Overview
Every customer has two related fields: Relationship Stage (pipeline position in your sales cycle) and Customer Status (Active or Inactive). They appear on the Customer info tab and in the Stage column on the Customers list.
Where in the app: Sidebar → Customers → customer row → Customer info tab
Open: Customers
Relationship Stage vs Customer Status
| Field | UI label | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship Stage | Relationship Stage dropdown | Where the customer sits in your sales pipeline |
| Customer Status | Customer Status toggle | Whether the record is active in your directory |
Relationship Stage tracks sales progress (Lead through Repeat Customer). Customer Status controls whether the person still appears in normal lists and workflows.
You can filter the customer list by pipeline stage using the Pipeline filter (All Stages, Lead, Prospect, and so on).
Relationship stages
| Stage | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lead | New contact with no estimates yet |
| Prospect | At least one estimate exists for this customer |
| Customer | At least one completed job or paid invoice |
| Repeat Customer | Two or more completed jobs or paid invoices |
| Lost | Marked as did not buy; auto-updates paused when set manually |
| Inactive | Archived pipeline stage (often set when the customer record is deactivated) |
The Stage column on the customer list shows the current relationship stage.
Automatic stage updates
Dirt Face recalculates relationship stage when relevant activity happens, such as:
- Creating an estimate for the customer
- Completing a job
- Recording a paid invoice
Auto-calculation rules (highest match wins):
| Activity | Stage set to |
|---|---|
| 2+ completed jobs or paid invoices | Repeat Customer |
| 1 completed job or paid invoice | Customer |
| 1+ estimates, no completed transaction | Prospect |
| No estimates | Lead |
Completed jobs and paid invoices are counted together; either one can advance the stage.
When auto-updates stop
| Situation | Behavior |
|---|---|
| You manually set Lost | Confirmation required. Stage stays Lost until you change it. A note reads: manually set, will not auto-update based on activity. |
| Customer Status is Inactive | Relationship Stage moves to Inactive automatically |
You can still change relationship stage manually at any time from the dropdown on the Customer info tab.
Customer Status (Active / Inactive)
The Customer Status card shows Active or Inactive with a toggle.
| Status | Effect |
|---|---|
| Active | Customer appears in default list views and normal pickers |
| Inactive | Hidden from the default customer list when Hide Inactive is on |
Use Inactive when you no longer work with someone but want to keep their history. Deactivating a customer also sets relationship stage to Inactive.
Inactive Customer Status is separate from choosing Inactive in the relationship stage dropdown, but both indicate an archived relationship. Most teams use the Customer Status toggle to hide old records.
Change status or stage
- Open Customers and click the customer row.
- Go to the Customer info tab.
- Use the Relationship Stage dropdown or the Customer Status toggle.
- Save is immediate; no separate submit button on these cards.
Setting Lost prompts for confirmation because future activity will not change that stage.