How to Set Up GoHighLevel for Your Agency in 2025

GoHighLevel (GHL) has become the platform of choice for UK digital agencies wanting to consolidate CRM, marketing automation, website builder, landing pages, calendar bookings, SMS/email, reputation management, and client reporting into a single white-labelled platform. This guide covers everything from initial account setup to onboarding your first clients.

What GoHighLevel Actually Replaces

A single GHL Agency account replaces:

• ✦CRM: HubSpot / Pipedrive (saves £50–£1,200/mo)
• ✦Email Marketing: Mailchimp / ActiveCampaign (saves £50–£300/mo)
• ✦Landing Pages: ClickFunnels / Unbounce (saves £100–£300/mo)
• ✦Calendar Booking: Calendly / Acuity (saves £8–£50/mo)
• ✦SMS Marketing: Twilio direct or other SMS platforms
• ✦Review Management: BirdEye / Reputation.com (saves £200–£500/mo)
• ✦Courses/Membership: Kajabi / Teachable (saves £100–£400/mo)
• ✦Reporting: AgencyAnalytics (saves £50–£200/mo)

Step 1: Purchase & Account Setup

GoHighLevel offers two plans relevant to agencies: Starter (£97/mo, 3 sub-accounts) and Agency Unlimited (£297/mo, unlimited sub-accounts). For any agency with more than 3 clients, the Unlimited plan is the only viable option and pays for itself immediately.

• ✦Sign up at gohighlevel.com — use a 14-day free trial before committing.
• ✦Set your agency name, logo, and primary colour in Agency Settings > Agency Profile.
• ✦Connect your agency email (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365) via SMTP settings.
• ✦Set up your agency Twilio account for SMS capabilities — required for any SMS features.
• ✦Connect your Stripe account for client billing through GHL.

Step 2: White-Label Configuration

White-labelling lets you present GHL as your own branded platform — e.g., "PoweredBy YourAgency CRM" — to clients. This increases perceived value and locks clients into your agency.

• ✦Agency Settings > White Label > Enter your branded platform name and upload logo.
• ✦Set up a custom domain for the client portal (app.youragency.com) — requires DNS CNAME record.
• ✦Configure white-label email so all system emails come from your domain.
• ✦Create a branded mobile app via GHL's white-label mobile app service (additional cost).
• ✦Remove all GHL branding from client-facing interfaces.

Step 3: Build Snapshot Templates

A GHL Snapshot is a pre-built, importable template containing pipelines, automation workflows, email/SMS sequences, forms, funnels, and calendars. Building snapshots for your common client types (e.g., dentist, restaurant, estate agent) cuts onboarding time from days to hours.

• ✦Build a 'new lead nurture' snapshot: contact form → instant SMS → 3-day email sequence → sales call booking.
• ✦Build a 'review request' snapshot: post-service trigger → SMS/email review request → Google review link.
• ✦Build an appointment reminder snapshot: booking confirmation → 24hr reminder SMS → 1hr reminder → follow-up.
• ✦Export snapshots from Agency Settings > Snapshots and import into each new sub-account.

Step 4: Create Sub-Accounts for Clients

Each client gets their own sub-account — a fully isolated GHL environment with their own contacts, pipelines, automations, and settings.

• ✦Agency Dashboard > Sub-Accounts > Add Sub-Account.
• ✦Fill in business name, address, phone, website, timezone, and industry.
• ✦Import your relevant snapshot to pre-populate the account.
• ✦Add the client as a user with the appropriate role (Admin for full access, User for limited).
• ✦Connect their Google Business Profile for reputation management.
• ✦Connect their Facebook and Instagram for social media automation.

Step 5: Core Automation Workflows to Set Up First

These five automations deliver immediate value to every client and take under 2 hours to configure per sub-account:

• ✦New lead instant response: Contact form/Facebook lead → immediate personalised SMS within 60 seconds.
• ✦Missed call text-back: Business misses a call → automatic SMS 'Sorry we missed you, reply to book...'
• ✦Appointment confirmation & reminders: Calendar booking → confirmation email + SMS + 24hr + 1hr reminders.
• ✦Post-service review request: Job marked complete → 2hr delay → SMS with Google review link.
• ✦Lead no-show follow-up: Prospect books but doesn't show → automated re-booking sequence.

Step 6: Pipeline & Sales Management

• ✦Create a pipeline that matches the client's actual sales process (typically 5–7 stages).
• ✦Set up pipeline automations: moving to 'Proposal Sent' triggers an email with the proposal template.
• ✦Configure revenue tracking per pipeline stage so clients can see deal value.
• ✦Set up task creation for each stage transition — never miss a follow-up.

Step 7: Reporting & Client Dashboard

• ✦Use GHL's built-in reporting for lead source tracking, pipeline revenue, and appointment metrics.
• ✦Create a custom dashboard per client showing KPIs they care about.
• ✦Schedule automatic weekly/monthly PDF reports to client email.
• ✦Connect Google Ads and Facebook Ads accounts for ad performance data in one view.

Frequently Asked Questions