Folk Migration: Move Data Without Losing the Thread

Folk migration takeaways

• Map to what this product supports — Folk research supports contact management, lead management, pipeline management, and deal management — your object model has to land inside that, not inside your old CRM's shape.
• Pilot beats big-bang — One successful Folk import of a single owner's deals teaches more than a weekend bulk load.
• Stage meaning is the real migration — Columns copy easily; “what qualified means” does not. Agree stage definitions before mapping.
• Custom structure has limits — Custom fields is researched on Standard, Premium, and Enterprise only. Custom pipelines are researched on Standard, Premium, and Enterprise — check your plan before promising a second motion.
• Keep an exit copy — Retain source exports until Folk passes seller spot-checks — and ask the export question before you sign, not at renewal.
• Verify tooling, do not assume it — Import formats, record limits, and API behaviour belong in Folk documentation. Our pricing snapshot records a 14-day trial on Free, Standard, and Premium — confirm current terms on the Folk pricing page before you build a schedule around it.

Folk migration map

Folk checklist

• Can we migrate everything into Folk at once?

  You can, but you should not. Decision rule: pilot one owner's book, fix the map, then scale. Bulk-importing an unvalidated map is the most common reason a CRM rollout loses seller trust.

• Which objects should we move first?

  Companies, then people, then open deals, then recent activities — parents before children. contact management, lead management, pipeline management, and deal management are the Folk anchors in our research; old closed history can stay in an archive export.

• How do we map custom fields into Folk?

  Custom fields is researched on Standard, Premium, and Enterprise only. Recreate a field only when someone can name the decision or report that depends on it; everything else goes to the archive CSV.

• How long should the dual-run last?

  One week is usually right: long enough to catch mapping defects, short enough that people actually switch. Freeze the old system for edits during that week or you will migrate twice.

• Who should own the migration?

  The Folk admin owner runs the mechanics; a sales champion owns stage meaning; each seller validates their own book. Not an intern alone with a CSV.

• What do we validate before cutting over to Folk?

  Deal counts by owner, every open deal has an owner and stage, contacts resolve to companies, no duplicates in the top accounts, activity dates are real rather than import dates, and required fields are populated. Then seller sign-off.

• What about getting data back out later?

  Ask before you sign: which objects export, in what format, whether notes and attachments come along, and what happens to data after cancellation. Keep your pre-migration exports either way.

• What should I do next?

  Run the Folk setup guide in parallel with the pilot so the target workspace is ready, then follow the implementation guide's 30/60/90 gates after cutover.

Related Folk resources

• Folk reviewProduct hub and verdict.
• Folk pricingResearched plans and sources.
• Folk Setup guideContinue the Folk path.
• Folk Implementation guideContinue the Folk path.
• Folk Plans / free vs paidContinue the Folk path.
• Folk Worth it?Continue the Folk path.
• CRM requirements guideFreeze must vs nice before rollout.
• CRM selection processGates and owners through Decide.
• How to choose a CRMFramework before you configure.
• Requirements BuilderMust/nice sheet before configuration.
• CRM FinderRe-check fit if rollout stalls.
• Vendor ScorecardKeep evaluation evidence handy.

folk migration mistakes

• No freeze window

  Dual-writing without a freeze creates irrevocable duplicates.

• Integrations last

  Wire Gmail in rehearsal — not on Monday morning after cutover.

• Data risk 1

  Custom objects/Deals, email sequences, dashboards, workspace roles, and API access start on Premium.

• Data risk 2

  Enrichment, magic fields, and AI assistant credits are monthly capped by plan (custom on Enterprise).

• Data risk 3

  FAQ references a free plan for downgrades, but live pricing cards emphasize Standard/Premium/Enterprise — free-tier feature limits are not fully documented on the pricing table.

folk migration checklist