---
title: Adding Your First Leads
description: "OneSuite gives you two ways to get leads into your pipeline: add them one at a time, or import many at once from a spreadsheet. With your business set up and your payment methods configured, adding the people you want…"
url: "https://help.onesuite.io/docs/adding-your-first-leads/"
updated: "2026-10-01"
category: Quick Start Guide
---

# Adding Your First Leads

OneSuite gives you two ways to get leads into your pipeline: add them one at a time, or import many at once from a spreadsheet. With your business set up and your payment methods configured, adding the people you want to work with is the next step, whether you have one lead or a hundred.

**In this guide you'll learn how to:**

- Open your lead pipeline
- Add leads one at a time with Quick Add
- Import multiple leads from a CSV or Excel file
- Map your spreadsheet columns and read the import results

## How to open your lead pipeline

Click **Leads** in the left sidebar to open your pipeline.

1. Click **Leads** in the left sidebar.
2. Your customized pipeline appears, with the stages you created during business setup displayed across the top.

This is where all your leads live and move through your sales process. If you skipped the onboarding process, create stages based on your preferences.

![Leads pipeline with empty stages displayed across the top](https://help.onesuite.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/adding-your-first-leads-1.webp)

## How to add a single lead with Quick Add

Use **Create Lead** when you're adding leads one at a time, like after a networking event or a phone call.

1. Click the **Create Lead** button in the top right.
2. Fill in the lead details in the form that appears. The fields are listed in the table below.
3. Use the dropdown at the top to **Select Stage**, the stage where this lead should start.
4. Click **Assign Members** if you want to assign this lead to a team member.
5. Click **Save**.

Your new lead appears in the selected stage of your pipeline, ready to be worked.

| Field | What to enter |
| --- | --- |
| **First Name** and **Last Name** | The person's full name. |
| **Work Email** | Their primary email address (required). |
| **Designation** | Their job title. |
| **Primary Contact Number** | Their phone number. |
| **Website** and **LinkedIn URL** | Professional links (optional). |
| **Short Note / Project Hint** | Any context about this lead. |

**Tip:** You can upload a profile image for each lead to make them easier to recognize at a glance. This is optional, but it helps personalize your pipeline view.

## How to import multiple leads from a spreadsheet

Import a CSV or Excel file when you have multiple leads in a spreadsheet; it saves you from manual entry.

1. Click **Leads** in the left sidebar.
2. Look for the import option in the **Leads** section and click it to start the import process.
3. On the import screen, drag and drop your CSV or Excel file into the upload area, or click to browse.
4. Choose what happens if a lead already exists:
   - **Skip updating the lead** (recommended for a first import)
   - **Update the lead** (if you want to refresh existing data)
5. Choose whether to receive a notification email when the import completes.
6. Click **Import**.

| Limit | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Max file size | 10MB |
| Supported formats | .csv, .xls, .xlsx |
| Max items | 2000 leads per import |

Make sure your file includes email addresses. Email is the primary identifier for leads in OneSuite, so leads without emails may not import correctly.

## How to map your fields

After uploading, OneSuite shows a field mapping screen where you match your spreadsheet columns to OneSuite fields.

OneSuite usually guesses correctly, but double-check that:

- Your "Name" column maps to the name field
- Your "Email" column maps to Email
- Your "Company" column maps to Company
- Other columns map to appropriate fields

Click **Confirm Mapping and Import** when everything looks right.

## What do the import results show?

OneSuite processes your file and shows you detailed results:

- Total lines found in your file
- How many were imported successfully
- How many failed, if any
- A line-by-line history showing what happened

When the import finishes, your leads are organized in your customized pipeline. Each lead sits in the stage you selected, or your default first stage, waiting for you to take the next action.

Not using OneSuite yet? Start your free trial →

## FAQs

### How many leads can I import at once in OneSuite?

You can import up to 2000 leads per import. The file can be up to 10MB, in .csv, .xls or .xlsx format.

### What happens if a lead in my file already exists?

It depends on the option you choose before importing. **Skip updating the lead** leaves the existing lead as it is, and **Update the lead** refreshes it with the data in your file.

### Is an email address required for each lead?

Yes. **Work Email** is required when you add a lead by hand, and email is the primary identifier for leads, so leads without emails may not import correctly.

### How should I prepare my spreadsheet before importing?

Clean your data first by removing duplicates and fixing typos. Use consistent formatting for phone numbers and dates, and start with basic fields (name, email, company) on your first import. You can always add more details later.

### Can I just keep my leads in a spreadsheet instead?

You can, but a spreadsheet won't place each lead in a pipeline stage or assign it to a team member. Importing the same file into OneSuite puts every lead where your sales process can move it forward.

## What to do next

**Turn a lead into a client:** Convert a won lead or create a client directly with [Adding Your First Client](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/adding-your-first-client/).

**Organize your pipeline:** Set up the stages your leads move through with [Understanding Pipeline Stages](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/understanding-pipeline-stages/).

**Send a proposal:** Win the deal with a signed proposal using [Sending Your First Proposal](https://help.onesuite.io/docs/sending-your-first-proposal/).