Let me start by saying this: I don’t use GoHighLevel anymore – but I still highly recommend it.

That might sound weird, right?

But once you hear how I got started with it, how long it took me to learn, and why I’d still recommend it to businesses (even though I’ve moved away from client work), it’ll make total sense.

This is the kind of tool I wish more business owners knew about – especially the ones trying to grow without drowning in tech.

Why I Chose GoHighLevel in the First Place

When I first discovered GoHighLevel, I was deep in the rabbit hole of trying to figure out how to help local businesses automate things.

You know, the stuff they’re always too busy to do:

• Following up with leads
• Sending appointment reminders
• Getting more reviews
• Building landing pages
• Connecting a calendar
• Creating email or SMS flows

Most small business owners don’t have time (or the desire) to learn 5 different tools. They just want a system that works.

That’s what drew me to GoHighLevel.

It promised an all-in-one platform that could handle:

• ? Lead capture
• ? Lead qualification
• ? Review management
• ? Messaging + email follow-up
• ? Smart automations (with AI)

… and all of that could be customized and set up once, then run on autopilot. It sounded perfect.

I signed up through Pavel’s community and joined his Skool group to learn the basics. I was completely new to workflows and automation – but I was determined to figure it out so I could eventually offer done-for-you systems to businesses who didn’t want to deal with the tech.

The Learning Curve (Spoiler: It Was Steep)

Well, let me say this – GoHighLevel isn’t the kind of tool you just log into and instantly understand the interface.

The first few days I had no idea what I was looking at.

Funnels? Pipelines? Workflows? I didn’t even know how to connect my email properly.

But I stuck with it and after about three weeks, I was reaching out to businesses.

Once I set up my first workflow and saw it in action, it was like: “Ohhhh… okay, now this makes sense.”

The hardest part is the initial setup. Getting your account structured, integrating email, calendar, domain, etc.

After that? Honestly, most of it becomes copy + paste. You can reuse workflows, templates, and funnel layouts across different clients or offers. That’s a huge time saver once you’ve built your first setup.

What GoHighLevel Can Actually Do

Here’s what I personally found useful:

✅ Drag-and-Drop Website + Funnel Builder

You don’t need WordPress, Wix, or any other builder. GHL gives you full control with templates or a blank slate if you want to start from scratch.

✅ AI Chat Widget

This is one of the coolest features. A customizable chatbot that can be trained on business info, FAQs, or booking flows. You can add it to websites, funnels, or even embed it in follow-up sequences.

✅ Booking + Calendar System

Create automated appointment flows with reminder emails or texts. I loved that I didn’t need to use Calendly anymore.

✅ Email + SMS Marketing

You can create full email sequences, newsletters, and auto-responses. SMS campaigns are also possible, though…

⚠️ WhatsApp + SMS Integration Comes With a Catch

It can connect to WhatsApp and SMS, which is great for local businesses, but the approval process is frustratingly slow. It can take weeks, and there’s often no clear ETA.

✅ Workflows + Automation Builder

This is where the magic happens. You create triggers like “when someone fills this form” → “send this email” → “book a call” → “assign to pipeline.” It’s totally visual and flexible.

What I Loved vs. What Could Be Better

? What I Loved

• Everything in one place – no juggling multiple tools
• Once you build a system, it’s easy to duplicate for new offers or clients
• It makes you look like a tech wizard (even if you’re not)
• Huge library of templates so you’re not starting from scratch
• AI and automation features are seriously powerful

? What Could Be Better

• Steep learning curve (especially if you’re new to automation)
• Interface isn’t super intuitive for beginners
• SMS/WhatsApp setup is slow and clunky
• The pricing tiers are a bit confusing at first

Pricing

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

? Starter Plan – \$97/month

Includes 1 account, email marketing, funnels, website builder, booking, CRM — enough for one brand or business.

? Agency Starter – \$297/month

Manage multiple clients (aka sub-accounts), unlock white-label branding, and more advanced automations.

? Agency Pro – \$497/month

All of the above plus extra AI features, white-label mobile app, and extra integrations.

⚠️ Heads up: pricing can change, and there are always promos floating around. Check the trial page for the latest.

Why I Don’t Use It Anymore (But Still Recommend It)

Right now, I’m not offering 1:1 services or building client funnels, so I don’t have the business need for GoHighLevel.

But if I were still offering automation systems or website packages for service businesses? I’d be all over it.

This platform is not for dabblers. It’s for people who want to automate serious parts of their business or agencies who want to manage multiple clients under one roof.

Who GoHighLevel Is (and Isn’t) For

✅ Great For:

• Agencies and freelancers building out client systems
• Coaches, consultants, and course creators
• Local businesses ready to automate follow-ups, reviews, bookings, and more

❌ Maybe Not For:

• Total beginners just starting with their first website or email tool
• Budget-conscious solopreneurs who don’t need advanced features (yet)

Final Verdict

GoHighLevel isn’t a done-for-you platform/software, but if you’re serious about automating your business or helping others do it, it’s one of the most powerful tools I’ve ever tested.

I don’t use it anymore because I pivoted away from client work, but I’m glad I learned it. It gave me a solid foundation in workflows and automation, and it’s still the tool I’d recommend to anyone who’s ready to scale with systems.

Want to Try GoHighLevel?

If you’re curious whether it could work for you or your business, you can try it free for 14 days right here:
? 14 day free trial

That’s how I started – and honestly, it was worth signing up just to see what’s possible.