When HighLevel rolled out SaaS Mode V2, I got excited. New features! More control! Smoother onboarding! But… I also got confused. Because as slick as V2 is, there are a few things that still feel half-baked.
One of the biggest head-scratchers? Setup fees. Yeah, those.
If you’re trying to scale your SaaS agency, you need to understand the difference between V1 and V2—or risk creating pricing models that don’t actually work.
Lucky for us, Mario Aldayuz (Head of Partnerships at HL Pro Tools) broke it all down on a recent Zoom call. Here’s what I learned—and what you should definitely double-check before flipping the SaaS Mode switch.
Wait… Which SaaS Mode Am I Even Using?
First things first: V1 and V2 are completely different animals.
And if you’re not sure which one your account is running, stop what you’re doing and check.
💡 In V1, setup fees are built-in.
💡 In V2, setup fees require workarounds because the feature isn’t fully baked yet.
Mario explained it like this:
“A lot of folks try to turn on setup fees in V2 like they used to in V1—then wonder why nothing happens.”
Been there. Done that.
Setup Fees in V2 = DIY (For Now)
Here’s the deal:
If you’re trying to charge a one-time setup fee in SaaS Mode V2, you’ll need to get creative. Right now, there’s no native toggle like in V1.
🎯 Mario’s workaround?
- Set up an additional product inside your Stripe plan just for setup
- Use custom automation to trigger onboarding tasks after payment
- Adjust your snapshot logic to handle the add-on
It’s not rocket science, but it does require a little duct tape.
🧠 Pro Tip: Double-check your subscription flow before you push it live. You don’t want clients skipping the setup fee because of a missing trigger.
V1 vs. V2: Which One Should You Use?
Here’s how I think about it now (thanks to Mario):
| 🔹 | SaaS Mode V1 | SaaS Mode V2 |
| ✅ | Built-in setup fees | More flexibility |
| 🛠️ | Less customizable | Advanced snapshot automation |
| 🔐 | Simpler permissions | Better token management |
| 🧠 | Great for starters | Ideal for scaling pros |
If you’re just getting started, V1 might still be the move. But if you’re building a scalable, productized offer with onboarding workflows, AI tools, and sub-account-level control, then yeah—V2 is where it’s headed.
Final Thoughts
SaaS Mode V2 isn’t bad—it’s just not fully ready yet for everything.
That’s why it’s critical to:
✅ Know which version you’re using
✅ Understand what features are live vs. in progress
✅ Stay plugged into HighLevel updates
✅ Partner with HL Pro Tools (seriously—we’re obsessed with this stuff so you don’t have to be)
Ready to Work Smarter with HighLevel?
If you’re tired of guessing your way through SaaS Mode, we’ve got your back. At hlprotools.com, you’ll find:
🔧 Ready-to-go snapshots
📞 Expert support
💬 Real-time updates (from folks actually using this stuff every day)
👉 Check it out here: hlprotools.com
