suggested Workflow

1. Add a new contact
2. Log every interaction
3. Set a next follow-up date
4. Review tasks daily
5. Archive inactive contacts periodically

Consistency matters more than complexity.

Customization

This system is intentionally simple.

You can:

• Add new fields
• Change naming conventions
• Integrate with your note-taking system
• Add automation using tools like scripts or plugins

Make it yours.

Roadmap

Planned improvements:

• More templates (company, deals, pipelines)
• Example dataset
• Optional Obsidian enhancements (Dataview, Tasks)
• CRM dashboard note

Contributing

Suggestions, improvements, and templates are welcome.

Open an issue or submit a pull request.

License

This project is licensed under the GPL-2.0 License.

Final Thought

A CRM doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective.

If you consistently track relationships, follow up, and stay organized—you’ll outperform most people using expensive tools.

This is a system for people who value simplicity and control.