Workflows & Automation
How to Use the Set Event Start Date Step in GoHighLevel Workflows
By Marnix Geerkens. Published 2021-11-18. Updated 2026-06-02.
The Set Event Start Date step in GoHighLevel workflows defines a reference point in time that all subsequent wait steps can measure against. You can pull the date from a custom contact field, enter a fixed date and time, or calculate it from a recurring day of the week or month. This makes it possible to send reminders before renewals, webinars, or any other scheduled event without building separate workflows for each date.
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Summary. This tutorial explains the three modes of the Set Event Start Date workflow step: custom field, specific date and time, and day-based recurring dates. Each mode is paired with practical examples, including insurance renewal reminders pulled from a contact field, webinar reminders fired before a fixed date, and open house alerts timed to the next occurrence of a specific weekday. Go-to steps are used to loop contacts back through the sequence for ongoing recurring events.
What you will learn
- Use a custom date field on a contact to drive time-based reminders like renewals or anniversaries
- Set a fixed date and time when running a one-time campaign tied to a specific event
- Use the day-based option to target the next occurrence of a specific weekday or day of the month
- Combine wait steps with 'before' timing to hold contacts until a set number of days or hours before the event
- Use a Go To step to loop contacts back through the workflow for recurring events
Steps
Add the Set Event Start Date step
Inside a workflow, click the plus button to add an action and search for 'Set Event Start Date'. This step must appear before any wait step that references an event time.
Choose Custom Field mode for contact-specific dates
Select 'Custom Field' as the type. Click the tag icon and choose a date or text type custom field from the contact record, such as a policy purchase date or membership anniversary. The workflow reads this field for each individual contact.
Add a wait step referencing the event time
After the Set Event Start Date step, add a Wait step. Switch the wait type to 'Event/Appointment Time'. Set the timing to 'Before' and enter the number of days or hours. For a 14-day renewal reminder, enter 14 days.
Send the timed message
After the wait step, add your email, SMS, or voicemail action with the reminder content. Use a custom value to insert the exact date from the contact's field into the message body.
Add a Go To step for recurring events
For annual renewals or weekly events, add a Go To step after your messaging actions and point it back to the Set Event Start Date step. This loops the contact back to the top so the same workflow handles the next cycle automatically.
Use Date/Time mode for fixed event dates
For a single upcoming webinar or course session, choose 'Date/Time' as the type and enter the exact date and time. Add as many wait-then-message pairs as you need, each with a different 'before' interval, for a sequence of reminders leading up to the event.
Use Day mode for recurring weekly or monthly events
Select 'Day' as the type. Choose 'Current Day of Week' and pick the day, or 'Current Day of Month' for monthly events. Set the time. GoHighLevel calculates the next upcoming occurrence of that day and time and holds each contact in the wait step until the correct moment.
Tips
- The Day mode is ideal for businesses like real estate agents or fitness studios that run the same event every week on a fixed day.
- Insert the date from a custom field directly into SMS or email copy so the reminder reads 'Your policy expires on [date]' rather than a generic message.
- Make sure the custom date field type is set to Date in your GoHighLevel custom fields settings, not plain text, for accurate calculations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the three modes in Set Event Start Date?
Custom Field reads a date from the contact record. Date/Time uses one fixed date you enter. Day calculates the next matching weekday or day of the month automatically.
Can I send multiple reminders before the same event?
Yes. Add multiple wait-then-message pairs with different 'before' intervals, all referencing the same event start date.
How do I make the workflow repeat automatically for annual renewals?
Add a Go To step after the final message that loops back to the Set Event Start Date step. The workflow recalculates the date from the custom field each time.
Does the Day mode target the next occurrence or the current week?
It targets the next upcoming occurrence of that weekday or day of the month from when the contact hits that step.
Can I combine this with appointment scheduling?
Yes. Appointment time is a separate wait option, but the Event Start Date step is better for events not booked through the GoHighLevel calendar.