Helpful Getting Started Guide for Faster Business Growth

The very first thing you need to understand about HighLevel is its structure. The platform is divided into two main areas:

1. Agency View: This is your master dashboard. It is where you manage your billing, create new client accounts, set up your white-label branding, and view all your clients at a glance. Only you and your team have access to this view.
2. Sub-Account View: This is the actual workspace where the marketing happens. Every client you bring on gets their own isolated Sub-Account. You will also create a Sub-Account for your own agency to run your own marketing.

Your First Action: When you log in, you will be in the Agency View. Your first task is to create a Sub-Account for your own agency. This is where you will build your own website, funnels, and CRM.

Before you start bringing on clients, you need to get your own house in order. Switch to the Sub-Account you just created for your agency and complete these essential setups:

• Connect Your Domain: Go to Settings > Domains and connect your agency’s website domain. This allows you to host your website and funnels directly on HighLevel.
• Set Up Your Phone Number: Go to Settings > Phone Numbers and purchase a Twilio number. This allows you to send and receive SMS messages and track phone calls.
• Connect Your Email: Go to Settings > Email Services and connect your email provider (like Mailgun or Google Workspace) so you can send automated emails.
• Integrate Your Calendar: Go to Calendars and connect your Google or Outlook calendar. This replaces tools like Calendly and allows prospects to book calls directly with you.

A pipeline is a visual representation of your sales process. It shows you exactly where every lead is in their journey to becoming a client.

1. Navigate to Opportunities > Pipelines.
2. Click Create New Pipeline.
3. Name it “Agency Sales Pipeline.”
4. Add your stages. A simple setup might be: New Lead > Discovery Call Booked > Proposal Sent > Won > Lost.

Now, as leads come in, you can drag and drop them through these stages, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.

You need a way to capture leads for your agency. HighLevel’s funnel builder makes this easy.

1. Go to Sites > Funnels and click New Funnel.
2. You can start from scratch or choose from hundreds of pre-built templates.
3. Create a simple two-step funnel:
   • Step 1: The Landing Page. Offer something of value (a free audit, a lead magnet, or a consultation) in exchange for their name, email, and phone number.
   • Step 2: The Thank You/Booking Page. Thank them for opting in and embed the calendar you set up in Step 2 so they can book a call immediately.

This is where HighLevel truly shines. When someone fills out the form on your new funnel, you want to follow up with them instantly and automatically.

1. Go to Automation > Workflows and click Create Workflow.
2. Set your Trigger: Choose “Form Submitted” and select the form from your new funnel.
3. Add your Actions:
   • Action 1: Create Opportunity (Add them to the “New Lead” stage in your pipeline).
   • Action 2: Send an SMS (e.g., “Hi [Name], thanks for requesting our guide! Did you want to book a quick call to discuss it?”).
   • Action 3: Send an Email with the promised value or next steps.
   • Action 4: Internal Notification (Send yourself a text or email so you know you have a new lead).

Once your agency account is running smoothly, it is time to bring on a client.

1. Go back to the Agency View.
2. Click Sub-Accounts > Create Sub-Account.
3. You can choose a “Snapshot” (a pre-built template for specific industries like real estate or gyms) or start blank.
4. Enter the client’s business details.
5. Switch into their new Sub-Account and repeat Steps 2-5 for their business!

HighLevel is incredibly powerful. It can build courses, manage social media, handle reputation management, and run complex AI bots.

Do not try to learn all of this on day one.

Start with the basics: capturing leads, tracking them in a pipeline, and automating the follow-up. Once you have mastered those fundamentals and are seeing results, you can start exploring the advanced features.

The best way to learn HighLevel is to get your hands dirty and start building.

Start your exclusive extended trial of HighLevel today and take the first step toward streamlining your agency.