How to Create a Pipeline

About

Pipelines organize your deals into stages that reflect your real-world sales process. Each pipeline can have its own set of stages, from initial contact through closing, and you can create multiple pipelines to track different deal types (e.g., seller leads, buyer prospects, wholesale deals). Pipelines are visible to your entire team and help everyone understand where each deal stands.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open the Manage Pipelines dialog

   From the sidebar, click Manage to access pipeline management. This opens the central hub where you can view all existing pipelines and create new ones.

   

2. Click New Pipeline

   In the Manage Pipelines dialog, click the New Pipeline button to begin creating a custom pipeline.

   

3. Review the Create Pipeline form

   The Create Pipeline dialog appears with fields for pipeline name, description, and stages. You’ll build your pipeline step by step.

   

4. Name your pipeline and add stages

   Type a descriptive name in the Pipeline Name field (e.g., Realtor Pipeline, Wholesale Deals, Buyer Leads). Then, in the Stages field, type each stage name and press Enter to add it. Stages appear as tags above the input and are listed in the Stage Settings section below with an auto-distributed probability percentage. Most effective pipelines have 5–8 stages from initial contact to close — common examples include New Lead, Appointment Set, Offer Made, Under Contract, Closed - Won, and Closed - Lost.

   

5. Mark your closing stages as Final

   In the Stage Settings section, check the Final checkbox for your won and lost stages (e.g., Closed - Won and Closed - Lost). Then use the dropdown next to each to set the outcome type — Won for successful closes, Lost for deals that didn’t close. Final stages remove deals from active pipeline counts and velocity metrics.

   

6. Create the pipeline

   Review your configuration and click Create Pipeline. Your new pipeline will appear in the sidebar and be available to your entire team immediately.

   

Pro Tips

• Final stages are critical: Deals moved into a final stage (won or lost) are excluded from active pipeline metrics and velocity calculations. Always designate at least one won stage and one lost stage to properly track closed deals.
• Probability values auto-adjust: As you add or remove stages, Goliath automatically redistributes probability percentages across non-final stages. You can manually adjust these later in the stage settings.
• Drag to reorder stages: After creating your pipeline, you can reorder stages by dragging them. The Kanban board will display columns in the same order you define here.
• Use descriptive stage names: Clear names like “Appointment Scheduled” or “Under Contract” help your team instantly understand deal status.
• Aim for 5-8 stages: Too few stages provide limited visibility; too many create unnecessary friction. Most teams find 5-8 stages ideal for balancing detail and usability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a “final stage” and why do I need one?

Final stages represent the end of a deal’s lifecycle—either won or lost. When a deal enters a final stage, it’s removed from active pipeline counts, stops appearing in velocity metrics, and is marked as closed. Every pipeline should have at least one won stage (e.g., “Closed - Won”) and one lost stage (e.g., “Closed - Lost”) to properly track outcomes.

Q: Can I edit a pipeline after creating it?

Yes. Click Manage in the sidebar, select your pipeline, and modify stages, probabilities, or final stage settings at any time. Changes apply immediately to all deals in that pipeline.

Q: What happens to deals if I delete a stage?

Deals in a deleted stage are automatically moved to a default stage (typically the first non-final stage in your pipeline). Your data is never lost, though you may need to manually reassign deals to the correct stage afterward.

Q: Can I have multiple pipelines for different deal types?

Absolutely. Many teams create separate pipelines for different workflows—e.g., one for seller leads, another for buyer prospects, and a third for wholesale deals. Each pipeline can have its own stages, probabilities, and automations.

Q: How many stages should my pipeline have?

Most effective pipelines have 5-8 stages. This provides enough granularity to track progress without overwhelming your team. Start simple and add stages as your process matures.

Q: Is pipeline creation restricted by billing plan?

No. Any organization can create unlimited pipelines regardless of billing plan or subscription status.