Best CRM Software For Small Businesses in 2022

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Your customer relationship management (CRM) system is the heart of your sales effort. It’s the means by which you and your company captures new potential leads, and moves them through the sales pipeline through presentation, closing, execution, invoicing, and the all-important follow-up. 

CRM also captures your customer correspondence and interactions with you, and helps give your customer service and sales support people the background information they need on every client and account to serve them better, retain the customer, and get referrals. 

The most important things any small business looks for in a CRM platform are: 

  • secure data storage
  • intuitive design 
  • lead management
  • customer management
  • report generation
  • call scheduling
  • seamless support for mobile devices 

Given that about 22% of business owners see new technology as the biggest hurdle for the company, picking the right CRM can be daunting. But remember that a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by 25% or more. In other words, great CRM software is an investment worth making. 

CRM platforms are all about helping your sales reps create a working pipeline so they can genuinely engage with prospects.

Now, the best CRM in the world won’t close a sale for you if your prospect just can’t afford to pay for your services. So most contractors choose to combine a CRM program with a good third-party finance company that can help close the affordability gap so you can turn appointments into sales.

That’s where we can help. But for now, here are some of the best and most popular CRM platforms for the small business owner. 

Zoho CRM

Price: $9-$65 per user per month

Free Trial: Yes

Besides being one of the more affordable CRM options on the market, Zoho CRM’s biggest strength is its capacity for integration with other platforms. Zoho CRM does a terrific job of putting all your digital tools such as Google Workspace (G Suite), Slack, and QuickBooks in a single, convenient place.

With all this integration, Zoho CRM is more than just a CRM platform. It also functions as a team management solution. 

Zoho CRM comes in six different packages, to suit different sized businesses’ needs and budgets:

Free CRM

Zoho’s Free CRM comes with the essential tools you'd expect from a CRM platform.  The Free plan supports up to three users, and it has features for contact, account, and lead management.

The free plan is limited to just three users. But it still comes packed with useful features: 

  • customer data reports, 
  • workflow rules, 
  • web forms, 
  • inbound traffic capture
  • email marketing templates 
  • group calendars
  • direct instant messaging

 

Overall, there's nothing flashy to Zoho’s free offering. But you're a small group of enthusiastic entrepreneurs, the free version of CRM is an excellent place to start.

Bigin

Bigin is Zoho’s entry-level paid option, with a monthly price tag of just $9 per user. The Bigin CRM is aimed at tech-savvy small businesses that enjoy trying out new technology and getting the most out of each feature.

Bigin is practical. It’s slick, but it doesn't go overboard with infinite numbers of tools; 

It’s simple to get started. Many users report that Bigin feels more intuitive than other CRMs on the market. Additionally, the mobile app version is easy to use, as well. So your sales force can use it on the go. 

Standard

Zoho’s Standard version of its CRM offering costs a bit more - currently $20 per user per month.

The Standard version comes with much broader functionality, though. For example, the Standard version supports sales forecasting, mass email marketing blasts and administration, and social media marketing lead generation. 

It's still an entry-level CRM/small business type of solution, but it's a step up from the free and Bigin versions. 

Professional

Besides moving the price to $35 per user/month, there's no significant difference between the two. You get slightly better security, larger quantities of reports, webhooks, emails, and inventory management options. Furthermore, you can gamify your sales and user experience.

The professional package helps users level up from the basic versions: The Professional version of Zoho’s CRM solution will support you as you evolve past the small business level and become a medium-sized business. But small businesses can still benefit from the additional functionality at this level.

Zendesk Sell

Price: Starts at Starts at $19 per user per month

Free Trial: Yes

Zendesk Sell is another solid small business CRM solution that's surprisingly easy to master. The main user interface has all the CRM tools you'll need in a single window, so there's no need to click around aimlessly.

All features like contact management and pipeline management are in a single place, so you can effortlessly jump from one to the other.

The central goal of Zendesk Sell is to boost sales by making the sales process easier for your team. If your small business has many deals going on simultaneously, you can easily track them in the deal panel. The panel sorts the deals in your pipeline as incoming, contacted, proposal, and won, and helps provide management and sales team members with a birds-eye view of each deal’s current status..

Zendesk Sell’s easy and elegant user interface allows you to interact with each deal without having a dozen open tabs, while still allowing you to easily backtrack to the original page.

If Zendesk Sell’s basic contact management feature - the most important part of any CRM platform - is outstanding. It's incredibly easy to schedule phone calls with customers and other business owners while still keeping everything organized. Most of the manual work, like call records and customer data storage, is automated. Zendesk’s Sell CRM eliminates a lot of the friction from manual or legacy CRM solutions,  freeing up your valuable time to focus on more productive tasks. Like coaching and mentoring salespeople, managers, and keeping customers happy. 

Like the Zoho solution, Zendesk comes in several versions at different price points: Sell Team is $19/month, Sell Professional is $49 per month, and Sell Enterprise is $99 per user per month. 

Hubspot CRM Software

Price: Starts at $50.00 per month

Free Trial: Yes

HubSpot CRM is one of the most widely-recognized and popular relationship management (CRM) software platforms on the market. The HubSpot CRM marketing and sales pipeline helps small business owners to track prospects, generate leads, manage email-based campaigns, and more.

Businesses of all sizes use this cloud-based solution to boost their sales and maintain favorable customer relationships. Tools like live chat, marketing, sales, and service are all available.

The basic package is free, and includes an innovative reporting dashboard, company insights, and individual performance data to help you coach your sales and customer service team.  

HubSpot’s platform also offers a lot of ‘behind-the-scenes’ features and supports for small businesses. For example, the engine that drives HubSpot provides background and artificial intelligence features that you won't see, but you'll know they are there within the first hours of using the CRM.

HubSpot’s CRM system provides a visual dashboard and real-time view of all elements in the sales process, allowing for automated tracking of every customer interaction. The system organizes exchanges into a timeline that includes all email, social media, live chat, and phone conversations. So future customer service people servicing that account can come quickly up to speed on that customer’s issues.

Just keep in mind that the free version has its limits, and opting for the Starter plan ($50 per month) is likely the logical next step.

Less Annoying CRM

Price: $15 per user per month

Free Trial: Yes

Less Annoying CRM is a CRM solution for small businesses. The name fits the CRM quite well; This no-frills, stripped down software package excludes the fluff and "flashy" features that often confuse people. The program’s focus is exactly where it should be: On the ‘meat and potatoes’ elements of tracking customer interactions and managing your sales pipeline and customer retention efforts. 

Less Annoying CRM’s raison d’etre is to be as simple as possible. Many CRM solutions pack the user interface with countless options that speed up the sales process and enhance business via marketing automation. This CRM system does the opposite, which is both good and bad, depending on what you need.

On the good side, Less Annoying is likely the perfect small business CRM if you're just  starting to develop your customer relationship management. There's one single pricing plan, and it's effortless to start. 

Once you’re in, you have everything you'd expect from a CRM. You can organize your sales teams, contact management, project management, and you have a simple integrated calendar to help you track and schedule your work flow. 

Less Annoying doesn't advertise bleeding-edge technology. Instead, the punchline is its simple, elegant nature. Unlike other CRMs for small businesses, it offers all the basics you need, with none of the extra fluff. 

And those basics that it provides; it does pretty well. 

But once you try it, it will surprise you how intuitive the entire CRM is. Additionally, the customer support team is very responsive: If you get stuck, Less Annoying’s customer support reps will likely help you find a solution

Of course, there are disadvantages to this level of simplicity. While very small businesses won't hit a wall with this CRM system, companies with bigger operations and multiple teams might run into trouble.  It all comes down to what you're looking for. If you're a small business, this CRM software will provide everything you need. If you're running a more prominent company, or  fast-growing one, you might be better off with some more sophisticated features. 

Freshworks CRM

Price: $29-$99 per user per month

Free Trial: Yes

Similar to Less Annoying, Freshworks CRM does a great job of avoiding the complex technology trap. But Freshworks CRM takes an additional step by providing optional, more robust features. You can decide if you want to stay with the basic CRM or upgrade to a more advanced CRM system;. 

The first time you log in, you have plenty of tutorials to help you learn the ropes. Additionally, there's a friendly AI assistant to help out if you get stuck. More importantly, there's a free plan you can pick.

The drag and drop option lets you quickly create a sales pipeline. And unlike other mobile apps which provide only limited mobile support, Freshworks lets you do a hefty amount of the work straight from your phone. 

On the downside, Freshworks CRM isn't too flexible for small businesses looking to test CRM software. Yes, there's a free plan, but you won't get the best features. For example, the free plan doesn't offer data reports. Since every business needs data for decision-making, most readers are likely to either jump to the paid plan or move on to another CRM.

Agile CRM

Price: $14.99 per user per month

Free Trial: Yes

Agile CRM’s free version is one of the most robust free platforms on the market, supporting up to 10 users on your sales team. The free Agile CRM version also comes with an impressive array of tools. You can do email marketing, create a custom sales pipeline, and, of course, do your usual project management.

Furthermore, you can access everything via an intuitive mobile app.

The fact you get all these features puts it on the list of the best free CRM software programs available today. If you go with the paid version, you'll also get a remarkable landing page builder tool, marketing automation for social media, and more.

Besides focusing on sales, email marketing, and lead management, Agile also features gamification technology that fosters healthy competition inside your sales teams while encouraging collaboration.

You can also use the platform to track and store phone calls, both outbound and inbound.

Finally, you can automatize call forwarding, follow-ups, and voicemails.

Agile’s CRM alerts you whenever someone mentions your brand. It also helps with monitoring overall customer satisfaction. If you need a CRM that has a robust free version while also integrating contact management, social media, and project management, Agile is among the best CRM software solutions out there. 

 

Insightly CRM

Price: $29-$39 per user per month

Free Trial: Yes

Insightly CRM offers everything small businesses need, from retailers to online businesses. If you're a one-man band, one-woman show or a two-man team, you can get Insightly for free with most of the necessary features.

The Insightly solution allows you to combine your sales and project delivery functions inside a single platform. That means your sales reps don't have to jump from one platform to another while working on a lead.

The design is intuitive and dynamic, so users that are new to CRM won't feel like they are in a boxing ring. It's easy to navigate and to backtrack as needed. 

The downside is that support for tracking and storing phone calls is limited. 

This is a great CRM software for businesses that are just starting out and are still figuring out their workflow automation. But, if you're a purely sales-oriented business, other small business CRM software may be a better fit. 

Deciding on the Best CRM for Your Business

Finally, what might be a great solution now, might not be tomorrow. If you have plans to scale your business, ensure that your CRM platform can scale up with you. 

In many cases, this means that you should be looking at more than just cost. The free program might not be what’s best for your business in the long run. 

Just as you want your customers to focus on value, rather than price alone, you should bring the same mindset when you select your CRM software. 

 

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Sara Hafeman

With years of experience in the consumer financing industry, Sara Hafeman currently leads marketing and partner development at Time Investment.

Kevin Howell

Regional Sales Manager

Kevin Howell is a dedicated Regional Sales Manager at Time Investment, where he focuses on building steadfast relationships with new dealers. He joined the TIC team in December 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his previous ventures. Prior to his role at TIC, Kevin developed a group of restaurants and established a marketing company before transitioning into the finance sector. His professional journey has always centered around the principle of creating genuine relationships with clients and maintaining a customer-focused approach. Kevin finds great fulfillment in collaborating with the wonderful team at TIC, where shared values regarding client service make for a rewarding work environment.

Outside of his professional life, Kevin enjoys spending quality time with his partner Liana and their pets, friends, and family. He is passionate about traveling, making music, and occasionally working on film projects in Atlanta when time allows, including contributions to “The Great Lillian Hall” on HBO Max.

Kevin deeply resonates with all of TIC’s core values, as they align closely with his own principles. He appreciates being part of a team that prioritizes service, excellence, integrity, fun, and generosity in every aspect of their work.

Shawn Peterson

Director of Business Development

Shawn Peterson is the Director of Business Development at Time Investment, where he leverages nearly two decades of experience in the finance sector , specifically within the home improvement industry. Since entering the field in 2004, Shawn has honed his skills in closing deals and delivering impactful sales presentations.  His journey has been enriched by learning from industry leaders, which has instilled in him the confidence and expertise necessary for success.  At Time Investment, he is eager to share his knowledge and enhance the company’s commitment to providing common-sense lending and exceptional service through a dedicated team.

Shawn is passionate about building relationships and believes that service is paramount!

He emphasizes that true value lies not just in financial transactions but in fostering connections that help contractors achieve their goals.

Outside of work, Shawn enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Tiffanie, engaging in activities such as traveling, DIY home improvement projects, cooking and relaxing with a good movie.

Lorraine Weber

Inside Sales Representative

Lorraine Weber is an Inside Sales Representative at Time Investment. In her current role, Lorraine focuses on expanding the dealer network and providing support to new dealers as they join the Time family. Before Joining Time Investment, she spent an impressive 34 years at Castle Credit, where she held various roles within the dealer network, shaping her extensive career in sales and customer relations.  Lorraine was drawn to Time Investment not only for its family orientated culture but also for the opportunity to continue working within the same industry.  She finds great satisfaction in introducing former Dealers to Time Investment and helping them access financing solutions that foster their business growth.

Outside of her professional lifer, Lorraine is a dedicated family person, married and a mother of one child.  She cherishes spending quality time with her family and enjoys traveling together.  Additionally, Lorraine is passionate about giving back to her community through volunteering at her local food pantry and church.

Among the core values of Time Investment Company, Lorraine resonates most with Integrity.  She believes that being true to herself and maintaining honesty in her interactions with colleagues and clients is essential for building trust and fostering meaningful relationships in her work environment.

Rick Mumford

Regional Sales Manager

Rick is an entrepreneurial sales management strategist with a 30+ year record of achievement in the highly competitive Fenestration marketplace. Specializing in dealer network sales, Rick is adept at driving growth of company revenues, improving sales team performance, and building strong relationships with customer base. His Core Competencies include strategic sales planning, market expansion, relationship management, and high impact sales presentations. Though Rick was referred to Time Investment, he was extremely interested in our values and the enormous opportunity for growth. Rick accepted his new position as   Regional Sales Manager in September 2023.

Outside of work, Rick enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in activities such as hunting fishing, golfing, and church.   He believes Time Investment offers him the opportunity to achieve a balance between his family and professional goals. Time Investment’s focus on exceptional servicing of our customers, a core value, resonates with Rick. This value, above others, drives our customers to want to continue to use Time investment’s platform and expand their opportunities with us, and is a key component to Rick’s decision to join our team.

 

Tonya Schmirler

Senior Manager Loan Servicing

Tonya is the Senior Manager of Loan Servicing at Time Investment, having started in 2023.  With over 20 years of experience in the finance industry, she held various positions in collections, customer service, and operations leadership roles.  At Time Investment, she finds the sense of community, influence, and emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction to be the most rewarding aspects of her role.  Tonya personally interacts with clients and customers by prioritizing their needs and ensuring a high level of service. 

In her personal life, Tonya enjoys spending time with her family, riding motorcycles with her husband enjoying the Wisconsin scenic back roads, fishing, and reading.  She resonates the most with the Time Investment value of excellence, believing it to be the heart of everything we do. Tonya strives to achieve excellence in all relationships, going above and beyond, delivering quality, and continuously improving.  

Ben Hafeman

Concierge I

Ben Hafeman began his career at Time Investment Company (TIC) as a seasonal worker in the summer of 2020.  Over the years, he has developed robust skills in the customer care and collections department, gaining a solid understanding of loan processing and underwriting.  In spring 2024, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Currently Ben works full-time as a Concierge Representative.  He finds the growth opportunities and supportive staff at TIC particularly rewarding, especially how colleagues are always willing to assist with any issues or concerns.  His daily responsibilities involve interaction with Dealers, entering new applications, and addressing inquiries to ensure efficient and effective service.

Outside of work, Ben enjoys hiking, spending quality time with family and friends, and collecting Legos.  He has a passion for exploring new areas and aspires to travel the world, embracing new experiences and cultures.

The Value that resonates most with Ben is Excellence and Integrity. He believes that striving for excellence means exceeding Dealers’ expectations and ensuring that all interactions are seamless and efficient. This commitment to high standards is crucial for fostering positive relationships.

 Integrity is equally important to Ben; he asserts that being honest and straightforward with Dealers is essential.  This transparency helps build trust and solidifies relationships. By prioritizing these values, Ben aims to create a collaborative and trustworthy environment that benefits both himself and the Dealers he works with.  

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As Director of Business Development, John Hafeman heads our sales team at Time Investment Company. He’s been with TIC for 29 years.

Prior to joining TIC in 1993, John was an outside sales representative for a Wisconsin-based office supply company. He started with TIC as a collection and customer service representative. But his hard work, dedication, and integrity earned him numerous promotions, and he was soon heading up the entire customer service and collection department.

At the same time, John was putting his sales experience to work, working with Tom on the dealer development and dealer relations side of the business.

Today, John oversees all aspects of business development at Time Inc., working tirelessly to build and cement the company’s relationships with contractors, dealers, home improvement firms, water treatment companies, and anyone else whose customers need an affordable financing solution.

Of all the Time Investment Company Core Values, the ones that resonate with John the most are Fun and Generosity, as these two have been keys to getting him through the many trials and challenges along the way.

“Being generous with our time, talent, treasures, and having fun along the way is what it’s all about to me!” says John.

Outside of the office, John enjoys fishing, hunting, and the great outdoors of Northern Wisconsin. He is an avid golfer and member of the West Bend Country Club.

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Wendy DuBois

Concierge II

Wendy is a veteran with the Time Investment Company. She started in 1999 at our collections desk and was soon promoted to dealer services. Later in her tenure at TIC, she did underwriting and management. Twenty-three years later she is working in dealer concierge, providing outstanding customer service to our dealer clients.

Wendy chose to join TIC while she was working in a daycare facility. A friend working here told her to apply… and the rest is history!

Her hobbies include watching her children play sports, spending time with her family, and traveling.

The TIC Core Values she cherishes the most is Fun. “Don’t you want to come to work and love your job and the place you work for?” she asks. With the fun aspect, you are not just clocking in, doing your job, and going home. You’re making new friends, loving your job, and all while having fun!”

Monica Sabala

Concierge III

Monica Sabala has a passion for helping others. Which is what attracts her to work in customer care and collections. She now works in the Concierge office at TIC, an inside sales position, setting industry standards in the customer experience field.

She joined the Time Investment Company because it was “a great fit that offered flexibility, remote work, and the opportunity for growth.”

Outside of the office, she treasures family time and sharing the love of the Lord.

TIC’s core value that Monica relates to most is Excellence.

“Living a life of excellence is the standard. It’s seen in everything — attitude, preparation, and execution. To see it in my workplace is very motivating!”

Joe Peplinski

Concierge III Lead

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Joe worked his way through college as Junior Golf Coordinator for the Mary Hafeman Golf Experience in Mequon, Wisconsin. After graduating in 2019, Joe joined TIC as an inside sales representative. He has since been promoted to Concierge III Lead, where he strives to provide best-in-class service to our valued dealer clients.

Joe saw the opportunity at TIC as a great experience to start at a finance company and build his resume. He holds a degree in Business Management and Marketing from Edgewood College.

His hobbies include playing sports and traveling. Of all the Core Values at TIC, Joe likes to focus on Service and Excellence. “The company is all about relationship building and being a team player,” he says. “We are all working together to achieve our goals. I believe this sets us apart from most finance companies. We have that personal touch instead of hearing an automated voice. You will be able to talk to a real person and go over anything in regard to an account.”

Zachary Hafeman

Concierge Manager

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Zach started working at Time Investment Company ever since he graduated from high school 12 years ago. He started out at the company working seasonally while playing Junior A hockey, and then later doing customer verification calls, collections, and cash management duties to learn the business. He continued to work with us while attending college.

Once he graduated, he joined the company full-time, working in the Dealer Services Department. He then took on TIC’s first inside sales position as New Client Growth Strategist and worked in that capacity for three years before being promoted to Concierge Manager in 2022.

Zach enjoys playing golf, and hockey, watching TV shows and movies, spending time at the lake, and watching Packer games.

Integrity is the TIC Core Value that he holds as the most crucial. “I find it the most important to always be upfront, truthful and trustworthy with not only business customers but also with everyone I interact with on a daily basis,” he says.

Mark Willis

Regional Sales

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With more than 30 years of financial services experience, Mark Willis is a proven, successful leader with a long, winning track record of results in finance, business, and home improvement.

Mark joined TIC in 2021 after being referred by Mike Farrell. A driven self-starter, Mark came to Time Investment Company having achieved years of success as a self-employed consulting and sales professional.

He served as a product sales and solutions manager at Toshiba and was Vice President of Store Operations and Product Management at Axcess Financial. Prior to that, Mark had more than a decade of successful management at Walmart, where he last worked as Senior Director of Category Management, Strategy, and Product Development.

His hobbies include playing golf and making home improvements. He has a bachelor’s in business/corporate communications from Abilene Christian University and an MBA in Management and Operations from Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business.

The cove value that particularly strikes a chord with Mark is Service. “It’s all about taking care of our dealers,” Mark says.

David Bocian

Regional Sales

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David brings more than 30 years of professional experience in both the home improvement and consumer finance industries, making him an ideal match for the Time Investment Company and our customers. Over the years, David has worked with national lenders on both sides as a dealer and as a sales representative.

Prior to joining TIC in January 2022, David was an accomplished operation and finance manager with solid skills in consumer finance, sales, and marketing. He came to us from his position as business development manager at Veracity Strategic Business Solutions in Tampa, Florida. Before that, David was the Director of Sales and Business Development Manager at Castle Credit in Chicago. He also worked for 11 years as the VP of Operations at FJB Associates in Berlin, Connecticut.

David chose to come work for us here at Time Investment Company when he got a surprise call from a recruiter asking if he would be interested in joining the company. “I was so impressed after the first Zoom call with Mike, Tom, and John. Their knowledge of the industry from the dealer’s perspective fascinated me.”

His favorite hobbies include family time with his wife of 25 years and 3 sons. He also enjoys golfing and watching Steeler Football games.

The TIC Core Value that is most important to David is Integrity. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government from Assumption University.

Nicole Ishay

Administrative Recovery Manager

“The culture here at TIC is something that I am not used to, and I knew I would fit right in,” says Nicole. “Learning new things every day and making an impact in the organization’s growth is what I am most passionate about.”

Outside of work, Nicole loves walking, shopping, and traveling.

The TIC Core Value she holds dearest is Fun. “It helps people to have a more positive mindset, enjoy higher levels of well-being, and better mental health.”

“Fun at work is a key element of employee happiness.” She quips when asked what values here at TIC are most close to her heart, continuing, “I chose Fun as one of the TIC Core values because it helps people to have a more positive mindset, enjoy higher levels of well-being and better mental health.”

Toni Steldt

Loan File Manager

Toni comes to TIC with a strong background in customer service in a variety of contexts – from waitressing to manufacturing.

She chose to join us at Time Investment Company because of our focus on employees and providing them room for growth.

Outside of the office, Toni’s hobbies include camping with her family, having bonfires in the backyard, and motorcycling.

Toni relates most to the TIC Core Value of Fun. “I believe laughter is the best medicine,” she says.

Jamie Phillips

Controller

Jamie spent over 15 years in various roles at Bank of America, culminating in a four-year tenure as Director, Global Principal Investments Finance. In that role, he served as the chief financial officer for BAML Capital Access Funds, where he supported the firm’s growth from $175 million to $1.2 billion in commitments.

He then spent several years as Accounting Director at GMR Marketing before joining the Time Investment team.

Jamie joined TIC because he likes the indirect lending/consumer finance industry, and he likes the culture at our company.

Jamie holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Chicago.

His hobbies include cooking, hurling, and watching his daughter play sports.

The TIC Core Value of Excellence holds a special place in Jamie’s heart.: “I am always trying to improve and make things better,” he says.

Mary Kelly

Senior Manager, Customer Care

Mary came to TIC after serving as a Customer Service Team Leader at Alta Resources in Neenah, Wisconsin, where she worked for Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, and Purina Pet Care. Before that, was also the Sample Department Manager for the County Materials Corporation, where she experienced driving standard operating procedures as a production foreman. For six years, Mary also ran her own business as a personal chef.

Mary joined TIC because she was ready and excited to move forward with her career in a new industry.

Mary’s hobbies include crocheting, watching movies, going to farmer’s markets, and walking.

Our core value that resonates with Mary the most is Fun! “When the workday gets long, a bit of laughter makes the time go by,” she says.

Michael Blue

Senior Manager, Collections

With 25+ years of call center experience and two decades in collections, Michael has a strong track record of leading teams to increase recoveries on multiple portfolios such as out-of-statute debt, credit cards, medical, auto, and private and government student loans.

Michael comes to TIC after more than 20 years of working in a corporate environment. Prior to joining TIC in 2019, Michael served as the Extended Business Office Manager at State Collection Service. Prior to that, he spent nearly 14 years at the Van Ru Credit Corporation as a collector, supervisor, collection manager, and assistant general manager.

“I love all the people that I work with and the family atmosphere,” he says of the Time Investment Company. “TIC has become my second family and the company focuses on its core values. This company is full of smiles and is a fun place to work!” he says.

Michael enjoys spending his free time with his family and outdoors camping, riding ATVs, and fishing. He feels that he can never get enough sun.

The TIC Core values that he best relates to is Excellence: “I am committed to setting high expectations for myself and my staff to maximize recoveries and minimize delinquency,” says Michael.

Russell Brown

Director of Platform Applications

Russell has more than 30 years of financial services industry experience working with companies of all sizes. He has a long track record of success in operations, process improvement, and consumer protection regulatory compliance. He has skills in change management and transformation initiatives that support customer loan origination and servicing systems, electronic banking, and debit/credit payment solutions.

He also has an extensive background directing highly skilled financial management teams in supporting and achieving company objectives in a variety of contexts.

Russell holds the Certified Compliance Professional credential from the American Bankers Association’s Institute of Certified Bankers.

Outside of work, Russell enjoys traveling, training for the next Marathon, and spin cycling. He also enjoys the warm weather and is a self-described “sucker for a scenic view.”

The TIC Core Value he relates to the most is integrity. “I’ve always been taught to do the right thing and take ownership of your decisions and actions,” says Russell. The best way to engage with people is to treat everyone the way you want to be treated.”

Sara Hafeman

Director of Marketing and Sales Support

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Sara came to the Time Investment Company from the hospitality industry, where she spent 15 years honing her sales and customer service expertise in a variety of positions, culminating in her role as Director of Catering at Marriott Hotels. She joined TIC in 2011, just as the company was set to expand, and needed someone with a deep background in sales and customer service like hers.

That background soon led her into new roles with TIC, including sales support, marketing, and management.

Sara enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, golfing, relaxing by the lake and loves traveling with family.

Of the TIC Core Values, Sara finds the most resonance with Service. “My whole career has been built around serving my customers and building their trust so they know, no matter what, I will take care of them,” she says.

Jayne Peplinski

Director of Human Resources

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The chief talent officer of Time Investment Company, Jayne started with the Time Investment Company in 2004 as a data entry specialist. She was soon promoted to accounts receivable manager, and then to her current position in 2012.

After a number of years working in the public school system, Jayne came to TIC to be a part of a family-owned business and to make a difference, not just for her family and herself, but also for others.

Outside of the office, Jayne’s favorite activities include hiking, listening to music, reading, and spending time with her family.

Her favorite of the TIC Core Values is Fun. She strives daily to contribute to making the Time Investment Company a joyous place to work, where employees feel valued and appreciated. “My team helps to create a fun atmosphere whether it is volunteering opportunities, fundraising competitions, luncheons, or just handing out candy on Fridays,” says Jayne. “We spend a lot of time working so why not have fun while we are here!?”

Todd Figard

Director of Servicing/Chief Compliance Officer

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Todd has more than 20 years of leadership and management experience in the credit and collections field. He has diverse experiences managing a variety of portfolios and debt types, including auto loans, personal loans, medical debt, utilities, credit card collections, and government debt. He has a proven track record of maximizing recoveries of delinquent and charged-off debts.

Todd joined the Time Investment Company after meeting with the owners and senior leadership and noticing and seeing that our vision and values aligned with his own. He enjoys working with others and working for a company that values people and relationships above everything else. Prior to joining TIC in 2018, Todd worked in a variety of collections and operations roles for Van Ru Credit Corporation, culminating in more than a nine-year stint as general manager.

Outside of work, Todd enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and swimming. He also enjoys stargazing, traveling, and putting his Nikon P900 camera to good use. A lifelong learner, Todd enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts on business, success, spirituality, theology, health, and anything else that will help to learn and to grow as a person, and better serve his family, community, business associates, and customers.

Todd’s favorite of the TIC Core Values is Integrity. “Integrity and Trust are the foundation that other values rest upon,” says Todd. “True integrity isn’t always popular or convenient, but it is the path I have chosen.”

Paul Worachek

Chief Credit Officer

With three decades of experience in the lending and credit industry, Paul is one of our newer leaders on the team. He joined TIC in May of 2022. “TIC has a terrific reputation in our industry and is a family-owned, values-based company,” says Paul, and this reputation is part of what led him to join TIC as the Chief Credit Officer. “This is the atmosphere and culture I enjoy, and our customers appreciate.”

Paul’s career has focused on credit underwriting, leadership, business development, risk management, and customer success. He enjoys creating a positive experience for customers and team members.

Prior to joining the Time Investment Company, Paul was Vice President of Lending at Marine Credit Union and Regional Vice President of Heights Finance Corporation. He holds a BBA in finance from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.

Paul enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He especially enjoys the family cottage trips, annual family apple picking, trips to the Caribbean, and getting to as many Packers, Badgers, and Brewers games as possible. When he isn’t working, you will find Paul outside enjoying a round of golf, going for a walk, or just working in the yard.

Paul’s favorite of the TIC Core Values is Fun:

“Having fun at work is critical in making the other four Values thrive,” says Paul. “We work hard each day striving for excellence, and it is important to enjoy the journey.’

Jonathan Gelhaus

Chief Information Officer

As Time Investment Company’s chief technologist, Jon has more than two decades of information technology experience in the consumer finance and commercial insurance industries. His career focus is on leading effective digital transformation and leveraging technology to create more efficient business workflows. Over the years, Jon has held roles in data security, infrastructure, data warehousing and business intelligence, application development, compliance, and information security.

Prior to joining TIC in 2021, Jon held C-level roles in a private equity-owned consumer finance company where he was a key member of a management team driving double-digit year-over-year growth which ultimately led to a successful sale of that business and a profitable exit for the PE firm.

In 2021 he joined TIC’s leadership with a focus on personal relationships that drive success, not only for our company but also for our dealers and contractors.

Jon’s hobbies include touring the country on his motorcycle, traveling, baking, and camping with his wife of 23 years and 3 young adult children. He lives in West Bend.

His favorite TIC Core Value is Generosity.

“It is not enough to only be successful,” says Jon. “You also need to use that success to make your community a better place to be.” Jon is committed to fostering and nurturing personal relationships that drive success not just for TIC, but also for our dealers and contractors.

Mike Farrell

Chief Operating Officer

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Mike Farrell came to Time Investment Company in 2017, for the opportunity to create unique company growth in the indirect lending industry. He has more than 20 years of experience in banking and commercial lending.

Prior to joining TIC, Mike was the managing director of BlueTrail Finance from 2015 to 2017. Mike spent eight years as President, COO, and CFO of Axiom Bank in Orlando, Florida. Before that, he had a 19-year career at Fifth Third Bank, including experience in business development and finance roles. Mike holds a B.S.B.A. from the University of Dayton and an M.B.A. degree from Xavier University.

His hobbies include cycling, golfing, and hanging out at the beach.

Mike’s favorite of the TIC Core Values is Service. “I have always believed in building valuable relationships.”

John Hafeman

Vice-President, Director of Business Development

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As Director of Business Development, John Hafeman heads our sales team at Time Investment Company. He’s been with TIC for 29 years.

Prior to joining TIC in 1993, John was an outside sales representative for a Wisconsin-based office supply company. He started with TIC as a collection and customer service representative. But his hard work, dedication, and integrity earned him numerous promotions, and he was soon heading up the entire customer service and collection department.

At the same time, John was putting his sales experience to work, working with Tom on the dealer development and dealer relations side of the business.

Today, John oversees all aspects of business development at Time Inc., working tirelessly to build and cement the company’s relationships with contractors, dealers, home improvement firms, water treatment companies, and anyone else whose customers need an affordable financing solution.

Of all the Time Investment Company Core Values, the ones that resonate with John the most are Fun and Generosity, as these two have been keys to getting him through the many trials and challenges along the way.

“Being generous with our time, talent, treasures, and having fun along the way is what it’s all about to me!” says John.

Outside of the office, John enjoys fishing, hunting, and the great outdoors of Northern Wisconsin. He is an avid golfer and member of the West Bend Country Club.

Tom Hafeman

President

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Tom Hafeman began his career working alongside his brother Mike, doing collections for another finance company. He then took a year off to caddie for his sister Mary, a pro golfer in the LPGA. (Mary won the Women’s Eastern Amateur Tournament in 1981).

Shortly after Tom returned to a more traditional career path, the Time Investment Company was born.

“My brother Mike dreamed of starting his own consumer finance company, and I was just along for a short ride,” says Tom. Here I am, 39 years later, the President of the company, and living the American Dream!”

As a veteran of nearly 40 years with the company, Tom credits his success at TIC to the solid foundation in collections and sales that he and his brother developed over the years.

Outside of work, Tom has a passion for big game hunting and bowhunting and is active in wildlife management. He also enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

As President of Time Investment Company, Tom played a big role in defining the company’s five Core Values: Service, Excellence, Integrity, Fun, and Generosity, and strives to live them every day.

Mike Hafeman

Chief Executive Officer

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As one of the original co-founders of the Time Investment Company in 1981, Michael Hafeman has a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship. After cutting his teeth working in collections for another consumer finance company in the late 70s, Michael realized that contractors and home improvement companies had a huge unmet need for a first-rate consumer finance company to work alongside with to help make their services affordable for middle-class customers.

“I felt there was a great need for a quality financing partner,” Michael explains. “We would create success by building long-term beneficial relationships not just with contractors, but also with doctors, dentists, and anyone who provides services people need but can’t always afford to pay cash for up front.”

An expert both in consumer finance and life safety industries, Michael was the CEO of the Dallas-based MasterGuard Fire Safety Solutions, an international fire alarm wholesaler, from 1994 to 2000.

His hobbies include spending time with his family, traveling, golfing, and exercising.

Michael relates most strongly to the TIC core value of “Fun:” There’s a cherished poster hanging in the company conference room with a quote from Walt Disney saying, “it’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

Michael loves what he does, and his energetic and infectious attitude helps make the rest of us love it, too.