In today’s digital age, starting a Software as a Service (SaaS) business has become more accessible. One platform that’s making this particularly easy is GoHighLevel. This guide will walk you through setting up your own SaaS business using GoHighLevel’s SaaS mode, breaking it down into six simple steps.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen the power of SaaS in scaling businesses. I started my software company in 2015, grew it to over 15,000 paying clients, and successfully exited the industry last year. Now, I’m here to share my proven strategies with you.
What is GoHighLevel Mode?
Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what GoHighLevel is. It’s an all-in-one sales and marketing solution designed for marketing agency owners.
This comprehensive software allows you to run your digital marketing agency and manage all your clients under one account. But the game-changer is GoHighLevel’s SaaS mode, launched last year.
The SaaS mode enables you to white-label their software, meaning you can customize it with your domain and logo and even connect your Stripe account.
This feature lets you bring on all your clients and run your business as your own software company.
The best part? It automates account creation and recurring billing, allowing your clients to use the software without you handling all the done-for-you service and fulfillment.
Six Steps to Start Your SaaS Business with GoHighLevel
1. Get a GoHighLevel Account
Start by visiting the GoHighLevel website and signing up for their free trial. They offer extended trial periods for their SaaS mode, perfect for new and existing GoHighLevel users who want to upgrade.
2. Create a Sub-Account
Once you have your account, go to the admin portal and create a sub-account specifically for your business. This is where you’ll build your website, sales funnels, email marketing, and everything else you need.
Watch the Video on how to create a Go High-level sub-account.
3. Load a Snapshot
GoHighLevel is a powerful platform for digital marketing agencies, offering a wide range of tools and features to streamline their operations. One such feature is the snapshot system, which allows users to create, share, and manage snapshots of their sub-accounts.
GoHighLevel offers pre-built snapshots, including professionally designed websites, sales funnels, and more.
Creating a GoHighLevel Snapshot
- Navigate to the sub-account you want to create a snapshot of.
- Set up all the workflows, sites, funnels, calendars, and custom fields within the sub-account.
- Go to the agency view and click on “Settings.”
- Click on “Snapshot” and then “Create a new snapshot.”
- Give your snapshot a name (e.g., “Complete Digital Agency Snapshot”).
- Select the sub-account from which you want to create the snapshot.
- Click “Save” to create the snapshot.
4. Configure Your SaaS Mode
In the SaaS configurator tab, you can create your plans, set features for each plan, and determine your pricing.
For example, you could offer a $199/month plan with features like reviews, messaging, web chat, and 1,000 SMS credits. You can even mark up text message costs for additional revenue.
This flexibility allows you to tailor your offerings to your target market.
5. Set Up Your Website and Sales Funnels
Customize the pre-built website template with your logo and business name.
The template includes product pages, pricing pages, and checkout sales funnels that automatically create sub-accounts for new clients. This automation saves you time and ensures a smooth onboarding process.
6. Connect Your Stripe Account
To handle payments, connect your Stripe account to the GoHighLevel settings. Then, import your product prices from Stripe to align with your SaaS configurator settings.
This integration ensures seamless billing and revenue collection.
GoHigh Level Mode Pricing Options
Additional Features
Industry-Specific Templates:
You can pre-build template accounts with industry-specific sales funnels, emails, and text messages if you serve a specific industry.
This personalization can significantly boost your appeal to niche markets.
Automatic Feature Provisioning:
When clients sign up for a specific plan, GoHighLevel automatically grants them access to the correct features and applies the proper billing. This automation prevents manual errors and saves you time.
Upselling Opportunities:
If a client wants to cancel their full-service package, you can offer to keep them on your core software features at a lower monthly rate. This strategy helps retain clients and maintain a steady revenue stream.
Benefits of Your Own SaaS Business
1. Recurring Revenue:
SaaS businesses thrive on subscription models, providing a predictable, ongoing income.
2. Scalability:
With automation handling most tasks, you can grow your client base without proportionally increasing your workload.
3. Value Increase:
A SaaS component significantly boosts your agency’s value, making it more attractive to potential buyers.
4. Client Retention:
Clients who drop complete services will likely stay for essential software features.
Conclusion
Starting your own SaaS business doesn’t have to be daunting. With tools like GoHighLevel’s SaaS mode, you can quickly set up a professional, automated system that handles everything from website design to billing. This increases the value and profitability of your business and provides a steady stream of recurring revenue.
By following these six steps and leveraging GoHighLevel’s powerful features, you’re not just starting a business but building a scalable, valuable asset.
Whether you’re new to the digital marketing world or looking to add a SaaS component to your existing agency, this guide provides you with the roadmap to success. So, are you ready to embark on your SaaS journey and unlock unprecedented growth? Let’s get started!