Deal Stages

Customize your pipeline stages to match your unique sales process.

Default Stages

Lead16 comes with these default stages:

Customizing Stages

Adding a New Stage

1. Go to Settings
2. Scroll to Deal Stages
3. Enter a name in the "New stage name" field
4. Pick a color using the color picker
5. Click + Add Stage

The new stage appears at the bottom of your pipeline.

Editing a Stage

1. Click the edit icon (pencil) next to any stage
2. Modify the name or color
3. Press Enter or click away to save

Reordering Stages

Method 1: Arrow Buttons

• Click the up arrow to move a stage earlier in the pipeline
• Click the down arrow to move it later

Method 2: Drag and Drop

• Press and hold a stage for 1 second
• Drag to the new position
• Release to drop

Deleting a Stage

1. Click the delete icon (red trash can)
2. Confirm the deletion

Warning: Deleting a stage with leads in it will orphan those leads. Move them first!

The Locked "New Lead" Stage

The first stage in your pipeline is special:

• It's locked and cannot be deleted
• Shows a lock icon instead of delete button
• Ensures new leads always have a place to land
• Can still be renamed or have its color changed

This protects your pipeline from accidentally becoming unusable.

Stage Colors

Choose colors that make sense for your workflow:

Stage-Specific Features

Quick Actions per Stage

Configure one-click buttons that appear on leads in specific stages:

• "Won" button on Proposal stage
• "Lost" button on any stage
• Custom buttons for your workflow

Time-Based Rules per Stage

Set up alerts when leads sit too long:

• "Send reminder after 7 days in Contacted"
• "Move to Lost after 30 days in Negotiation"

Stage Automations

Trigger emails when leads enter a stage:

• Welcome email when Won
• Follow-up email when entering Proposal

Industry Examples

Real Estate

1. New Inquiry → Contacted → Viewing Scheduled → Offer Made → Under Contract → Sold

Recruiting

1. Prospects → Cold Leads → Warm Leads → Qualified → Negotiation → Client

SaaS Sales

1. Lead → Demo Scheduled → Demo Complete → Trial → Negotiation → Closed Won

Consulting

1. Initial Contact → Discovery Call → Proposal → Negotiation → Engaged → Delivered

Best Practices

1. Keep it simple: 5-7 stages is usually optimal
2. Be specific: "Proposal Sent" is better than "In Progress"
3. Include exit stages: Always have Won and Lost
4. Match your process: Stages should reflect your actual workflow
5. Review quarterly: Refine stages based on what you learn
6. Color code: Use colors consistently across your stages