How and Why to Create Multiple Pipelines

1. Pipeline Limits by HubSpot Plan

Each HubSpot CRM plan offers a different number of pipelines you can create:

1.1 Free Plan

• 1 Pipeline Maximum
  • You can only have one pipeline with multiple stages.
  • This might suffice if your consulting deals follow a single, simple process.
  • If you need different sets of deal stages for different services, the free plan’s single pipeline could become cumbersome.

1.2 Starter Plan

• A Small Number of Pipelines
  • HubSpot documentation (and historical plan details) often states you can have up to 2 pipelines on Starter, although this can vary if HubSpot updates its packaging.
  • Perfect if you have two main types of offerings, each needing distinct stages.

1.3 Professional (and Enterprise)

• Multiple/Unlimited Pipelines
  • In most cases, Professional (and Enterprise) allows you to create as many pipelines as you need, though there may be a high upper limit (like 50 pipelines).
  • You’re unlikely to hit that limit in a typical consulting context.
  • This flexibility is crucial if you have numerous distinct processes or service lines.

(Always verify the exact pipeline limit on HubSpot’s pricing or knowledge base, as these details may change over time.)

2. Why Have More Than One Pipeline?

While the default pipeline might handle your core consulting deals, some common reasons to split out multiple pipelines include:

1. 1. Different Service Types
      • You may offer bespoke consulting projects (long-term, high-value, multiple steps) and also run a group coaching program or standardized workshop.
      • Each service has unique stages—some require “Discovery Call” while others jump from “Inquiry” to “Registration.”
   2. Separate Revenue Streams
      • If you handle both consulting engagements and retainer-based monthly services, these might require different stages or status check-ins.
   3. Clarity and Organization
      • Having all deals in one pipeline with 10–12 stages can be unwieldy. By splitting them, each pipeline is simpler and more relevant to that line of work.
   4. Partners
      • If you are part of a boutique firm with more than one partner selling work, you could have a separate Pipeline for each Partner. 

• Direct clients vs. Staffing firms

1. • If you sell directly to clients and do some projects through staffing firms, you could have separate pipelines for each type
2. Enhanced Reporting
   • You can quickly see how many “coaching deals” are in the pipeline vs. how many “consulting deals,” forecasting revenue or analyzing close rates for each service line separately.

3. Creating a Custom Pipeline in HubSpot

Whether you’re on Starter (with a limited number of pipelines) or Professional (more pipelines allowed), the steps to add a new pipeline are similar:

1. Go to Settings
   • Click the Settings gear icon (top-right) in your HubSpot portal.
2. Select Objects → Deals
   • In the left sidebar, find Objects. Under that, choose Deals to manage deal settings.
3. Click “Pipelines” or “Manage Pipelines”
   • You’ll see your current pipeline (the default one).
   • Look for a button like Create pipeline or Add pipeline.
4. Name Your Pipeline
   • Use a clear title like “Bespoke Consulting Projects” or “Coaching Program Deals.”
   • This label appears in the drop-down when you create or view deals.
5. Define Deal Stages
   • Each pipeline has its own set of stages. For example, “Identified Opportunity → Had Context Discussion → Submitted Proposal → Contracting → Won → Lost.”
   • Enter probability percentages for each stage if you want forecasting.
   • You can reorder stages using drag-and-drop.
6. Save
   • Once saved, your new pipeline is ready. You can start assigning deals to it or create new deals directly in that pipeline.

4. Using Multiple Pipelines

4.1 Creating or Moving Deals

• New Deals
  • When you add a new deal, select the correct pipeline from a drop-down.
  • This ensures the deal’s stages match the relevant process.
• Moving Existing Deals
  • If a deal was created in the default pipeline but actually belongs to your newly created pipeline, you can edit the deal record and change the “Pipeline” field.

4.2 Viewing Pipelines

• Deal Board (Kanban)
  • By default, HubSpot shows your main pipeline in a board view.
  • There’s a drop-down near the top that lets you switch pipelines quickly.
• Table/List View
  • Similarly, you can select the pipeline from a drop-down in the top-left corner, then see deals in a grid layout if you prefer.

4.3 Reporting per Pipeline

• Dashboards
  • For each pipeline, you can build separate deals dashboards or have a combined overview.
  • For instance, a “Coaching Pipeline” dashboard vs. a “Consulting Projects” dashboard.

5. Best Practices

1. Keep It Simple: Don’t create more pipelines than you truly need. For most consultants, two or three pipelines are enough (e.g., “Consulting,” “Coaching,” maybe “Retainers”). Too many can overwhelm your data.
2. Name Stages Clearly: If each pipeline has different steps, label them so it’s evident which pipeline you’re in. Avoid confusion with similar stage names in different pipelines.
3. Check Pipeline Limits: If you’re on Starter and can only have two pipelines, ensure you use them for your highest-level distinction. If you need more, upgrading to Pro might be necessary.
4. Regularly Review: Just like a single pipeline, multiple pipelines still need housekeeping—closing stale deals, moving deals to “Won” or “Lost,” etc.