The default status for a sales order is set up on the user profile that your user is assigned to and is accessed from the System module which is security profile driven.
The default status set up is the status that will be on every sales order that you or anyone else who is assigned to the same user profile create.
If you have access to the System module, you can change it by following the steps below. When you change the default status, it will affect all users who are assigned to the user profile you are updating the status for.
Change the default sales order status:
Click on System then click Security.
Click Profiles and select the profile you wish to make the changes for.
Click on the Details Tab and click the Edit button at the top of the toolbar.
Click on the drop-down list for Default SOP Status.
Select the status you wish to become the default status for all newly created sales orders.
Click Save.
Log out of Financials and log back in so that the changes take effect.