The series of stages or steps that a business goes through from initial contact with a potential customer to closing a sale. The sales cycle outlines the typical process for converting prospects into customers and often includes stages such as lead generation, qualification, needs assessment, proposal or presentation, negotiation, and finalizing the sale. Each stage of the sales cycle involves specific activities and interactions designed to advance the prospect towards a purchase decision. Understanding and managing the sales cycle helps businesses streamline their sales process, forecast revenue, and improve conversion rates by optimizing each step to better meet the needs of potential customers.