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Set up HighLevel in this order: 1) your business profile and phone number, 2) text registration (A2P 10DLC), 3) your booking calendar, 4) one simple pipeline with a lead form, 5) missed-call text back and follow-up. Skip advanced automations until leads flow and every lead has a next step. Want it done with you? Built Live runs one-day, hands-on build days in South Florida.
Table of contents
Your first 5 steps
When you log in for the first time, HighLevel can feel overwhelming with dozens of menus and tabs. Follow this exact order to avoid standard setup traps.
Profile + Phone Number
Add your legal business name, address, website, and select a local phone number. This establishes your sender identity.
A2P 10DLC Text Registration
US mobile carriers require business text registration before outbound texts reach clients without blocking. Submit this right after attaching your number.
Booking Calendar
Connect Google Calendar or Outlook and set your availability hours. Syncing your real availability prevents double bookings from day one.
Pipeline + Lead Form
Build one simple lead pipeline (e.g. New Lead, Contacted, Booked, Won) and embed a basic lead form on your website or landing page.
Missed-Call Text Back + Follow-Up
Enable the instant automated SMS reply when an incoming call goes unanswered, plus a simple 2-step text follow-up sequence.
What to skip in week one
Trying to build everything at once leads to half-finished features and missed calls. Postpone these 5 things until your core pipeline is handling live leads:
- Complex multi-path automations: Keep your first workflows linear. Avoid branching decision trees until simple 2-step sequences work reliably.
- Buying multiple phone numbers: Start with one local number. Adding secondary numbers before A2P approval complicates campaign verification.
- Importing massive old contact lists: Uploading cold or outdated lead lists before text permissions are set up risks high bounce rates and carrier filters.
- Custom CSS or complex code snippets: Stick to standard forms and booking widgets first. Beautiful formatting doesn't help if the underlying calendar isn't connected.
- Building elaborate sales funnels before the calendar works: Ensure lead notifications and appointment syncing work perfectly before building multi-page funnel steps.
Pick your path
Choose how you want to build based on your timeline and resources:
Learn it myself
Follow our step-by-step guides, video walk-throughs, and setup checklists at your own speed.
Get it built in one day
Bring your laptop to Built Live at the Hilton Miami Aventura. Build your entire system side-by-side with John Bermudez.
1:1 or team training
Get dedicated 1:1 screen share assistance online or on-site team training at your South Florida office.
Guides by business type
Every industry has specific appointment flows, review strategies, and follow-up timing. Find tailored setups for your niche:
HighLevel for Real Estate Agents
Answer every lead, follow up, and know your pipeline.
HighLevel for Medical Practices
Front-desk follow-up that keeps clinical details out of texts.
HighLevel for Home Services
Answer fast, book the estimate, follow up until the job.
HighLevel for Salons, Spas, Studios & Gyms
The pillar guide for beauty, wellness and fitness owners.
HighLevel for Hair Salons
Fill chairs, rebook color clients, win back lapsed ones.
HighLevel for Barbershops
Reminders, reviews and win-backs that keep regulars coming back.
HighLevel for Nail Salons
Fill reminders, reviews and follow-up in more than one language.
HighLevel for Lash, Brow & Beauty Studios
Fills, deposits, no-show follow-up and aftercare that earns reviews.
HighLevel for Skincare Studios
Turn a first facial into a treatment plan and a membership.
HighLevel for Hair Removal Studios
Keep laser series on schedule and wax regulars coming back.
HighLevel for Tattoo & Piercing Studios
One inbox for every DM, a pipeline for custom pieces, aftercare.
HighLevel for Med Spas
More consults that book, more clients who come back on schedule.
HighLevel for IV Therapy
Fast replies, memberships and repeat visits for IV therapy.
HighLevel for Wellness Centers
Programs, memberships and leads for wellness centers.
HighLevel for Massage Studios
Fill the schedule, sell memberships and rebook clients.
HighLevel for Day Spas
More bookings, packages and reviews for day spas.
HighLevel for Gyms
More trials, more members, less churn.
HighLevel for Yoga Studios
Intro offers to memberships for yoga studios.
HighLevel for Pilates Studios
Fill reformer classes and turn intros into packs.
Stuck right now?
If something isn't delivering, your messages aren't sending, or you aren't sure which setting to change, use these troubleshooting resources:
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"Where Am I?" Setup Tracker
Check off what you have built so far. Saves automatically in your browser.
Your next 2 steps:
Common questions
Start with your business profile and phone number, then submit your A2P 10DLC registration immediately. While waiting for carrier approval, set up your calendar and main pipeline.
John Bermudez
HighLevel trainer and consultant · Built Live · South Florida
who has taught HighLevel to 50,000+ business owners in 5+ countries over 2.5+ years
Keep learning
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Match the problem to the right help, free and paid.
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Stuck on something in HighLevel? Ask John.
I read every question. The best ones become free guides on this page.
Want this built in your own account, with your team, over three days?
Built Live is a hands-on, three-day HighLevel Business Mastery event in Miami, FL — December 11–13, 2026. 15 seats per session.
Prefer to read first? The Built Live Workbook comes with every seat.
No HighLevel account yet?
Start a free trial right now and get in and started.
You can set up a trial in minutes and follow along with everything we build — no account required to reserve a seat, but you'll want one in hand by build day.
Start your HighLevel trialWe earn a commission if you sign up for HighLevel through our referral link, at no additional cost to you. We remain an independent training provider, not a HighLevel employee, agent or official representative.