When and How to Update the Candidate Journey
Moving Opportunities between stages is how you track a candidate’s progress through the franchise process.
Each stage should reflect what has actually happened, not what you expect to happen.
Start Here
👉 New to Opportunities? Read: Opportunities 101 in FranFlow
How to Move an Opportunity
There are two main ways to move an Opportunity.
Option 1: Drag and Drop (Recommended)
Go to Opportunities (Pipeline view)
Find the candidate
Click and drag the Opportunity card
Drop it into the correct stage
Option 2: Update Inside the Record
Open the Contact
Locate the Opportunity
Update the stage field
Save
The Most Important Rule
👉 Only move a stage when the action has already happened.
Example
✔ Candidate booked a call → Move to Intro Call Scheduled
❌ You sent a link but they haven’t booked → Stay in Engaging
Stage-by-Stage: When to Move
Use this as your guide for exactly when to move a candidate.
1. New Lead → Contacting
Move when:
✔ You have reached out (call, text, or email)
2. Contacting → Engaging
Move when:
✔ The candidate responds in any way
✔ A conversation has started
3. Engaging → Intro Call Scheduled
Move when:
✔ The candidate has actually booked a call
4. Intro Call Scheduled → Intro Call No Show
Move when:
✔ The candidate misses the scheduled call
6. Reading Your Prospects → Pre-Registration & Matching
Move when:
✔ You are actively identifying franchise options
✔ You are preparing recommendations
7. Pre-Registration → Franchise Presentations
Move when:
✔ You are presenting franchise brands to the candidate
8. Franchise Presentations → Candidate Introductions
Move when:
✔ The candidate is introduced to a franchisor
10. Coaching Process → Legal & Placement
Move when:
✔ The candidate has selected a brand
✔ They are moving forward with the franchise
10. Coaching Process → Legal & Placement
Move when:
✔ The candidate has selected a brand
✔ They are moving forward with the franchise
11. Any Stage → Long-Term Nurture
Move when:
✔ The candidate is not ready
✔ They have gone quiet but are not lost
✔ You plan to follow up later
What Happens When You Move a Stage
Moving an Opportunity can:
✔ Trigger workflows
✔ Send emails or texts
✔ Update reporting
✔ Change pipeline visibility
💡 Pro Tips
✔ Move Opportunities Daily: Your pipeline should reflect your real-time activity.
✔ Use It as Your To-Do List: Each stage tells you what to do next.
✔ Keep It Honest: Accurate stages = accurate pipeline = better decisions
Common Mistakes
Moving Too Early
Example:
Moving to “Intro Call Scheduled” before a call is booked
Not Moving at All
Leads stay stuck and become unclear
Skipping Stages
Reduces visibility and breaks consistency
Quick Example Flow
A typical candidate journey:
New Lead
Contacting
Engaging
Intro Call Scheduled
Reading Your Prospects
Franchise Presentations
Candidate Introductions
Coaching Process
Legal & Placement
Final Takeaway
👉 Move stages based on actions, not assumptions
If you follow this rule, your pipeline will always be accurate and easy to manage.