If you've just signed up for a GHL sub-account, the first thing you'll see is a pretty empty dashboard. No pipelines, no email templates, no workflows. Just a blank canvas. Most people freeze at this point. Don't. Snapshots fix this.

What's a Snapshot, Exactly?

A GHL snapshot is basically a ZIP file of your sub-account settings. Everything — pipelines, workflows, email templates, SMS templates, calendars, funnel pages, custom fields — all packed into one file. You export it from one account, import it into another, and everything appears exactly how it was set up. Simple.

The idea is you don't rebuild the same system from scratch every time. You build it once, snapshot it, and load it onto every new client account. Most agencies have one or two core snapshots they use as their standard setup.

Where to Find Snapshots

The GHL Marketplace is the obvious place. It's built into the platform — you can browse snapshots submitted by other users and agencies. Some are free, some cost a few quid. Quality varies. A lot of them are over-engineered with workflows you'll never use.

Better bet:
The GHL Facebook Community. Search "snapshot" and you'll find dozens of free ones shared by agency owners. Automotive, real estate, healthcare, coaching — there are industry-specific snapshots floating around. Most people are happy to share.

GHL Bootcamp and partner agencies also offer free starter snapshots. The official GHL bootcamp one is decent if you just want a generic sales pipeline to get going quickly.

One I'd grab first: The "Agency Starter" snapshot from the official marketplace. It has a standard lead pipeline, email follow-up sequence, and appointment workflow out of the box. Enough to take on a first client without looking amateur.

How to Install a Snapshot

It takes about 60 seconds. Here's the breakdown:

  1. Open the sub-account you want to load it into.
  2. Go to Settings → Snapshots in the left sidebar.
  3. Click "Install Snapshot" at the top right.
  4. Choose from the marketplace, or upload a .ghlsnapshot file if someone shared one with you.
  5. You'll see a list of everything in the snapshot. Pipelines, email templates, workflows, automations. Uncheck anything you don't want.
  6. Click Install. Give it 10-15 seconds.

That's it. You'll have a full working system in under a minute.

What to Check After Loading

Snapshots aren't magic. A few things need manual attention:

  • Email sender settings — Mailgun, SendGrid, or whatever provider you've connected. The snapshot won't set this up for you.
  • Phone numbers — SMS will need your Twilio or Telnyx number connected first.
  • Calendar links — Your actual Google or Outlook calendar sync needs re-authenticating.
  • Payment integrations — Stripe accounts don't transfer via snapshots. You'll need to reconnect.
  • Custom values — If the snapshot uses custom fields for things like "Client Name" or "Service Type," you might need to create those fields manually if they don't already exist.
Pro tip: Install a snapshot into a throwaway account first. See what it actually contains — workflows, email copy, triggers — before you put it on a real client account. Some snapshots come with email templates that say "Hi [Client Name]" using variables that don't match your client's set-up. Catching that upfront saves an embarrassing callback.

Should You Build Your Own?

Short answer: yes. Once you've got a system that works for one or two clients, export it as a snapshot. Keep it somewhere safe. Next time you onboard someone, load it, tweak the branding, and you're live. That's the real value. Not a marketplace download — your own repeatable setup.

To export: Settings → Snapshots → Create Snapshot. Name it, check what you want included, hit create. You'll get a .ghlsnapshot file. Keep it on Google Drive or Dropbox.

Got a GHL sub-account yet? You can pick one up through TinyBills at $97/year — same platform, same features, just not the full whack of a direct GHL monthly plan. Good starting point if you're testing it out.