# Automate Lead Stages

> Move leads and tag customers automatically as quotes are sent and invoices are paid.

Source: https://jobwisepro.com/help/leads/automate-lead-stages
Category: Leads
Updated: 2026-10-22

Automations move [leads](/help/leads/introduction-to-leads) between stages and tag
[contacts](/help/contacts/introduction-to-contacts) without manual updates. They run when a
[quote](/help/quotes/create-a-quote) is sent or approved, when an
[invoice](/help/invoices/create-an-invoice) is paid, or when a lead changes stage or status.
You set them up in Settings.

## Choose the stage a quote moves leads to

Quote automations move a lead to the stage you choose in its
[pipeline](/help/leads/customize-pipelines-and-stages).

1. Open [**Pipelines & Stages**](/go/settings/pipelines) in settings.
2. Edit the stage where leads go when a quote is sent.
3. Choose **When a quote is sent** under **Move leads here automatically**.
4. Select **Save changes**.
5. Edit the stage where leads go when a quote is approved.
6. Choose **When a quote is approved** under **Move leads here automatically**.
7. Select **Save changes**.

The stage then shows a chip, **Quote sent** or **Quote approved**.

> **Note:** Choosing an option that another stage in the pipeline holds sets that stage to
> **Never**.

## Turn an automation on or off

Each automation has its own toggle.

1. Open [**Automations**](/go/settings/automations) in settings.
   - If **Automations** is missing from settings, your [role](/help/team/roles-and-permissions)
     cannot view automations, or leads are not on for your account.
2. Find the automation you want to change.
3. Turn its toggle on or off.
   - If the toggle is disabled, your role has view access only. Changing a toggle needs full
     access to automations.

The change saves as soon as you set the toggle, and it stays after you reload the page.

> **Note:** Turning an automation off stops later moves. It does not move leads back or remove
> tags that were already added.

## What each stage setting does

A stage has one of these four settings.

- **Never**: leads move to this stage only when you
  [move them](/help/leads/move-a-lead-through-your-pipeline).
- **When a lead is new**: a reopened lead moves to this stage, and new leads start here by
  default.
- **When a quote is sent**: leads move here on their own when you send them a quote.
- **When a quote is approved**: leads move here on their own when the customer approves their
  quote.

Each setting except **Never** can be on only one stage in a pipeline.

Won, Lost, and Abandoned stages are not on this list. A pipeline you create starts with one of
each. You can rename or recolor them, but you cannot change their setting or delete them.

## What each automation does

- **Quote sent advances stage**: when a quote is sent to a customer, the lead moves to the stage
  set to **When a quote is sent**.
- **Quote approved advances stage**: when a quote is accepted or converted, the lead moves
  to the stage set to **When a quote is approved**.
- **Invoice paid sets Won**: when an invoice is paid, the lead is marked Won.
- **Won stage sets Won**: when an open lead moves into the Won stage, it is marked Won.
- **Abandoned stage sets Abandoned**: when an open lead moves into the Abandoned stage, it is
  marked Abandoned.
- **Lost stage sets Lost**: when an open lead moves into the Lost stage, it is marked Lost.
- **Won moves to Won stage**: when a lead is marked Won, it moves to the Won stage in its
  pipeline.
- **Abandoned moves to Abandoned stage**: when a lead is marked Abandoned, it moves to the
  Abandoned stage in its pipeline.
- **Lost moves to Lost stage**: when a lead is marked Lost, it moves to the Lost stage in its
  pipeline.
- **Tag as Customer on Won**: when a lead is marked Won, its contact is tagged as a Customer.

## What the customer tag does

The **Customer tagging** card shows the Customer tag and how many customers have it, when the
organization has one.

Each new organization gets a **Customer** tag. The
[**Tags**](/go/settings/tags) page does not let you edit or delete it.

If **Tag as Customer on Won** is on and no Customer tag exists when a lead is marked Won, the
automation creates a tag named **Customer** and tags the contact with it.

## When quote and invoice automations apply

These automations act on the lead linked to the [job](/help/jobs/introduction-to-jobs)
that holds the quote or invoice.

- A quote counts when it is on a job. An invoice counts when it is on a job, or when it was
  created by converting a job's quote.
- A job without a lead moves nothing.
- These automations only move open leads. A lead already marked Won, Lost, or Abandoned is left
  alone.
- These automations never move a lead backward. A lead already further along its pipeline keeps
  its stage.
- When more than one applies to a job, the furthest one wins:
  a paid invoice, then an accepted or converted quote, then a sent quote.
- A [payment](/help/invoices/collect-a-payment) recorded by hand, or a new payment
  that comes in through [Stripe](/help/organization/integrations), runs these automations.
- When **Invoice paid sets Won** is on, a paid invoice marks its lead Won. The Won stage move
  and the Customer tag then follow, when their automations are on.