How to Customize Your CRM Pipeline Stages

Every event business sells differently. A wedding planner's sales process looks nothing like a corporate event agency's. That is why Ripluo lets you fully customize your pipeline stages - so the CRM matches how you actually work, not how a generic software company thinks you should.

This quick tutorial shows you how to add, rename, reorder, and remove stages, with example pipelines for three common event business types.

Note: Pipeline customization is part of Ripluo's CRM, available on the Pro plan ($49.99/mo).

Step 1: Access Pipeline Settings

From the CRM sidebar, click Pipeline to open your board, then click the settings gear icon (or navigate to CRM Settings). You will see your current stages listed in order.

This is where you control the structure of your pipeline. Every change you make here updates the board immediately, and existing opportunities retain their current stage unless you remove it.

Step 2: Add, Rename, and Reorder Stages

The controls are straightforward:

• Add a stage - Click "Add Stage," type the name, and it appears at the end. Use the arrow buttons to move it to the position you want.
• Rename a stage - Click the stage name to edit it. Change "New Inquiry" to "Website Lead" or "Consultation" to "Discovery Call" - whatever fits your language.
• Reorder stages - Use the up and down arrow buttons to reorder stages. Stages flow left to right on the pipeline board, so the first stage is the entry point and the last is the close.
• Remove a stage - Click the delete button on any stage. Ripluo will warn you if opportunities exist in that stage.

Example: Wedding Planner Pipeline

A wedding planner's sales process is relationship-heavy with lots of personal interaction. Here is an example pipeline:

1. Inquiry Received - Couple submitted a contact form or inquiry
2. Discovery Call - Initial phone or video call to discuss their vision
3. In-Person Meeting - Venue tour or coffee meeting
4. Proposal Sent - Formal proposal with packages and pricing
5. Follow-Up - Waiting for decision, providing additional info
6. Contract Sent - Agreement sent for review and signature
7. Deposit Received - Retainer paid, engagement confirmed
8. Won - Fully booked client
9. Lost - Did not book

The key difference here is the "In-Person Meeting" and "Deposit Received" stages, which are critical milestones in the wedding planning sales cycle that do not exist in other verticals.

Example: Corporate Event Planner Pipeline

Corporate event sales often involve longer timelines, multiple stakeholders, and procurement processes:

1. Lead - Initial inquiry or referral
2. Qualification - Confirming budget, timeline, and scope
3. RFP Response - Responding to a formal request for proposal
4. Presentation - Pitching to the decision-making committee
5. Negotiating - Scope and budget discussions
6. Legal Review - Contract under review by corporate legal
7. Won - Contract signed
8. Lost - Did not win the business

Notice the "RFP Response" and "Legal Review" stages - these reflect the reality of selling to companies with formal procurement processes.

Example: Event Agency Pipeline

Agencies often manage multiple event types for multiple clients, with a faster-moving sales cycle:

1. Inbound Lead - Website form, referral, or ad-generated lead
2. Scoping - Defining event requirements and deliverables
3. Proposal - Custom proposal with scope, timeline, and pricing
4. Revision - Client requested changes to the proposal
5. Contract - Agreement in progress
6. Kickoff - Contract signed, project starting
7. Won - Active engagement
8. Lost - Did not close

Get Started

Pipeline customization is part of Ripluo's Pro plan ($49.99/mo). Create your Ripluo account and set up a pipeline that actually matches how your event business sells. No more forcing your process into someone else's generic stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will customizing stages affect existing opportunities?

No. Existing opportunities stay in their current stage when you add or rename stages. If you delete a stage that has opportunities in it, Ripluo will warn you if opportunities exist in that stage so you can reassign them.

Can I have multiple pipelines?

Currently, Ripluo supports one pipeline per account. You can customize the stages to cover different deal types, and many planners use tags or custom fields on opportunities to differentiate between event types within a single pipeline.

How many stages can I add?

There is no hard limit on the number of stages. However, for usability, most event businesses find 6 to 10 stages covers their process well. Too many stages can make the board harder to scan at a glance.