See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_process
Specific steps or stages in a sales process vary from company to company but generally include the following elements:
1. Initial Contact
2. Application of Initial Fit Criteria
3. Sales lead
4. Need identification
5. Qualified prospect
6. Proposal
7. Negotiation
8. Closing
9. Deal Transaction
An alternate but similar series of steps is as follows:
Sales tunnel layers
1. New Opportunity
2. Initial Communication
3. Fact Finding
4. Develop Solution
5. Propose Solution
6. Solution Evaluation
7. Negotiation
8. Sales Order
9. Account Maintenance