How to set up GoHighLevel: a step-by-step guide

In short

Setting up GoHighLevel correctly from the start saves hours of troubleshooting later. The order matters: start with your agency settings, then your sub-account, then connect a phone number and email sending domain, then build your first calendar and funnel, and finally set up your first automation workflow. This guide goes through each step in that order.

Step 1: Complete your agency settings

When you first log in, you are in the agency dashboard. Go to Settings and fill in your agency name, address, and time zone. Add your logo. These details flow into sub-accounts you create later.

Connect your billing method if you plan to use LC Phone (SMS and calls) or LC Email. GoHighLevel bills usage charges to this card.

Step 2: Create your first sub-account

Go to Sub-Accounts and click Add Sub-Account. Fill in the business name, address, phone, and time zone for the business this account represents. If you are setting up GoHighLevel just for yourself, this is you.

You can load a snapshot at this step. If you have a snapshot for your use case, load it now. Otherwise, build from scratch.

Step 3: Set up LC Phone

Inside your sub-account, go to Settings, then Phone Numbers. Click Add Number, search by area code, and purchase a number. This takes about two minutes and costs a small monthly fee.

Once you have a number, incoming calls ring in GoHighLevel and outbound calls come from this number.

For A2P 10DLC compliance (required for US SMS sending), you also need to register your business and campaign. Go to Settings, LC Phone, then A2P Registration. This takes a few days to get approved but is required to send SMS in bulk.

Step 4: Set up LC Email

Go to Settings, then Email Services. Add your sending domain (for example, mail.yourbusiness.com). GoHighLevel shows you the DNS records to add at your domain registrar. Add them, then click Verify.

Once verified, emails from your workflows and campaigns go out from your domain rather than a shared GoHighLevel domain. This improves deliverability.

Step 5: Connect your calendar

Go to Calendars and click Create Calendar. Choose the type (one-on-one for most people starting out). Set your availability, appointment duration, buffer time, and the questions you want to ask during booking.

In the Integrations settings, connect your Google Calendar or Outlook so GoHighLevel reads your real availability and avoids double-booking.

Step 6: Build your first funnel or form

If your goal is to capture leads, go to Sites and build a simple landing page with a form. If you want to book calls, embed your calendar booking link on a page.

Keep the first funnel simple: one headline, a few benefit bullets, and a form or calendar embed. You can add polish once the basic flow is working.

Step 7: Create your first workflow

Go to Automations and create a new workflow. Set the trigger to "Form submitted" (or whichever trigger starts your flow). Add an action to send a confirmation SMS or email. Add a wait step. Add a follow-up message.

Test the workflow by submitting your own form. Confirm you receive the messages. Once it works, activate it.

Frequently asked questions