Why Startups Selling to Small Businesses Choose Endpoint Over ZoomInfo
ZoomInfo is the biggest name in B2B data. But it was built for enterprise sales teams - with enterprise pricing to match. If you're a startup or small team targeting local businesses, agencies, or professional services, Endpoint gives you better data at a fraction of the cost.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Endpoint | ZoomInfo |
|---|---|---|
| Target Market | Small businesses & local companies | Enterprise and large corporations |
| Pricing | From $0 - startup-friendly | Enterprise pricing (~$15K+/year) |
| SMB Database | Specialized small business database | Limited SMB coverage |
| Startup Suitability | Designed for early-stage companies | Not suitable for small teams |
| Contact Types | Decision makers (owners, managers) | Mixed contact levels |
| Contract Length | Monthly, no lock-in | Annual contracts required |
| Email Verification | Triple-checked for deliverability | Standard verification |
| Ease of Setup | Ready in minutes, no training | Lengthy onboarding process |
| Local Business Coverage | Extensive: trades, agencies, services | Sparse for micro-businesses |
| Data Freshness | Recently verified contacts | May include outdated data |
The Real Problem with ZoomInfo for SMB Sales
ZoomInfo's database skews toward mid-market and enterprise companies. Small businesses, local shops, trades, and agencies - the exact targets for many startups - are often missing or outdated in their database.
Beyond data quality, ZoomInfo requires:
- Annual contracts: often $15,000+ per year
- Lengthy sales and onboarding process: weeks before you start prospecting
- Enterprise-level seat minimums: designed for large sales teams
With Endpoint, you can start for free, run your first search in minutes, and only pay when you need to scale.
Who Should Use ZoomInfo?
ZoomInfo is the right tool if you're selling to mid-market or enterprise companies, have a large sales team that needs deep CRM integrations, and can justify an annual contract in the five-figure range.
Who Should Use Endpoint?
If your ICP (ideal customer profile) is any kind of small or medium business - agencies, professional services, trades, healthcare practices, restaurants, SaaS buyers - Endpoint has better, more targeted data at a price that makes sense for your stage.
The Bottom Line
For startups and small sales teams selling to SMBs, there's no contest. Endpoint gives you cleaner data, no contracts, and a free plan to get started. Try it free with 5 searches - no credit card required.
