How to Use GHL Payments + Invoicing for Recurring Billing
Table of Contents
Why Automating Payments Matters
What Makes GHL Invoicing a Game-Changer
Setting Up GHL Payments (Step-by-Step)
Creating and Automating Recurring Billing
Managing Subscriptions and Payment Workflows
How Agencies Use GHL Invoicing to Scale Faster
Common Billing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
GoHighLevel Training Resources to Master Payments
Final Thoughts
Why Automating Payments Matters
Let’s be honest manual billing is one of the least fun parts of running a business. Chasing invoices, sending payment reminders, and keeping track of recurring clients can drain your time and focus.
That’s why GoHighLevel (GHL) introduced a full-fledged payments and invoicing system that turns your billing process into a smooth, automated experience.
With GHL invoicing, you can:
Collect payments automatically
Set up recurring billing for clients
Send branded invoices directly from your dashboard
Track all transactions without external tools
In short, you can focus on growth, not bookkeeping.
And if you’re serious about scaling your automation skills, you’ll love the insights and video walkthroughs in the GoHighLevel Mastery Course designed for agencies that want to simplify everything from sales to invoicing.
What Makes GHL Invoicing a Game-Changer
Before diving into setup, let’s understand why GHL invoicing stands out from other billing tools.
✅ 1. Unified CRM + Billing
No more switching between Stripe, PayPal, and spreadsheets. GHL lets you manage leads, campaigns, and payments all in one place.
✅ 2. Branded, Professional Invoices
You can send sleek, customized invoices with your logo, brand colors, and payment terms. It’s perfect for agencies wanting a professional client experience.
✅ 3. Automation-Ready
You can trigger invoices automatically after a sale, subscription signup, or milestone no manual work required.
✅ 4. Supports Recurring Payments
This is a huge win for subscription-based businesses, coaches, and marketing agencies. GHL handles everything from monthly retainers to ongoing service fees with ease.
✅ 5. Real-Time Tracking
You can monitor who paid, who’s late, and who needs a gentle reminder all within your GHL dashboard.
With GHL invoicing, you’re not just collecting payments you’re building a predictable, automated revenue stream.
Setting Up GHL Payments (Step-by-Step)
Setting up GHL payments only takes a few minutes. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Connect Your Payment Processor
Go to:
Settings → Payments → Connect Gateway
GHL supports multiple payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, allowing you to collect credit card or ACH payments securely.
Once connected, test a small transaction to ensure the link works properly.
Step 2: Enable Payments in Your Account
Head to your sub-account settings, and under “Payments,” make sure “Enable Payments” is toggled on.
Step 3: Set Up Your Products
Go to Payments → Products and create your products or services.
Include details like:
Name (e.g., “Monthly SEO Package”)
Description
Price
Frequency (one-time or recurring)
Step 4: Customize Your Invoice Template
You can fully personalize your invoices by adding:
Your logo and branding
Custom colors and fonts
Business address, terms, and due dates
Optional notes (like “Thank you for your partnership!”)
Step 5: Automate Payment Workflows
Now comes the fun part automation.
You can set up workflows that automatically:
Send invoices
Charge recurring clients
Send reminders for overdue payments
If you want to master advanced workflow setups, check out this internal tutorial:
👉 How to Create Them Snapshots
Creating and Automating Recurring Billing
Now that your payment gateway and products are ready, let’s build recurring billing inside GHL.
Step 1: Create a Recurring Product
Go to:
Payments → Products → Create New Product
Under “Frequency,” select Recurring and define the billing cycle weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
Example:
Product Name: “Monthly Social Media Retainer”
Price: $1,000/month
Billing: Every 30 days
Step 2: Automate Subscription Enrollment
You can automatically enroll clients in a recurring plan after they make an initial payment or sign a contract.
Set this up under:
Workflows → Triggers → New Purchase / Invoice Paid
Then, choose actions like:
“Add to recurring plan”
“Send confirmation email”
“Add tag: Active Subscriber”
Step 3: Automate Renewal Notifications
Send clients friendly reminders before each renewal.
For example:
Trigger: “7 days before subscription renewal”
Action: “Send email → Subject: ‘Your Monthly Subscription Renews Soon!’”
This not only reduces cancellations but also keeps clients informed and happy.
Step 4: Handle Failed Payments Automatically
One of the most powerful parts of GHL invoicing is the ability to automate recovery.
Create a workflow:
Trigger: “Payment Failed”
Action:
Send payment reminder email
Add a “Payment Pending” tag
Notify your team
This ensures no client slips through the cracks.
Managing Subscriptions and Payment Workflows
Once you’ve automated recurring payments, managing clients becomes effortless.
Here’s how to make the most of GHL’s built-in tools:
1. Use Smart Lists for Active Subscribers
Create a smart list to monitor all active, pending, or canceled subscribers.
This gives you instant insight into cash flow and churn rates.
2. Generate Automated Reports
Under Payments → Reports, you can track:
Total revenue
Outstanding invoices
Recurring payment performance
Client payment history
3. Integrate with Pipelines
You can connect payment stages directly to your sales pipelines.
For instance:
“Invoice Sent” → “Invoice Paid” → “Service Started”
This makes your sales and billing systems fully synchronized.
4. Offer Upsells with One-Click Payments
After a client pays for one service, send an automated offer for an add-on using a single-click payment link.
This is great for cross-selling and boosting your average client value.
How Agencies Use GHL Invoicing to Scale Faster
Agencies across industries are using GHL invoicing to simplify operations and increase profitability.
Let’s explore a few real-world examples:
Example 1: Marketing Agencies
Agencies use recurring payments GoHighLevel to bill clients monthly for retainers. Automated invoicing means consistent revenue and fewer administrative headaches.
Example 2: Coaching Businesses
Coaches and consultants love setting up subscription packages for ongoing mentorship programs. Clients are automatically billed each month no reminders needed.
Example 3: SaaS Companies
SaaS businesses use GHL’s recurring billing to manage user subscriptions and payment renewals effortlessly.
Example 4: Freelancers and Service Providers
Even solo entrepreneurs can send branded invoices, track payments, and automate reminders making them look professional without any extra tools.
In every case, automation equals consistency.
Instead of wasting time chasing payments, you build reliable income and trust with your clients.
Common Billing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even the best automation tools can’t fix bad processes so here are a few pitfalls to watch for:
❌ 1. Forgetting to Set Up Payment Reminders
Clients often forget due dates. Always schedule automated reminders to ensure timely payments.
❌ 2. Overcomplicating Invoice Designs
Keep your invoices clean and simple. Too much clutter can confuse clients.
❌ 3. Not Using Tags and Segmentation
Tag your clients by service type, payment frequency, and renewal date. This helps with tracking and personalized follow-ups.
❌ 4. Ignoring Failed Payments
Don’t let failed transactions go unnoticed. Use GHL triggers to alert your team instantly.
❌ 5. Skipping Reports
Your payment reports tell the real story of your agency’s financial health. Check them weekly to spot trends and opportunities.
GoHighLevel Training Resources to Master Payments
Learning to automate your billing system isn’t just about convenience it’s about building predictable revenue.
That’s why GoHighLevel Mastery exists to help agency owners and business operators like you unlock the full potential of automation.
Inside the GoHighLevel Mastery Course, you’ll discover:
Step-by-step tutorials on setting up GHL invoicing and payments
Proven automation templates for recurring billing
Advanced workflows for client retention and upselling
Video lessons to help you master the platform in days, not months
If you prefer written guides, explore our internal resource here:
👉 How to Create Them Snapshots
It walks you through how to set up reusable automation templates perfect for billing, onboarding, and follow-ups.
Whether you’re managing a few clients or hundreds, learning the art of automation through Gohighlevel Training and Go high level training videos can save you countless hours every month.
Final Thoughts
GHL invoicing and recurring payments GoHighLevel are more than just convenience features they’re foundational tools for scaling a business sustainably.
When you automate billing:
You reduce errors
Improve client experience
Create predictable revenue streams
And when you combine this with GHL’s CRM, workflows, and marketing automation, you get a complete system that handles everything from lead generation to revenue collection.
If you’re serious about scaling, it’s time to master GoHighLevel payments automation once and for all.
Start learning today with the GoHighLevel Mastery Course your ultimate guide to becoming a GHL expert.
And don’t forget to explore our in-depth tutorial on How to Create Them Snapshots to level up your recurring billing setup today.
