For sometime now I have been researching the most appropriate tool to develop a Relational Database from the ground up. No imports, no legacies.

It would appear that both ZOHO Creator and CRM will be able to do the job but I am looking for some reassurance that the tool that I finally select is the one best suited to the job.

First things first. I am not a programmer. I run a small Personal Financial Advice business and I am looking to create a database that will allow me to store and access all client information, communications, interaction and documents as well as perform automated functions like mail merges and e-mails.

I have gone some way down the road in setting up the forms and views (tables) in Creator and I have some 12 forms so far. I am using a Lookup Field with the client's last name (Surname) to create the relationship - is this the right way to create the relationsip?

I will need to be able to produce personalised client documents and reports pulling data from the respective tables. I will also need to do mail merges and bulk e-mails, as I have already mentioned.

Having got halfway through the design process in Creator, I have now started having doubts as ZOHO CRM seems to be able to do what I am trying to do. Am I correct in this view?

Perhaps using the two tools, which I gather is possible, would really provide me with the solution I am looking for.

I really would appreciate some guidance and advice.