Depending on how your company operates, you can setup the default Sales Order Status. At the time of creating a transaction, you still have the choice to manually select the Sales Order Status.
Select Pending Approval if your company uses the approval process for Sales Orders
Select Pending Fulfillment if your company does not use the approval process for Sales Orders
1. Go to the Setup drop down
2. Click Accounting
3. Select Accounting Preferences
4. Select the Order Management sub tab
5. Under Sales Orders, using the drop down provided, select the Default Sales Order Status
6. Click Save
