OpenClaw CRM: How to Set Up Your AI-Powered CRM in 30 Minutes

You can have a working AI CRM in 30 minutes. No credit card, no cloud signup, no onboarding call. Here's exactly how to set up DenchClaw — the local-first AI CRM built on OpenClaw.

Before starting, make sure you have Node.js v18+ installed. That's the only prerequisite.

Step 1: Install DenchClaw#

Run this single command:

npx denchclaw

This does several things automatically:

• Downloads and installs the DenchClaw stack
• Creates your local workspace directory
• Initializes a DuckDB database (workspace.duckdb)
• Starts the OpenClaw gateway on port 19001 (profile: "dench")
• Launches the PWA at localhost:3100

The first run takes 1–2 minutes. Subsequent starts are near-instant.

Once it's running, open your browser and go to http://localhost:3100.

You'll see the DenchClaw workspace. It looks like a CRM because it is one — but it's running entirely on your machine.

Step 2: Understand the Workspace Structure#

Before adding contacts, it helps to know how DenchClaw organizes data.

DenchClaw uses an EAV (Entity-Attribute-Value) schema in DuckDB:

For most day-to-day use, you'll work through PIVOT views — pre-built SQL views that flatten EAV into readable tables: v_people, v_companies, v_deals, etc.

You don't need to know SQL to use DenchClaw. The UI handles all of this. But it's useful to know what's happening under the hood.

Step 3: Create Your First Object Type#

Out of the box, DenchClaw comes with core object types: People, Companies, Deals. To configure a custom object:

1. Go to Settings → Objects
2. Click New Object
3. Name it (e.g., "Investors", "Partners", "Accounts")
4. Configure fields: text, number, date, select, multi-select, relation, action
5. Choose your default view type: Table, Kanban, Calendar, Timeline, Gallery, or List

Each object type gets a .object.yaml config file in the workspace, which you can also edit directly.

Step 4: Add Your First Contacts#

There are three ways to add contacts:

Option A: Manual Entry#

Go to People → New Person and fill in the fields. Fast for single contacts.

Option B: CSV Import#

1. Go to Settings → Import
2. Choose the object type (People or Companies)
3. Upload a CSV file
4. Map your CSV columns to DenchClaw fields
5. Click Import

This is the fastest way to bulk-import contacts from another CRM. For HubSpot specifically, see our HubSpot import guide.

Option C: Ask the AI Agent#

Open the web chat (bottom-right icon) and type:

Add John Smith, CTO at Acme Corp. Email: john@acme.com. He's interested in our enterprise plan.

The AI agent will create the entry in DuckDB and confirm. This works from any connected chat channel, not just the web UI.

Step 5: Connect Your Chat Channels#

This is where DenchClaw becomes genuinely powerful. The AI agent can receive and respond from:

• Telegram
• WhatsApp
• Discord
• iMessage
• Signal
• Slack
• Web chat (built-in)

To connect a channel:

1. Go to Settings → Channels
2. Click the channel you want to connect
3. Follow the connection instructions (varies by channel — Telegram is the fastest, takes ~2 minutes)

Once connected, you can manage your entire CRM from that chat app. Send a Telegram message: "Who's in the negotiation stage?" and the agent queries DuckDB and replies with the list.

For most people, Telegram is the recommended first channel — setup is quick and the bot works reliably.

Step 6: Install Skills#

Skills extend what your AI agent can do. A skill is a SKILL.md file in your skills/ directory that teaches the agent a new capability.

To browse and install skills:

npx clawhub search crm
npx clawhub install seo
npx clawhub install github

Or browse the marketplace at clawhub.ai.

Useful skills to install early:

• github — track issues and PRs inside your CRM
• himalaya — connect your email inbox
• gog — Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive)
• browser-automation — automate web tasks with your existing logged-in browser sessions

Step 7: Set Up Your Pipeline#

For sales tracking, configure a Kanban view:

1. Open your Deals object
2. Switch to Kanban view
3. Click Configure → set the status field as the Kanban column
4. Add your pipeline stages: Lead → Qualified → Proposal → Negotiation → Closed Won / Closed Lost
5. Drag deals between columns as they progress

Deals automatically track the status field in DuckDB, so you can query pipeline state from the AI agent at any time.

Step 8: Create Action Fields#

Action fields are one of DenchClaw's most powerful features — they're buttons in your CRM rows that execute server-side scripts.

Example: an "Enrich" button that looks up a contact's LinkedIn URL.

1. Go to Object Settings → Fields → Add Field
2. Choose type: Action
3. Write or paste a script (JavaScript/shell) that runs when clicked
4. Save and test

Action fields turn your CRM into an automation layer, not just a data store.

Common Setup Questions#

How do I back up my data?#

Your database is a single file: ~/.openclaw-dench/workspace/workspace.duckdb. Back it up like any other file — copy it to a cloud drive, add it to a backup tool, or version it with git.

Can multiple people use it?#

DenchClaw is designed as a personal CRM. Multi-user support is on the roadmap. Currently, each user runs their own instance. You can share a read-only view by exporting data or sharing the database file.

How do I upgrade DenchClaw?#

npx denchclaw@latest

This pulls the latest version and migrates your database automatically.

What if I want to reset everything?#

Delete ~/.openclaw-dench/workspace/workspace.duckdb to wipe the database. Delete ~/.openclaw-dench/ entirely to start completely fresh.

What to Do Next#

• Read What Is DenchClaw? for a full product overview
• Learn about what OpenClaw is — the framework powering everything
• Explore skills on clawhub.ai to extend your agent
• Try the npx denchclaw quick-start guide for more detail on the install command

FAQ#

Do I need any accounts or API keys to get started?

No. The core CRM runs entirely locally. No account required. If you want to use AI features that call external model APIs, you'll need the relevant API key — but the CRM itself is zero-dependency.

What Node.js version do I need?

Node.js v18 or higher. Check with node --version.

Is the PWA installable as a desktop app?

Yes. In Chrome or Edge, click the install icon in the address bar to install it as a PWA. It then appears in your Applications folder and opens without a browser chrome.

How is data stored? Can I query it directly?

All data lives in workspace.duckdb. You can query it directly with any DuckDB client:

duckdb ~/.openclaw-dench/workspace/workspace.duckdb
SELECT * FROM v_people LIMIT 10;

What's the difference between DenchClaw and OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is the underlying framework — it handles the AI sessions, channel integrations, tool routing, and memory. DenchClaw is a CRM application built on top. Read What Is OpenClaw? for the full explanation.

Ready to try DenchClaw? Install in one command: npx denchclaw. Full setup guide →