> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mountmonitor.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Stages > Set up the stages your mounts move through, from receiving the work to collection or delivery. This guide is a draft. The screens and screenshots have been checked; saving changes still needs a complete walkthrough. A **stage** tells you how far a mount has progressed through your shop. Your stages might include **Received**, **Mounting**, **Ready for Pickup**, and **Completed**. Choose names that make sense to the people doing the work. This page explains how to set up your shop's list of stages. To move an individual mount to its next stage, see [Update mount stages](/mounts-and-services/update-mount-stages). **Tip: Stage names can be as descriptive as you need.** A stage name might describe the work, such as **Mounting** or **Drying**, or spell out what you need from the client, such as **Book Pickup** or **Final Payment Required**. Both use the same [client update settings](/messages/set-up-automatic-updates). These are examples of how you can name stages to suit your shop. ## Open stages 1. Open **Settings**. 2. Select **Stages**. 3. Select **Edit Stages** to make changes. You need permission to update settings. If **Edit Stages** is missing, ask the person who manages your shop's account to check your [access](/team/permissions). Stages settings showing the ordered list, Ready for Pickup before Completed, and the Edit Stages button. *Your stage names and colours may differ from this example.* ## Understand the final stage The last stage means the mount is finished **and has been picked up or delivered**. You can rename this stage, but its meaning stays the same. You cannot delete it or move it out of the last position. Keep **Ready for Pickup** or your equivalent before the final stage while the mount is still in your shop. When you move the last remaining mount in a job into the final stage and save the job, MountMonitor automatically marks it as closed. Closing a job and recording its payments are separate tasks; check its balance as part of collection. See [Close or reopen a job](/jobs/close-or-reopen-a-job). ## Add a stage 1. In **Edit Stages**, select **Add Stage**. 2. In **Stage**, enter a clear name, such as **Quality Check**. Use a different name for each stage so your team can tell them apart. 3. Select **Create**. The stage is added just before the final stage. 4. Move it to the right position if needed, then select **Save Stages**. Create Stage dialog with Quality Check entered in Stage, and Cancel and Create buttons. **Create** adds the stage to the list you are editing. **Save Stages** saves the change for your shop. ## Change a name or colour Before renaming a stage, check which current jobs and location rules use it. Existing jobs keep the old stage name. Any location rule linked to the old name has its stage selection cleared when you save. 1. If needed, select **Edit Stages**, then open the stage's row. 2. Change **Stage Name** or use **Color** to choose its colour. 3. Select **Save Stages**. 4. If you renamed it, [update affected mounts](/mounts-and-services/update-mount-stages) and reselect the stage in any affected [location rules](/parts-and-locations/set-up-location-automation). An expanded Received stage showing Stage Name and Color fields, with the drag handle on the left and delete icon on the right. ## Change the order 1. If needed, select **Edit Stages**. 2. Drag a stage using the dotted handle on the left of its row. 3. Arrange the stages in the order your work normally follows, keeping the final stage last. 4. Select **Save Stages**. This is the order shown in the job's **Stage** list. The first stage normally supplies the starting stage for a new mount, so put your intake stage first. If your shop uses location rules to update stages, check those rules after reordering. Location updates move a mount forward according to this order. See [Set up location automation](/parts-and-locations/set-up-location-automation). ## Remove a stage Removing a stage does not move existing mounts to another stage. They keep the old name. Any location rule using the removed stage has its stage selection cleared. 1. If needed, select **Edit Stages**. 2. Select the trash icon on the stage's row. 3. Review the list, then select **Save Stages**. Use **Cancel** if you want to discard the removal before saving. 4. Update affected mounts and location rules to use the appropriate remaining stage. The final stage has no trash icon because it must remain in the list. ## Check your changes After saving, look for **Stages updated successfully.** Check that the list shows the names, colours and order you intended. You can keep editing after saving; select **Cancel** when you want to leave edit mode. If **Save Stages** is greyed out, there may be no changes to save. **Cancel** restores the saved list and discards unsaved changes. If an error appears, check whether the changes were saved before trying again. ## Explain stages to clients Stage pictures and common questions belong in **Settings** → **Client Portal**. See [Explain progress stages to clients](/client-portal/explain-stages-to-clients). Adding a stage does not turn on automatic messages for it. Review [automatic client updates](/messages/set-up-automatic-updates) if you want clients to hear when their mount moves to that stage. ## Related guides * [Create your first job](/quickstart). * [Update mount stages](/mounts-and-services/update-mount-stages). * [Set up location automation](/parts-and-locations/set-up-location-automation). * [Set up your shop](/shop-setup/overview).