GoHighLevel Setup Guide

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⚠️ First: Register for A2P 10DLC (Required Before SMS Works)

US carriers require A2P (Application-to-Person) 10DLC registration before any business SMS can be sent. Without this, your automated texts will never deliver — they go to a silent failure. This is a one-time registration done inside GHL.

Time to complete: 1–5 business days (carrier approval is manual). See the full step-by-step guide →

Log in to your GHL account at app.gohighlevel.com
Go to Settings → SMS → Carrier Registration
Select your company type (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation)
Enter your business information: legal name, EIN (or SSN for sole props), address, website
For Brand Registration, use your business name exactly as it appears legally
Select your use case: Special Offer / Alert / Notification (not marketing — this is transactional SMS)
Submit and wait for carrier approval (1–5 business days)
Once approved, you'll see a green "Verified" status next to your number in Settings → Numbers

Important: Do NOT skip this step. SMS trigger workflows will fire correctly, but without A2P registration the texts silently fail to deliver. The workflow shows "sent" in GHL but the carrier never delivers them.

For full GHL documentation on A2P setup, see their official guide at help.gohighlevel.com → A2P 10DLC.

1

Create a Sub-Account in GoHighLevel

If you don't have a GoHighLevel account yet, sign up at app.gohighlevel.com. Then create a sub-account (or ask us to create one for you — included in the Full System package).

Go to Settings → Sub-Accounts → Create New
Name it after your business (e.g., "ACME Plumbing")
Add your business phone number that will receive missed calls

2

Set Up Your SMS Phone Number

In your GHL sub-account, configure the SMS-enabled number that will send the automated text:

Go to Settings → Numbers → Add Number
Choose an SMS-capable local or toll-free number
Set it as the "From" number for outbound SMS
Note the number — you'll need it for the trigger below

3

Create the Missed-Call Trigger

Go to Workflows in your GHL sidebar. Create a new workflow named "Missed Call Text-Back".

Trigger Settings
Trigger Type:   Incoming Call
Call Status:    Missed
Delay:          0 seconds (immediate)
Phone Number:   [Your configured SMS number]
        

Save the trigger. This fires every time an incoming call is not answered — within milliseconds.

4

Add the SMS Action

After the trigger, add an action: Send SMS

Tip: The SMS sends from the same number that received the missed call, so the lead sees it as a text back from your business — not a random number.

Recommended SMS Script

Hi {{contact.first_name}}! We just missed your call and wanted to reach out right away. What do you need help with today? You can book a call with us right here: [YOUR CALENDLY/CALENDAR LINK]

Key rules for personalization in GHL:

Use {{contact.first_name}} to personalize — GHL supports this variable
Keep the message short — under 160 characters for single-SMS pricing
Always include a calendar link — without it, you're just texting without a CTA
Make it conversational — "what do you need?" not "we offer..."

5

Set Up Your Calendar Booking Link

The SMS must contain a link so leads can book immediately. Use Calendly, Cal.com, or any scheduling tool:

Create a 30-minute intro/discovery call type in your calendar tool
Copy the booking link (e.g., calendly.com/yourbusiness/30min)
Paste it into the SMS body above — GHL will shorten it automatically

Important: Put the booking link at the END of the message so leads don't have to scroll past it to click. Mobile users see the first ~80 characters.

6

Activate the Workflow

Save and activate your workflow. Then test it by calling your configured number from a personal phone and intentionally not answering. You should receive an SMS within 60 seconds.

Set the workflow status to Active
Test with a real call — don't skip this step
Check your GHL contacts list to see the incoming call log
If no SMS arrived, check: Is the number SMS-enabled? Is the workflow saved and active?

7

Add the Payment Link to Your SMS (Optional)

Want contractors to pay immediately after booking? Add the Stripe payment link to your SMS message body so leads can pay without leaving the text thread.

Enhanced SMS Script — with Payment Link

Hi {{contact.first_name}}! We just missed your call. Book a time with us here: [YOUR CALENDLY/CALENDAR LINK]

Ready to get started? Pay your $997 setup fee right here: https://buy.stripe.com/14AaEX7OJ8uc5A4f6x43S02

In your GHL workflow, replace the https://buy.stripe.com/14AaEX7OJ8uc5A4f6x43S02 URL with the link matching your package:

Full System (managed GHL account): https://buy.stripe.com/14AaEX7OJ8uc5A4f6x43S02
Setup Only (your own GHL account): https://buy.stripe.com/7sY00j7OJ39S7Ic7E543S03
You can also find these links at callfirst-2.polsia.app/checkout

Tip: Put the calendar link first (it has higher intent). The payment link comes after — leads who booked a call are warm and more likely to convert. You can also add a Delay action (e.g., 30 minutes) so the payment SMS arrives after they've had time to book first.

8

Connect Your Calendar (Optional)

GHL can embed your calendar availability directly in SMS replies for a richer experience. To enable this:

Go to Settings → Integrations → Calendar
Connect your Calendly or Google Calendar
In the workflow SMS action, use {{calendar.link}} variable if supported
Alternatively, just paste your direct Calendly link in the SMS

Configure Your GoHighLevel Missed-Call Automation