Add a lead and convert it to a deal

A lead is a merchant you are still qualifying. A deal is a funding request you are working toward a lender. Converting at the right moment keeps the pipeline honest: the Deals board shows only real files, and everything you learned on the lead (owner, revenue, documents from the application link) carries into the deal so nobody re-keys it.

1. 1On Leads, click Quick add (or press N). Enter the Business name, the owner's name, Phone, Email, State and Source.
2. 2Watch for the yellow This might already be in your CRM box. It checks phone, email, EIN and business name against existing leads and merchants as you type.
3. 3Click Create & open to land on the new lead, or Create to stay on the list.
4. 4For a full record, use New lead instead. Only one of business, name, phone or email is required, but fill the Qualification section if you can: Monthly revenue, Requested amount, Business start date, Credit score and Existing positions.

Reps who cannot assign leads own what they create. The page says so under the title.

1. 1Open the lead and click Convert.
2. 2Under Merchant, choose Create a new merchant or Add to an existing merchant. If the business is already in the CRM, its matches are listed with what matched (same phone, same EIN). Pick it and keep Fill the merchant's empty fields from this lead ticked.
3. 3Check the Owner section: First name is required; add Ownership and Credit score if you have them.
4. 4Under Deal, confirm the Requested amount, the Deal type (New for a first advance) and Use of funds.
5. 5Click Create merchant & deal (or Add deal to merchant). The deal opens, the lead is marked Converted, and any documents captured on the lead move to the deal.

• Creating a second merchant for a business you already funded. Use Add to an existing merchant so the history, positions and renewals stay on one record.
• Converting too early. A deal with no requested amount cannot move to Funder Reviewing File, and an empty deal clutters the board.
• Typing the EIN twice. If the lead had one, the convert form shows it masked and carries it over.