> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nextlevelmca.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I create a new deal?

> Start a deal from the Deals page, fill in the application, add bank statements or request them later, and what happens once it's created.

A deal is one funding request for one business. You create it by filling in the application for the merchant. Anyone whose role can create deals can do this.

## Create the deal

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click New deal">
    On the **Deals** page, click **New deal** in the top right. The **New Deal** window opens and asks *Who is this application for?*

    You can also start from a business's page (**New deal**) or from a CRM contact's merchant page. From there the window skips the search and fills in what it already knows.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find the merchant, or start blank">
    Type at least two characters of the business name, owner, email or phone. Results come in two groups:

    * **Businesses**: merchants already in NextLevel MCA. A business with an active advance is tagged **Returning**.
    * **CRM contacts**: people in your CRM who aren't linked to a business here yet.

    Pick one to fill the application in from what's on file. For a merchant who isn't in either place, click **Start a blank application**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the application">
    The form has four sections: **Business Information**, **Owner Information**, **Financial Information** and **Bank Statements**. The side menu shows which sections are complete or have errors.

    Which fields show, what they're called and which are required (marked with a red asterisk) come from your field settings. See [The application form](/help/application-form). Click **Add Another Owner** for each additional owner.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add bank statements, or say you'll request them">
    In **Bank Statements**, click **Upload bank statements** and choose the PDFs. Or tick **I'll request these from the merchant later**. You need one or the other to create the deal.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create Deal">
    If anything required is missing, the form scrolls to the first problem. Otherwise the deal is created and opens.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  If you ticked **I'll request these from the merchant later**, you land on a **Deal created** screen with the merchant's portal link instead. Click **Copy**, or **Text or email it to the merchant**, so they can upload their statements. The link works for 24 hours. See [The merchant portal](/help/merchant-portal).
</Tip>

## No duplicate businesses

While you type, the form checks for a merchant you already have. If it finds one, a banner appears at the top of Business Information:

* **Existing business** (or **Returning merchant** if it already has deals): the new deal will be attached to that business, so no duplicate is created. **View business** opens it.
* **Contact … already exists**: that person is reused instead of being added again.

When the deal is created, the business is matched by **EIN** first (ignoring dashes), then by exact **legal name**. Owners are matched to people already on file by CRM contact, then email, then phone. Only when nothing matches is a new business or person created.

If the business has an advance that's ready to renew, the form shows **This is a renewal**, ticked. Leave it ticked to link the new deal to the advance it renews. See [Renewals](/help/renewals).

## What happens when you create it

* **Stage**: the deal goes into the first stage of your Pre-offer phase (**New app** by default). A couple of minutes later its documents are checked, which can move it on if you've set up document stages. See [Pipeline stage events](/help/pipeline-stage-events).
* **Owner**: you become the deal's originator. Change it, or add a closer, from the chips in the deal header. See [Deals and the pipeline](/help/deals-and-pipeline#who-owns-the-deal).
* **CRM contact**: every owner is linked to a contact in your CRM, created there if needed. A deal started from a CRM contact stays linked to that contact.
* **Statements**: the files you uploaded land on the deal's **Documents** tab. If any fail, a message tells you how many, and you can add them from the Documents tab. See [Uploading bank statements](/help/upload-statements).
* **Automations**: the new deal can start a workflow in your CRM. See [Workflow triggers](/help/workflow-triggers).
* **DataMerch**: if your workspace checks every new deal automatically, the check runs now. See [DataMerch](/help/datamerch).

## Good to know

* Only the last four digits of an SSN entered here are saved.
* The EIN must be 9 digits, phone numbers 10 digits and ZIP codes 5 digits.
* The **Application** page in the CRM uses the same form. The public application form is a separate, branded page for merchants; see [The application form](/help/application-form).

## Related

* [The application form](/help/application-form)
* [Requesting documents](/help/request-documents)
* [Deals and the pipeline](/help/deals-and-pipeline)


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