Working with Companies¶
Companies (called Businesses in GHL) are the core of your CRM. Every LP target, consulting firm, and agent firm is a company record.
Finding a Company¶
- Left sidebar → Click Businesses
- Search → Type a company name in the top search bar
- Filter → Use the Filters button to narrow by Company Type, Tier, tags, etc.
The Company Record¶
When you open a company, here's what you'll see:
Header¶
- Company name
- Company Type — LP Target, Consulting Firm, Agent Firm, or Service Provider
- Tags — Colored chips showing categories (Active, Texas, High-Value, etc.)
Custom Fields¶
These are the structured data fields configured for Pharos:
| Field | Type | Options / Format |
|---|---|---|
| Company Type | Dropdown | LP Target, Consulting Firm, Agent Firm, Service Provider |
| Tier | Dropdown | 1 (high priority), 2 (medium priority), Unassigned |
| Fund Type | Dropdown | PE, VC, Both, Other, Unknown |
| Target Investment Low ($M) | Number | Dollar amount in millions |
| Target Investment High ($M) | Number | Dollar amount in millions |
| Money Raised | Dropdown | Yes, No, In Progress |
| Amount Raised ($M) | Number | Dollar amount in millions |
| Last Contact Date | Date | When you last spoke with them |
| Next Contact Date | Date | When you should follow up |
| Outstanding Items | Text | What's pending (due diligence, materials, etc.) |
Plus the standard GHL fields: City, State, Country, Phone, Website.
Linked Contacts¶
Scroll down to see all people at this company. Click any name to jump to their contact record.
Activity Feed¶
Notes and interactions related to this company appear in the timeline.
GHL Guide: Using the Company Object
Adding a New Company¶
GHL Guide: Getting Started with Companies
Always create the company FIRST, then the contact
When you meet someone new, create their company before creating their contact record. You can't link a contact to a company that doesn't exist yet.
Step by step:
- Click Businesses in the left sidebar
- Click + Add Business (top right, or use the + button in the top bar)
- Fill in the fields:
- Company name — The organization's official name
- Company Type — Select from the dropdown
- Tier — 1 for high priority, 2 for medium. Start at 2 if unsure.
- Fund Type — PE, VC, Both, or Other
- City, State, Country — Where they're headquartered
- Target Investment Range — Low and High in millions, if known
- Add relevant tags (geography, deal status, etc.)
- Click Save
Fill in what you know now
Don't leave fields blank thinking you'll come back later. Capture it while it's fresh — you can always update.
Editing a Company¶
Open the company record and click any field to edit it inline. Changes save automatically.
Common updates: - Tier change — When a prospect qualifies (or disqualifies), update their tier - Money Raised — Update from "No" to "In Progress" to "Yes" as deals progress - Next Contact Date — Update after every interaction - Outstanding Items — Clear items as they're completed, add new ones
Company Types Explained¶
| Type | Description | Your Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| LP Target | Pension funds, endowments, family offices, sovereign wealth funds | These are your prospective investors. The primary focus of BD. |
| Consulting Firm | Investment consultants who advise LPs | Gatekeepers. They influence LP allocation decisions. Build relationships here to reach LPs. |
| Agent Firm | Independent agents, placement agents | They connect GPs with LPs for a fee. Track their network reach and success rate. |
| Service Provider | Legal, compliance, audit, admin firms | Supporting cast. Track for operational needs. |
Company Type vs. tags
Company Type is a custom field — a company can only BE one type. Tags like "Active" or "High-Value" describe attributes that can change or stack. Use both.