Control When Complimentary Usage Credits Are Issued in GHL

GoHighLevel just gave SaaS agencies a simple but powerful new option inside the SaaS Configurator: you can now decide when complimentary usage credits are issued to new users.

Before, credits were automatically issued as soon as someone signed up — even if they never became a paying customer.

Now, you get to choose between two behaviors:

1. Credits on Signup – The current default behavior (still available).
2. Credits After Trial Ends – The new option (designed to protect your resources).

This new toggle applies across all types of complimentary usage credits:

• One-time credits
• Monthly recurring credits
• Optional rollover credits

It’s a subtle change — but for SaaS businesses that scale fast or offer valuable usage-based features, it’s a game-changer.

Before this update, every new SaaS signup in GoHighLevel would instantly receive their complimentary usage credits — whether or not they ever converted to a paid user.

That setup had a big flaw: trial users could burn through resources, like phone minutes or emails, without ever paying a dime. Great for freeloaders. Brutal for your margins.

Now with the new toggle, you can delay credit issuance until after the trial ends. This means only paying users receive the perks.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Before:

• Credits delivered immediately at signup
• Trial users could consume paid resources
• No incentive to upgrade to access full benefits

After:

• Credits held back until trial completion
• Only converted users receive them
• Usage now aligns with actual billing cycles

This update shifts your SaaS model from “hope they convert” to “prove they’re serious.”

This isn’t just a feature tweak. It’s a strategic shift — one that could save you money, reduce abuse, and create a better user experience across the board.

Here’s why this credit timing control matters:

1. Stops Trial Abuse Cold
When credits are delayed, you stop trial users from draining resources like phone credits, email sends, or API usage without ever paying. That means no more “free plan freeloaders.”

2. Aligns with Real Billing Cycles
By issuing credits only after the trial ends, your users now get them at the same time they start paying. That means fewer support questions, better predictability, and cleaner accounting.

3. Adds Conversion Pressure (The Good Kind)
When users know they don’t get their credits until they upgrade, it creates a small but effective psychological nudge to convert. More value is gated behind a real commitment.

4. Supports Smarter SaaS Modeling
If you’re offering high-value recurring credits — like bulk SMS, call minutes, or AI bot usage — you can now protect that value and reserve it for real customers.

This isn’t about being stingy. It’s about running a SaaS business like a pro.

Setting this up takes less than 60 seconds. But the impact? Long-term control and clarity.

Here’s your step-by-step walkthrough:

Step 01 – Access the Agency View of GHL Account

• Go to the Upper left-hand sidebar, look all the way to the name of Your SubAccount

1.1 Click the name of your Subaccount

1.2 Switch to Agency View

• You’ll now be in the Agency dashboard, where you can access:
  • Agency Dashboard
  • SubAccount
  • Account Snapshot
  • and more.

• The Main Menu on the Left side of your screen has all the main areas that you work in when you are in Agency View of GHL

2.1 Click on the SaaS Configurator

• Access the ‘SaaS Configurator‘ section of GoHighLevel
• You’ll now be in the ‘SaaS Configurator‘ section of GHL, where you can access the Plan and Pricing section from the top menu:

2.2 Click on the ‘SaaS Configurator‘ menu link.

2.3 Click Edit Details

• Choose the specific plan where you want to adjust credit behavior (Starter, Pro, etc.)
  Click “Edit Plan.”

• Inside your Plan find the section called “Trial & Credits.” This is where you control complimentary usage settings.

3.1 Click Trial and Credit

3.2 Enable the Toggle: “Add credits after trial period ends”

• You’ll see a new option here: ☑️ Add credits after trial period ends
• Check that box to activate the new behavior.

3.3 Save & Publish

• Hit “Save,” then “Update Plan” to push your changes live. That’s it!
• Now, credits will only be issued once the user completes their trial and becomes a paid subscriber.

Optional Pro Tip:
Test the behavior using a dummy sub-account or free trial. It’s a great way to confirm everything works the way you expect before rolling it out to real users.

Want to make the most of this new credit control feature? Here’s how to level it up.

1. Use Credit Timing Differently for Each Plan
Not all SaaS tiers need the same rules.

• For basic plans? Consider offering credits at signup.
• For premium/high-cost plans? Delay until after the trial ends to protect your margins.

2. Combine with Automation Tags
Set up a workflow that tags a user the moment their trial ends. Then trigger onboarding emails or in-app messages explaining that their credits are now live.

3. Communicate Credit Delivery Clearly
Avoid angry support tickets by being upfront.
Let users know when they’ll get their credits — either in the pricing comparison, plan details, or onboarding email.

4. Track Usage Before and After Conversion
Use reporting to see how credit timing impacts user behavior. You may notice:

• Less trial abuse
• Higher upgrade intent
• More clarity in billing and support questions

5. Protect Rollovers Strategically
If you’re offering credit rollovers, make sure they only apply after users convert. Don’t let unused trial credits roll into paid months unless it’s intentional.

The goal here isn’t to restrict — it’s to protect your resources and reward real customers.

This feature may seem small — just a little checkbox in your SaaS Configurator — but it has massive implications for your bottom line.

Here’s how:

1. Lower Credit Waste = Higher Margins
No more giving away SMS, voice minutes, or other paid features to users who never intended to stick around. That’s straight-up savings, month after month.

2. Cleaner Credit-Billing Alignment
When credits align with billing cycles, accounting becomes easier. Your users get what they pay for — when they pay for it. And your books reflect usage that actually maps to revenue.

3. Better Forecasting and Support
Support teams can now troubleshoot credit questions with clarity:
“Your credits kick in after your trial ends.”
Boom. Simple, predictable, and scalable.

4. Fewer Freeloaders, More Real Buyers
If someone’s only signing up to use your free stuff and bail, they’re not your ideal customer. This new toggle helps filter out tire-kickers early.

5. Greater Flexibility for White-Labeled Agencies
Running GHL as a white-labeled SaaS? This feature gives you the polish and professionalism that real SaaS tools have — while keeping your costs in check.

The new complimentary usage credits toggle might seem like a small tweak, but it’s a serious upgrade for SaaS owners who want more control, smarter billing, and a better customer experience.

By delaying credits until after the trial period, you’re protecting your resources, aligning credit value with real revenue, and signaling to your users: “You get the full benefits when you’re ready to commit.”

This change gives you:

• Cleaner onboarding
• More predictable credit use
• Less abuse from non-converting users
• A more premium, SaaS-savvy user journey

It’s fast to enable and easy to manage. And for growing agencies, it’s a no-brainer.

Your move?
Log into GoHighLevel, update your SaaS plans, and start putting your credits to better use — for you and your paying customers.