# qualify

URL: /business/nouns/lead/qualify · Id: `verb:Lead.qualify` · Call: `await $.Lead.qualify({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Qualify confirms a Lead matches an Offer’s ICP and opens a Deal for it.

Qualify confirms a [Lead](/business/nouns/lead) matches an [Offer](/business/nouns/offer)’s [ICP](/business/nouns/icp) and opens a [Deal](/business/nouns/deal) for it.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `lead` | [Lead](/business/nouns/lead) | Yes | The Lead to qualify. |
| `offer` | [Offer](/business/nouns/offer) | Yes | The Offer whose ICP the Lead matches. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `deal` | [Deal](/business/nouns/deal) | Yes | The open Deal. |
| `lead` | [Lead](/business/nouns/lead) | Yes | The Lead, now qualified. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Lead.qualified`](/business/events/Lead.qualified).
- Performed by the [Sales Engineer](/agents/sales/sales-engineer).

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Lead.qualify](/business/nouns/lead/qualify) |
| The record is not in a state that allows this Verb, so the call is refused. | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Read the record, run the Verb that moves it to an allowed state, then retry. | [Lead.qualify](/business/nouns/lead/qualify) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Qualify the latest lead with an offer.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/leads/lead_1/qualify \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"offer":"offer_1"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app",
  "deal": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/deals/deal_1",
    "$type": "Deal",
    "status": "Open"
  },
  "lead": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/leads/lead_1",
    "$type": "Lead",
    "status": "new"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Lead.qualify",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/shiftnote.app/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const { deal, lead } = await $.Lead.qualify({ lead: 'lead_1', offer: 'offer_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Lead.qualify --json '{"lead":"lead_1","offer":"offer_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Lead.qualify({ lead: 'lead_1', offer: 'offer_1' })"
  }
}
```

Next: [`Meeting.book`](/business/nouns/meeting/book) (in `guide:qualify-leads-and-book-demos`).

Guides that call it: [Qualify leads and book demos](/workflows/guides/qualify-leads-and-book-demos).