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Leads & growth
Importing Your Lead and Proposal History
Don't start your new CRM with an empty pipeline
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · Free for 60 days
Import lead and proposal history
Bring your sales history with you.
- Premier Books Consultancy
- Cranleys Chartered Accountants
- CJM Accountants
- Towpath Accounting Solutions
- Auditax International
- RS
Quick answer
Importing lead and proposal history means bringing existing enquiry records, past proposals and their outcomes into a new CRM, rather than starting again with nothing. This matters when switching systems because historical data supports both reporting and future follow-up with past prospects.
What is lead and proposal history import and why does it matter for UK practices?
It is the process of transferring existing records of past enquiries, quotes and outcomes into a new system, so switching software does not mean losing years of accumulated data.
Firms often avoid switching software because they worry about losing everything they have built up, particularly if their existing tracking, even if imperfect, contains years of enquiry and referral history. That fear is reasonable, but it should not be a reason to stay with a system that no longer fits the firm's size.
Bringing historical lead and proposal data across means a new CRM starts with useful context rather than an empty pipeline, and past prospects who were not converted at the time can be revisited later without starting from scratch.
Why does historical CRM data get lost when firms switch systems?
Data sits in disconnected spreadsheets
Years of enquiry tracking may be spread across several spreadsheets or old email accounts, with no clear single source to export from.
Manual re-entry feels overwhelming
The idea of manually retyping hundreds of past records into a new system puts firms off switching altogether.
Old proposals are only in email
Past proposals sent by email have no structured record of what was quoted or the outcome, making them hard to import cleanly.
Nobody owns the migration task
Without someone clearly responsible for pulling together historical data, the task gets postponed indefinitely.
What does losing lead and proposal history cost a firm?
Losing that history means losing the ability to revisit past prospects who did not convert at the time and losing any long-term view of referral sources and conversion trends.
A prospect who declined two years ago for timing reasons might well be ready now, but only if the firm still has a record of them and what was discussed. Starting fresh means that opportunity, and others like it, is simply lost.
How do you import lead and proposal history when switching CRM? Step by step
- 1
Gather your existing sources
Pull together spreadsheets, email records and any existing CRM export covering past enquiries and proposals.
- 2
Clean and standardise the data
Tidy up inconsistent naming, duplicate entries and missing fields before importing, since clean data imports far more reliably.
- 3
Map old fields to new ones
Decide how your existing categories, such as lead source or status, map onto the new system's structure.
- 4
Import in stages
Start with a small batch to check the import works as expected before bringing across the full history.
- 5
Check the imported data
Spot-check a sample of records after import to confirm names, dates and outcomes have come across correctly.
- 6
Archive the old records safely
Keep a backup of the original data for a reasonable period even after a successful import, in case anything needs cross-checking later.
How does Remindoo help you import your lead and proposal history?
Remindoo's import lead and proposal history feature is built specifically for firms switching from spreadsheets or another system, so you are not starting your new CRM with an empty pipeline. Once imported, that historical data sits inside the same custom lead statuses and pipelines used for new enquiries, giving you a single consistent view of both past and current prospects. The leads overview then shows imported history alongside live enquiries, making it easy to revisit a past prospect who did not convert at the time without digging back through old spreadsheets. Custom lead fields let you preserve whatever detail your previous tracking captured, whether that is referral source, service interest or notes on why a proposal was declined. This means switching to Remindoo does not cost you the years of pipeline history many firms are understandably reluctant to lose, and you can test the import process during the 60-day free trial before fully committing.
Import lead and proposal history
Bring your sales history with you.
See featureCustom lead statuses and pipelines
Track enquiries through your own stages.
See featureLeads overview
Pipeline, owners and next actions at a glance.
See featureCustom lead fields
Capture the qualification data you need.
See featureSpreadsheets vs Remindoo: what changes?
| Area | Spreadsheets & email | With Remindoo |
|---|---|---|
| Historical enquiries | Lost or left in old spreadsheets | Imported into the new CRM |
| Past proposal outcomes | Scattered in email | Recorded against each lead |
| Revisiting old prospects | Requires manual searching | Visible in the leads overview |
| Switching systems | Feels risky, data loss feared | Migration path built in |
| Referral history | Forgotten over time | Retained and searchable |
See it with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services and deadlines.
“Managing deadlines and tasks is much easier.”
Frequently asked questions
Can I import data from a spreadsheet into Remindoo?
Yes, Remindoo's import lead and proposal history feature is designed to bring across data from spreadsheets and other systems, not just other CRMs.
What happens if my historical data is messy or incomplete?
Cleaning up the data before import, even just standardising names and dates, will make the import far more accurate, though partial data can still be imported and refined afterwards.
Does importing history cost extra?
Migration support is available for a small per-client fee; ask during onboarding what applies to your specific data and volume.
Will imported leads look different from new ones?
No, once imported, historical leads sit within the same pipeline and statuses as new enquiries, so they are treated consistently.
Should I import proposal outcomes as well as enquiries?
Yes, importing outcomes such as won or lost, along with reasons where known, preserves valuable context for future reporting and follow-up.
Can I try the import process during the free trial?
Yes, you can test importing a sample of your historical data during Remindoo's 60-day free trial before deciding to migrate everything.
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Sources
Comparing options? Read our guide to crm for accountants.
Last updated: . General guidance, not regulatory advice. Check with your professional body.
Why tracking leads and proposals matters
Every enquiry a practice fails to follow up is lost fee income. A clear pipeline shows which prospects need a reply, a proposal or a follow-up.
Faster replies
Prospects often contact more than one firm, so the firm that replies first and clearly has an advantage.
Consistent proposals
Templates and a services catalogue keep scope and pricing consistent whoever writes the proposal.
Signed terms from day one
E-signed engagement letters confirm scope and responsibilities before work begins.
No re-keying
Converting a won lead into a client keeps the details you already collected.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Reply to every new enquiry within one working day.
- Use lead statuses that match your real sales stages, and review them weekly.
- Send the engagement letter with the proposal so the client signs once.
- Record why lost leads were lost, to improve pricing and messaging.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
