Sales pipeline stages are the steps every deal moves through from first contact to won or lost. In Piraja CRM the pipeline has six stages: Lead, Qualification, Proposal, Negotiation, Won, and Lost.
Definition
What is a sales pipeline?
A sales pipeline is a visual representation of where each deal stands in your sales process. Instead of keeping deals in spreadsheets or in people's heads, a pipeline shows every opportunity in stages—from first contact to closed (won or lost). That makes it easy to see how many deals you have at each step, which ones need attention, and what to forecast.
What are pipeline stages?
Pipeline stages are the fixed steps you use to move a deal forward. In Piraja CRM there are six stages: Lead, Qualification, Proposal, Negotiation, Won, and Lost. Each opportunity sits in one stage at a time; when the deal progresses, you move it to the next stage (for example from Lead to Qualification). When the deal is over, you move it to Won or Lost.
The six stages in Piraja
In Piraja, every opportunity moves through these six stages:
- Lead — Initial contact or inquiry. The prospect has shown interest; you've captured them as a contact and created an opportunity.
- Qualification — Assessing fit and interest. You're confirming they have a need, budget, and authority to buy.
- Proposal — Presenting solution and pricing. You've sent a proposal or quote and are waiting for a response.
- Negotiation — Finalising terms and conditions. You're discussing details, terms, or contract.
- Won — The deal closed successfully. No further action on this opportunity.
- Lost — The deal did not close. You can note why and move on.
The first four stages are active (deal in progress); Won and Lost are terminal (deal finished). You move a deal by dragging it on the Pipeline or by editing the opportunity's stage.
Entry and exit
When does a deal enter a stage?
A deal enters a stage when you move it there. For example, a deal enters Qualification when you drag it from Lead to Qualification (or change the stage field). There are no automatic rules—you decide when the deal has reached that step.
When does a deal exit a stage?
A deal exits a stage when you move it to the next. So a deal exits Lead when it moves to Qualification, and exits Negotiation when it moves to Won or Lost. In practice: update the stage as soon as the real-world step is done (e.g. you've sent the proposal → move to Proposal).
Keeping stages meaningful
Use the same meaning across the team. For example: "We only move to Qualification after we've confirmed budget and timeline." That keeps the pipeline accurate for forecasting and review.
Metrics you can use
With a staged pipeline you can track:
- Total value — Sum of opportunity values in the pipeline (or in a given stage).
- Weighted value — Value multiplied by probability (e.g. a €10,000 deal at 50% probability counts as €5,000). Used for forecasting.
- Conversion — How many deals move from one stage to the next, or from active to Won.
- Pipeline health — In Piraja, the pipeline view and analytics can show balance across stages, velocity, and deals that are stale or at risk.
- Forecast — Expected revenue over the next 30, 60, or 90 days based on current opportunities and their probability and expected close date.
See the Pipeline and Opportunities modules for where these appear.
Best practices
One opportunity per deal
Create one opportunity per distinct deal and link it to the contact (and company in B2B). That way the pipeline reflects reality and you can track each deal properly.
Move deals as they progress
Update the stage when the deal actually moves. If you leave deals in an old stage, your pipeline and forecast will be wrong.
Use tasks for next steps
For every "I'll follow up" moment, create a Task linked to the opportunity with a due date. Stages show where the deal is; tasks show what to do next.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add or remove stages?
In Piraja the six stages are fixed. They're designed to fit most sales processes without configuration. If you need a different process, you can use the existing stages in a way that matches your workflow (e.g. use Qualification for discovery calls).
What about probability?
Each opportunity has a probability (0–100%) and an optional expected close date. These are used for weighted value and forecasting. You can set them when creating or editing the opportunity.
Who can I contact for help?
Contact support at support@piraja.io.
Conclusion
Sales pipeline stages are the steps every deal goes through. In Piraja there are six: Lead, Qualification, Proposal, Negotiation, Won, and Lost. You move deals between stages as they progress; use the pipeline view for a visual board and tasks for follow-up. For setup, see How to Set Up a Sales Pipeline and Your First Deal.