Drop Funnel

So, you’re ready to make GoHighLevel your all-in-one marketing machine, but it’s not gonna process payments on its own—kinda like a car without gas. That’s where Stripe comes in, the go-to payment gateway for GHL. It’s like the peanut butter to GHL’s jelly, letting you take credit card payments, sell courses, or even run a SaaS business right inside the platform. I once helped a buddy’s yoga studio link Stripe to GHL to sell their online classes, and it was a game-changer—clients were paying in minutes. But I also had a moment where I botched the setup and spent an hour cursing at error messages. Here’s how to do it right, step-by-step, with some hard-earned tips to keep you sane.

What You’ll Need

• A GoHighLevel account. You’ll need admin access at the agency or sub-account level, depending on where you’re connecting Stripe.
• A Stripe account. If you don’t have one, it’s free to set up, but you’ll need your business and bank details handy.
• A browser and a decent internet connection. Sounds obvious, but I once tried this on spotty coffee shop Wi-Fi and regretted it.
• A little patience for testing—trust me, it saves headaches later.

Step 1: Set Up Your Stripe Account

Before you touch GHL, make sure your Stripe account is ready to roll. If you don’t have one, head to stripe.com and sign up. It’s free, but you’ll need to enter your business info, like your name, address, and bank details for payouts. I helped a client set this up once, and they forgot to verify their email—Stripe wouldn’t let us proceed until that was done, so double-check that.

Once your account’s active, go to the Stripe Dashboard, click “Developers” > “API Keys” in the left menu, and grab your Publishable Key and Secret Key. You might need to click the eyeball icon to reveal the secret key—don’t share these with anyone, or you’re inviting trouble. I keep mine in a password manager because I’m paranoid about leaks after a sketchy freelancer incident years ago. You won’t need these keys for the GHL connection just yet, but having them ready is a good move.

Step 2: Log Into GHL and Pick Your Level

GHL lets you connect Stripe at two levels: Agency (for your main account) or Sub-Account (for specific clients or locations). Decide where you need it. If you’re an agency managing multiple clients, you might connect Stripe to each sub-account for their specific needs, like my yoga studio pal did for her two locations. If you’re selling GHL as a SaaS or running your own business, the agency level might be enough.

• Agency Level: Log into GHL, switch to Agency view (top left corner, usually says “Agency”). Click “Settings” in the bottom left, then find “Stripe Integration” or “SaaS Configurator” in the menu. You’ll see a “Connect to Your Stripe Account” button.
• Sub-Account Level: Switch to the sub-account (from the top-left dropdown). Go to “Settings” > “Payments” > “Integrations” tab, and look for the Stripe option with a “Connect” button. There are a few ways to get here, like through the Sub-Account Launchpad, but this is the quickest.

Pro tip: If you don’t see the “Connect” button, check your permissions. I got stuck once because my client set me up as a user, not an admin. Fix that in Settings > My Staff > Team Management.

Step 3: Connect Stripe to GHL

Click the “Connect to Your Stripe Account” button (or “Connect” for sub-accounts). You’ll be redirected to a LeadConnector page, which is GHL’s middleman for Stripe. Log into your Stripe account when prompted—this is where you authorize GHL to talk to Stripe. It’s like introducing two friends who need to work together. Read the disclaimer, hit “Connect with Stripe,” and follow the prompts to log in.

If you’ve got multiple Stripe accounts (say, one for each business), pick the right one. I made the mistake of connecting the wrong Stripe account once and wondered why my client’s payments were going to their old side hustle. Once you authorize, you’ll bounce back to GHL’s Payment Gateway Integrations page. Look for two green checkmarks under the Stripe logo—one for “Live Mode” and one for “Test Mode.” If you see a red “Disconnect” button instead of a green “Connect” button, you’re golden—Stripe’s hooked up.

Step 4: Test the Connection

Don’t skip this part. I did once, thinking I was a genius, and ended up with a client’s course sales failing because Test Mode was still on. In GHL, go to a funnel, booking calendar, or payment link (like a Text-to-Pay link) and create a test product or invoice. Set a small price—like $1—and try paying with a test card (Stripe’s test card is 4242 4242 4242 4242, expiry any future date, any 3-digit CVC).

Check the Payments menu in GHL to see if the transaction shows up. Then, hop over to your Stripe Dashboard > “Payments” to confirm it’s there too. If it works, try a live transaction with a real card (refund it after). This step saved me from a client meltdown when I caught a glitch early. If something’s off, double-check your API keys or contact GHL support—they’re usually pretty quick.

Step 5: Set Up Payment Methods

Stripe supports a ton of payment methods—credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH transfers, you name it. To customize what customers see, go to your Stripe Dashboard > Settings > Connect > Payment Methods > Your Account. Pick the LeadConnector configuration from the dropdown (since your Stripe might be linked to other platforms). Turn on/off methods like Apple Pay or specific cards based on your needs. For example, my yoga studio client turned off ACH for her booking calendar because it confused her clients. If you’re doing subscriptions, enable those methods in Stripe’s “Billing Payment Methods” too.

In GHL, you can tweak the checkout page to match your brand—add your logo, colors, etc. I spent an hour making Jake’s tattoo shop checkout look badass with his skull logo, and clients loved it. Go to your funnel or payment settings in GHL to customize.

Step 6: Start Taking Money

Now you’re ready to roll. Use Stripe with GHL for:

• Funnels: Sell courses, memberships, or products. Create products in Stripe’s “Billing” > “Products” for subscriptions or payment plans, or directly in GHL for one-time stuff.
• Text-to-Pay: Send SMS links for quick payments. Go to a GHL conversation, click the payment icon, set a price, and send.
• Bookings: Take upfront payments for appointments via GHL’s calendar.
• SaaS Mode: If you’re reselling GHL, Stripe handles client billing.

Check the Payments menu in GHL to track transactions. Jake’s shop used this to see who paid for what tattoo session—super clean.

Watch Out for These Traps

• Stripe Fees: It’s free to connect, but Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for US cards (1.5% + €0.25 in Europe). Budget for that.
• High-Risk Businesses: If you sell digital products or high-risk stuff (like supplements), Stripe might flag or freeze your account. Consider a dedicated merchant account as a backup. I had a client in e-courses who got burned by this.
• South Africa Woes: Stripe isn’t available in South Africa, so you might need Paystack or Payfast via GHL’s App Marketplace.
• Test vs. Live Mode: Always check you’re in Live Mode for real payments. I left Test Mode on once and wondered why the bank was empty.

Pro Tips from the Trenches

• Test Like Crazy: Run small transactions ($1 or less) in both Test and Live Mode before going big. Saved my butt with a client’s launch.
• Multiple Sub-Accounts: You can link the same Stripe account to multiple GHL sub-accounts—great for clients with different locations.
• Automate Follow-Ups: Use GHL’s automation to send “Thanks for paying!” emails or nudge cart abandoners. Jake’s shop saw a 15% uptick in bookings this way.
• Backup Plan: If Stripe’s not your vibe, GHL also supports PayPal, Authorize.net, or NMI natively, or others via Zapier. But Stripe’s the smoothest.

Connecting Stripe to GHL is like wiring up a stereo—takes a minute, but once it’s done, the music flows. Now go sell some stuff and watch the cash roll in!