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Set up rules for deal pipelines

Last updated: July 16, 2024

Available with any of the following subscriptions, except where noted:

Sales Hub   Professional , Enterprise

To manage how users can create and move deals through a pipeline, Super Admins can set rules for their deal pipelines. The following rules can currently be enforced for each individual pipeline:

  • Set stages where new deals can be created.
  • Restrict skipping stages in the pipeline.
  • Restrict moving deals backwards in the pipeline.
  • Limit who can edit deals in certain stages in the pipeline.
  • Set up an approval process for deals in the pipeline (Sales Hub Enterprise only).

For example, if you restrict users from skipping stages or moving deals backward, editing a deal's stage will look similar to the following:

pipeline-rules-ui

Set up deal pipeline rules

Pipeline rules are enforced when manually creating or updating deals on desktop, in the HubSpot mobile app, and via integrations or HubSpot public APIs when a user ID is being passed. Pipeline rules do not apply when creating or editing deals via workflows, other APIs, or by users with Super Admin or Edit property settings permissions. In these scenarios, the enabled pipeline rules can be bypassed.

To set up rules:

  • In your HubSpot account, click the settings settings icon in the top navigation bar.
  • In the left sidebar menu, navigate to Objects > Deals.
  • Navigate to the Pipelines tab.
  • Click the Select a pipeline dropdown menu, then select the pipeline for which you want to set rules.
pipelines-tab-and-pipeline-select
  • At the bottom, click the Pipeline Rules tab.
  • In each row, toggle the switch on to apply the rule.
  • Depending on the rule, customize the settings:
deal-pipeline-rule
    • Limit deal creation to specific stages: select the stages in which new deals can be created. With this rule turned on, users will only be able to create deals in those stages in HubSpot, as well as via integrations and HubSpot APIs.
    • Restrict deals from skipping stages: to prevent users from skipping any stages in the pipeline, select All stages. To prevent users from skipping certain stages, select Select stages, then select the stages that cannot be skipped. Users will still be able to skip stages if a deal is moving to a Closed Lost stage. This rule also applies when editing deals via API and integrations.
    • Restrict deals from moving backwards: to prevent users from moving deals backwards from any stage in the pipeline, select All stages. To prevent users from moving deals backwards one they reach certain stages, select Select stages, then select the stages. With this rule turned on, users cannot move a deal backwards from the selected stages when editing in HubSpot, as well as via API and integrations. Users will still be able to move a deal backwards from a Closed Lost stage if a deal is reopened.
    • Control deal editing access: select the stages which will have limited editing access, then select who should have access: Only super admins or Specific users and teams. If you've selected Specific users and teams, click the Add a user or team dropdown menu, then select the checkboxes of users and teams to allow them to edit deals in the selected stages.
    • Add approval process for deals (Sales Hub Enterprise only): set up the approval stage.
  • Click Save.

Once set or updated, pipeline rules are automatically saved and will apply for users with access to deals moving forward. Pipeline rules do not apply to users with Super Admin or Edit property settings permissions.

Please note: when rules are enabled for a pipeline, users will also not be able to bulk edit the pipeline or deal stage of deals in that pipeline.

Edit or turn off pipeline rules

  • In your HubSpot account, click the settings settings icon in the top navigation bar.
  • In the left sidebar menu, navigate to Objects > Deals.
  • Navigate to the Pipelines tab.
  • Click the Select a pipeline dropdown menu, then select the pipeline for which you want to set rules.
  • At the bottom, click the Pipeline Rules tab.
  • To edit an existing rule, click the edit edit icon in the rule's row. Make your changes in the right panel, then click Save.

edit-deal-pipeline-rule

  • To turn off a rule, click to toggle the switch off. In the dialog box, click Delete pipeline rule to confirm.

Learn more about customizing deal pipelines.

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