Anthony McGrath

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How to set up GoHighLevel

Live guide · Checked 26 October 2026 · Updated 26 October 2026 · Checked every week against GoHighLevel's own help pages

Set up a GoHighLevel sub-account with your phone number, email, calendar, pipeline and a first automation to follow up leads.

Time
1 to 2 hours
You will need
  • A GoHighLevel account (agency or sub-account access)
  • Your business details and logo
  • Access to your domain DNS for email sending
  • A card for phone and email usage costs
Stuck?
Troubleshooting or ask me a question

Step by step

  1. Create or open your sub-account

    In the agency view, go to Sub-Accounts and create one for your business (or open the one you were given). Fill in the business name, address, time zone and logo under Settings > Business Profile.

  2. Add your team

    In Settings > My Staff, invite your team and give each person only the permissions they need.

  3. Set up a phone number

    In Settings > Phone Numbers, buy a local number. For UK numbers and SMS you will need to complete the regulatory bundle (business proof and address).

  4. Set up email sending

    In Settings > Email Services, add a dedicated sending domain (for example mail.yoursite.co.uk) and add the DNS records shown. This keeps your emails out of spam.

  5. Connect Google and Facebook

    In Settings > Integrations, connect your Google Business Profile, Facebook Page and Instagram so messages and reviews come into one inbox.

  6. Create a calendar

    Go to Calendars, create a booking calendar, set your availability, meeting length and buffer times, and connect your Google or Outlook calendar to avoid double bookings.

  7. Build your pipeline

    In Opportunities > Pipelines, create stages that match your sales process, for example New lead, Contacted, Booked, Quoted, Won, Lost.

  8. Add a form or funnel

    In Sites > Forms (or Funnels), create a lead form and put it on your website. Every submission becomes a contact.

  9. Create your first workflow

    In Automation > Workflows, start from a template or build: trigger Form submitted → create opportunity → send an instant SMS and email → notify you → wait → follow-up if no reply.

  10. Test everything

    Fill in your own form and check the contact appears, the pipeline updates, and the messages and notifications arrive.

Tips from 22 years of doing this

  • Reply to new leads within 5 minutes: speed to lead is where GoHighLevel pays for itself.
  • Turn on missed call text back in your phone settings.
  • Keep workflows simple and name them clearly.

Troubleshooting: questions and answers

My SMS messages are not sending.

UK numbers need the regulatory bundle approved before sending. Check Settings > Phone Numbers for its status, and make sure your wallet has credit.

Workflows are not triggering.

Check the workflow is Published, not Draft, and the trigger filters match (for example the right form is selected). Use the workflow's Execution logs to see what happened to a test contact.

Emails land in spam.

Set up a dedicated sending domain in Settings > Email Services and add every DNS record it shows. Warm it up with small sends first.

Calendar bookings are double-booking me.

Connect your Google or Outlook calendar in the calendar settings and choose it as the conflict calendar, so busy times are blocked.

Official help pages

Want this done for you?

I have set these up for over 500 businesses in 22 years. If you would rather spend your time on the business, I can set it up properly, check your tracking and get it working for you.

Get a free consultation

Still stuck, or have a question?

Tell me where you got to and what you see. I read every message and reply by email, usually the same working day.