Vendors in Zoho CRM are typically managed through related products like Zoho Sprints or specialized vendor management applications, rather than as a native CRM module. This guide explains how to set up vendor access and collaboration within the Zoho ecosystem.
Why this matters
If you work with external service providers or third-party partners who need limited access to your projects or information, creating vendor accounts allows controlled collaboration without granting full organizational access. This is essential for maintaining security while enabling vendors to contribute to your workflow.
Step-by-step
Step 1. Navigate to vendor management settings
Open your Zoho workspace and click the gear icon in the top-right corner to access the Settings page [1]. From there, go to the Manage Users section and select Vendor Users [1].
Step 2. Create a vendor company
Click the dropdown next to the Vendor Company button and select Vendor Company [1]. The Add vendor Company window will appear. Enter the company name for your vendor [1]. Select the project you want to associate with this vendor company [1]. Add contact information and a mailing address for the vendor [1].
Step 3. Set up a user group (optional)
If you want to simplify communication and permissions management, check the Create user group checkbox to establish a dedicated group for this vendor company [1]. This makes it easier to assign roles and manage access collectively.
Step 4. Complete vendor company creation
Click Create [1]. The vendor company is now added to your listing page, and a vendor portal link is automatically generated [1]. This link can be shared with your vendor via email so they can sign up and access the portal [1].
Step 5. Add vendor users to the company
Once the vendor company exists, you can add individual users from that vendor. Return to the Vendor Users section under Manage Users [1]. Click the dropdown in the Vendor Company button and select Vendor User [1]. The Add vendor User window will appear.
Step 6. Enter vendor user details
Type the email address of the vendor user you want to add [1]. You can add multiple users by separating email addresses with commas [1]. Select the vendor company you created in Step 2 [1].
Step 7. Assign roles and permissions
Assign a user role and profile to the vendor user [1]. You can choose from default roles and profiles, or create custom ones tailored to your vendor's needs [1]. Enable vendor portal access for the user if necessary [1].
Step 8. Confirm and send invitation
Click the Add User button [1]. The vendor user will receive an email invitation to accept and access the vendor portal.
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*Note: This guidance applies to Zoho Sprints and related Zoho products. Beam Help provides independent expert support for Zoho and is not official Zoho support. Vendor management features are available on Premier and Enterprise plans [3].*
What to check
- Verify that the vendor company appears on your Vendor Users listing page and that the portal link is accessible [1]
- Confirm that vendor users received their email invitations and can log into the vendor portal [1]
- Review the assigned roles and permissions to ensure vendors have only the access level they need for collaboration [1]