Let’s be real—most agencies using HighLevel are sitting on a goldmine and don’t even know it.
I’m talkin’ about prepaid SMS and credit management. Yup. That boring-looking feature tucked inside the 497 SaaS Pro Plan? Turns out it’s a profit powerhouse if you know how to use it.
We just broke this down in a Zoom call with Mario Aldayuz (Head of Partnerships at HL Pro Tools), and it blew some minds.
Here’s how you can turn something as simple as text messages into an automated revenue machine.
First Things First: Unlock the Credit System
This little gem is only available on the $497/month SaaS Pro Plan. So if you’re not on that plan yet, step one is simple:
➡️ Upgrade to unlock credit-based billing.
Once you’ve got it, you’re in business. Literally.
How It Works (And Why It’s Genius)
You assign a set amount of credits to each client—say, $10 worth of SMS messages per month. When they hit that limit?
💸 BOOM. Overages get charged automatically.
You control:
- ✅ The credit limit
- ✅ The pricing markup (Mario suggests 2–3x HighLevel’s actual rates)
- ✅ The rules for overages and renewals
This turns something most agencies treat as a pass-through cost into a recurring revenue stream.
The Setup (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Let me break it down:
🛠️ Step 1: Enable SaaS Mode and jump on the $497 plan
📏 Step 2: Define your SMS/credit limits per client
🧾 Step 3: Set up overage billing using SaaS Configurator
🧠 Pro Tip: Communicate it clearly on onboarding! Nobody likes hidden fees—make sure clients know exactly what they’re paying for
With just a little setup, you’ve now turned texts and emails into an actual profit center instead of a sneaky cost-sink.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Obvious 💸)
Sure, making money is great. But this also helps you:
📊 Forecast costs more accurately
🧯 Prevent “bill shock” for clients
🎯 Encourage usage without going overboard
This kind of control builds trust and gives you more predictability—which is exactly what you want when scaling.
Real Talk: Test Before You Scale
Please, for your sanity… test your credit and overage workflows in a sandbox subaccount first. There’s nothing worse than auto-charging a client incorrectly because of a math error. 😬
TL;DR – Your Quick Action List
Here’s your cheat sheet to start profiting off SMS like a pro:
✅ Be on the $497 SaaS Pro Plan
✅ Set client limits and markup rates 2–3x
✅ Bill for overages automatically
✅ Be super transparent with clients
✅ Test before going live
✅ Enjoy your sweet new revenue stream 🤑
Want to Scale Smarter (Without the Tech Headaches)?
If you want all this techy stuff done for you (or at least templatized), head over to hlprotools.com.
We’ve got ready-to-deploy workflows, credit systems, snapshots, and even plug-and-play offers for SaaS agencies looking to grow faster (and with fewer migraines).
Cool Free Thing: Get My Testimonial Workflow (For Free!)
Before people buy from you, they need to trust you.
And the fastest way to earn trust? ⭐️ Testimonials.
So in the spirit of free stuff, I want to give you my team’s Testimonial Workflow—the exact process we use to collect, edit, and showcase client reviews automatically inside HighLevel.
📥 It plugs in seamlessly.
⚡ It runs like clockwork.
💬 And it converts like crazy.
It’s yours, free. No strings. Just results.
