What is the difference between account and person account?

In Salesforce, account and person account are two distinct types of records used to represent different entities in your CRM.

Account

An account is the standard record type used to represent a company or organization. It holds information like:

• Company name
• Industry
• Revenue
• Website
• Address
• Phone number
• Contact information

Person Account

A person account is a special type of account that represents an individual instead of a company. It combines the features of both an account and a contact, allowing you to store both company and personal information about a single individual.

Here's a breakdown of the key differences:

Account vs. Person Account

When to Use Each

• Use accounts to manage relationships with companies, track sales opportunities, and organize your business data.
• Use person accounts when you need to track interactions with individuals, especially if they are also associated with a company.

Examples

• Account: You might use an account to track your interactions with Microsoft, storing information about their industry, revenue, website, and key contacts.
• Person Account: You might use a person account to track your interactions with Bill Gates as an individual, including both his personal information and his association with Microsoft.

Practical Insights

• Person accounts can be useful for small businesses or non-profit organizations that primarily interact with individuals.
• Person accounts can also be used to track influencers or key decision-makers within a company.

Solutions

• If you are unsure whether to use an account or person account, consider the type of entity you are representing and the information you need to track.
• Salesforce offers a variety of resources to help you choose the right record type for your needs.