#96 · How the world's elites are using computers in 2025
No, GHL isn't necessary. It's just a tool that gives you about 80% of a good CRM out of the box, and it's fairly well pre-configured. However, you can often get a better setup by adding your own process knowledge to other platforms like ClickUp, Monday, ASA, or Trello. The pre-configuration of GHL can lock you into a specific workflow, so don't feel compelled to use it.
I’d dip my toe in GoHighLevel by watching a 30‑minute tutorial and setting up a test environment (which costs about $297 for agency access). I’d spend only a couple hours experimenting—maybe building a simple automation—until someone actually asks me to build a GHL solution. That’s my general approach to new platforms: learn just enough to deliver value when a client needs it, rather than trying to master every feature upfront. Let clients guide what you learn based on the opportunities and money they present.
He explains that GHL is like a peg leg—it does many CRM functions well and gets you up and running fast, but it limits flexibility and articulation compared to tools like Make.com or NN, which act as glue and extensions of his own workflow, letting him build anything. He prefers those because they integrate seamlessly with his business, whereas GHL feels restrictive. He also notes that selling GHL often involves an MLM‑style resale model (buying a license and reselling sub‑licenses), while selling his own automation solutions means selling his expertise and custom‑built systems, which is fundamentally different from affiliate sales.
No, it's not important.
An agency is just one of many scalable business models, but it’s generally harder to scale an agency to $250k a month compared to SaaS or e‑commerce. It’s relatively easy to hit $10k a month with an agency—one 10k client or a couple of 5k clients can be secured in 30 days, even by a complete beginner. Building a SaaS product that generates $10k recurring revenue in 30 days is far more difficult, as is scaling e‑commerce to the same level because of thin margins and higher workload. Agencies tend to cap out sooner, whereas SaaS and e‑commerce have longer growth curves. For total beginners, starting with a service‑based business is advisable because you lack the technical skill to create a SaaS product and need to learn how to identify and solve business problems first.