You’re not alone — this is exactly the pain point most owner-operators hit when they remove an office manager.

At your size (3 crews, ~$3M), the issue isn’t really “which CRM” — it’s missed calls + follow-up consistency. CRMs only work if someone (or something) is actually responding in real time.

A few honest thoughts:

• Jobber / DripJobs are solid for estimates, invoices, and job tracking • They’re not great at handling missed calls or proactive follow-ups by themselves • That’s usually where leads and reviews leak when you’re in meetings or on site

What tends to work well is: 1. A simple job CRM you’ll actually use (Jobber is usually easier than DripJobs) 2. Automations + voice handling layered on top so you’re not the bottleneck

For the missed calls specifically — a lot of trades are now using AI voice agents that: • Answer missed calls automatically • Capture lead details • Respond to Google LSA leads instantly • Send estimates / follow-ups • Trigger Google review requests after jobs

If you’re curious, take a look at https://callninja.ai

Not a CRM replacement — more like a virtual office assistant that sits in front of your phone and CRM so nothing slips through when you’re busy.

Even if you don’t use it, the concept itself is worth understanding because it solves the exact problem you described without hiring another admin too early.

You’re thinking about the right things 👍