How long does a MARS to GoHighLevel migration take?

Most migrations land between two and three weeks for accounts under 10,000 Contacts and 2,000 Deals with no custom objects. Migrations with custom objects, multiple sub-account structures, engagement histories over 100,000 activity records, or complex pipeline configurations move to five to eight weeks. The sub-account architecture planning phase adds scope if the agency is transitioning from a white-label reseller arrangement to a direct GoHighLevel agency account.

Do MARS workflows and automations migrate to GoHighLevel?

No. GoHighLevel Workflows are a different automation model from MARS automations, and there is no import/export format for workflow logic between platforms. We do not migrate automations as executable code. We deliver a written inventory of every active MARS workflow or automation with its trigger, conditions, actions, and a recommended GoHighLevel Workflow equivalent. The agency's admin rebuilds these in GoHighLevel's workflow builder post-migration. Funnels, landing pages, and forms similarly do not migrate as code; these are rebuilt in GoHighLevel's funnel and form builders.

What does a MARS to GoHighLevel migration typically cost?

Migrations under 10,000 Contacts and 2,000 Deals with no custom objects land between $2,500 and $4,500. Migrations with custom objects, multiple sub-account structures, large engagement histories, or complex pipeline configurations move to $5,500-$8,500. GoHighLevel subscription cost ($97-$497/month depending on plan tier) sits outside the migration fee and is the agency's recurring cost post-migration. White-label mobile apps ($497/month extra) and HIPAA Compliance ($297/month extra) are optional add-ons not included in the base migration scope.

We are on a white-label MARS arrangement. How does that affect the migration?

White-label MARS arrangements are typically GHL sub-accounts under a reseller agency. Migrating to GoHighLevel directly requires either working with your current reseller to transfer your sub-account directly to GoHighLevel and upgrading to a direct agency account, or requesting a snapshot of your current account from the reseller, then signing up directly with GoHighLevel and applying the snapshot. We cannot begin data migration until you have a direct GHL agency account with sub-account management permissions. We can coordinate the data export from your current white-label account if API or export access is available.

Will our historical engagement data (calls, emails, meetings, notes) transfer to GoHighLevel?

Yes. We migrate engagement history from MARS to GoHighLevel as Activity records linked to the parent Contact or Company. Emails, calls, meetings, and notes each map to their corresponding GoHighLevel Activity type. The original timestamp is preserved for activity timeline ordering. Parent contact and company references are resolved during the migration run so that activity records attach to the correct record in GoHighLevel.

How do we handle MARS custom objects and custom fields in GoHighLevel?

MARS custom record types migrate to GoHighLevel Custom Objects, which are available on all GoHighLevel plan tiers as of October 2025. We pre-create the Custom Object schema in GoHighLevel during the schema design phase, including all custom fields, field types, and lookup relationships. MARS custom fields on standard objects (Contacts, Companies, Deals) migrate to GoHighLevel custom fields on the equivalent object. We validate that all MARS export fields have a corresponding GoHighLevel destination field before the migration run.

What about email deliverability after migration to GoHighLevel?

GoHighLevel's email system (LC Email) runs on shared Mailgun infrastructure. Agencies migrating from MARS with dedicated email sending may see lower inbox placement rates initially. Deliverability improves with dedicated sending domain configuration and proper SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication, which we configure during migration setup. We recommend warming up a dedicated sending domain before high-volume campaigns. GoHighLevel also offers Twilio-based SMS through LC Phone, which uses Twilio pricing and is separate from email infrastructure.

MARS to HighLevel Migration — Field-Level Mapping & Rollback

Overview

What this migration involves

Moving from MARS to GoHighLevel is typically driven by agencies leaving a white-label reseller arrangement to license GoHighLevel directly and resell it under their own brand. MARS uses standard CRM object conventions for Contacts, Companies, Deals, and Activities, which map directly to GoHighLevel's Contact, Company, Opportunity, and Task/Event objects. We sequence the export by resolving primary object dependencies first, then related records, and flag any custom field types that require schema mapping during the transition. GoHighLevel's Custom Objects (available on all plans) accommodate MARS custom record types without tier restrictions. Workflows, Automations, and Funnels do not migrate as code; we deliver a written inventory of these for the agency's admin to rebuild in GoHighLevel's workflow builder. Sub-account architecture planning happens during scoping to ensure the correct agency hierarchy is configured at GoHighLevel before data import begins.

Field-level fidelity

Every standard and custom field arrives verified.

Schema-aware mapping

AI proposes the map; you confirm before any record moves.

Relationships preserved

Parent–child, lookups, and ownership stay linked.

Full activity history

Calls, emails, meetings — with original timestamps.

Attachments & notes

Documents, uploads, and inline notes move with the record.

Why teams make this switch

Two sides of the same decision

Leaving

MARS

What's pushing teams away

Limited public footprint makes peer validation impossible and slows due diligence.
No publicly documented developer API restricts integration into modern BI, marketing, and automation tools.
Smaller vendor scale translates to thinner partner ecosystem and integration libraries.
Mobile, cloud-native UX, and modern admin tooling typically lag market leaders.
Pricing and contract terms are sales-led with no transparency for early-stage evaluation.

Choosing

HighLevel

What's pulling them in

Agencies choose HighLevel to consolidate CRM, email, SMS, scheduling, and funnels into one subscription, eliminating monthly bills for five to ten separate SaaS tools they previously stitched together.
The flat-rate pricing model bills per sub-account rather than per contact, so growing a contact database from 1,000 to 100,000 records does not trigger a billing surprise—a common pain point avoided by migrating customers.
White-label and sub-account capabilities let agencies resell HighLevel access to their own clients, turning a software cost center into a recurring revenue stream that justifies the subscription.
The platform ships a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, giving teams a low-friction entry point to validate fit before committing to the $97/month Starter tier.
Marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts use sub-accounts to maintain data isolation per client while operating under a single agency billing relationship with HighLevel.

Object mapping

How MARS objects map to HighLevel

Each row shows how a MARS object lands in HighLevel, including any object-level transformations, lookup resolution, or schema-design dependencies.

Typical mapping — final map is confirmed during the sample migration step.

MARS

Contact

maps to

HighLevel

Contact

1:1

Fully supported

MARS Contact records map directly to GoHighLevel Contact. Standard fields (First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Address) migrate 1:1. Custom contact properties migrate to GoHighLevel custom fields, which we pre-create in the destination account before import. Tags in MARS map to GoHighLevel tags via the contacts/bulk/tag endpoint. We resolve any MARS Owner references by email against GoHighLevel User records during import.

MARS

Company

maps to

HighLevel

Company

1:1

Fully supported

MARS Company records map to GoHighLevel Company (also called Business in some GHL UI contexts). The MARS company domain becomes the Website field. We use Company name as the dedupe key during import to prevent duplicate Company records when multiple Contacts share the same employer.

MARS

Deal

maps to

HighLevel

Opportunity

1:1

Fully supported

MARS Deals map to GoHighLevel Opportunities. The dealstage property maps to GoHighLevel pipeline stage names. Pipeline assignment maps to GoHighLevel's pipeline structure, which we configure before migration. Deal value, close date, and owner assignment migrate directly with Opportunity records created after Companies are confirmed in the destination.

MARS

Deal Stage

maps to

HighLevel

Pipeline Stage

lossy

Fully supported

MARS pipeline stages map to GoHighLevel pipeline stages within the configured pipeline. We create the GoHighLevel pipeline structure during the schema design phase, including stage names, probabilities, and visual ordering, so that stage values are valid at import time.

MARS

Pipeline

maps to

HighLevel

Pipeline

lossy

Fully supported

MARS deal pipelines map to GoHighLevel pipelines. Each GoHighLevel pipeline can have its own stage set, actions, and probability mapping. We create pipeline structure during schema design based on MARS pipeline configuration. Note that GoHighLevel's pipeline model uses a simpler structure than Salesforce's record type and sales process combination.

MARS

Custom Object

maps to

HighLevel

Custom Object

1:1

Fully supported

MARS custom record types migrate to GoHighLevel Custom Objects. We pre-create the Custom Object schema in GoHighLevel before migration, including all custom fields, field types (text, number, date, dropdown, checkbox, etc.), and any lookup relationships to standard objects like Contact or Company. Custom Object naming follows GoHighLevel's API conventions. Custom Objects are available on all GoHighLevel plans as of the October 2025 update.

MARS

Engagement: Email

maps to

HighLevel

Activity (Task)

1:1

Fully supported

MARS email engagements migrate to GoHighLevel Activity records of the appropriate type. Email content, timestamp, and direction (sent/received) map to Activity fields. The Activity is linked to the parent Contact or Company record via GoHighLevel's contact_id or business_id field.

MARS

Engagement: Call

maps to

HighLevel

Activity (Task with Call subtype)

1:1

Fully supported

MARS call engagements map to GoHighLevel Activities with call type. Call duration, disposition, and recording URL transfer to custom Activity fields. We preserve the original timestamp for activity timeline ordering. Parent contact resolution happens via the MARS contact reference on the engagement record.

MARS

Engagement: Meeting

maps to

HighLevel

Activity (Task with Meeting type)

1:1

Fully supported

MARS meeting engagements map to GoHighLevel Activities with meeting type. Meeting title, start/end time, location, and attendee list migrate to corresponding Activity fields. Attendees resolve to GoHighLevel Contact records via email match or name match against the migrated contact list.

MARS

Engagement: Note

maps to

HighLevel

Note

1:1

Fully supported

MARS Notes migrate to GoHighLevel Notes attached to the parent Contact, Company, or Opportunity record. Note body migrates as plain text. Any MARS note attachments migrate as file attachments linked to the same parent record via GoHighLevel's file attachment API.

MARS	HighLevel	Compatibility
Contact	Contact1:1	Fully supported
Company	Company1:1	Fully supported
Deal	Opportunity1:1	Fully supported
Deal Stage	Pipeline Stagelossy	Fully supported
Pipeline	Pipelinelossy	Fully supported
Custom Object	Custom Object1:1	Fully supported
Engagement: Email	Activity (Task)1:1	Fully supported
Engagement: Call	Activity (Task with Call subtype)1:1	Fully supported
Engagement: Meeting	Activity (Task with Meeting type)1:1	Fully supported
Engagement: Note	Note1:1	Fully supported

Gotchas + challenges

What specifically takes care here

Platform-specific issues from each side, plus the pair-specific challenges that don't show up on either platform's page on its own.

MARS gotchas

High

Low public information

High

Vendor-implemented deployments vary widely

Medium

No public API documented

HighLevel gotchas

High

Sub-account architecture creates isolated data silos per client

High

Usage-based telecom and AI costs are not in the subscription price

Medium

Workflows have no native equivalent in most destination CRMs

Medium

API rate limits cap bulk migration throughput at 100 requests per 10 seconds per sub-account

Low

White-label configuration and branding assets do not export via API

MARS gotchas		HighLevel gotchas
Severity	Issue	Severity	Issue
High	Low public information	High	Sub-account architecture creates isolated data silos per client
High	Vendor-implemented deployments vary widely	High	Usage-based telecom and AI costs are not in the subscription price
Medium	No public API documented	Medium	Workflows have no native equivalent in most destination CRMs
		Medium	API rate limits cap bulk migration throughput at 100 requests per 10 seconds per sub-account
		Low	White-label configuration and branding assets do not export via API

Pair-specific challenges

Workflows and automations do not migrate as code

GoHighLevel Workflows use a different visual automation model than MARS, and there is no import/export format for workflow logic between platforms. We do not migrate automations as executable code. We deliver a written inventory of every active MARS workflow or automation with its trigger, conditions, actions, and a recommended GoHighLevel Workflow equivalent. The agency's admin rebuilds these in GoHighLevel's workflow builder post-migration. Reviewers consistently report that workflow complexity is one of the main reasons to hire professional help for the transition rather than attempting it alone.
Email deliverability changes on GoHighLevel's shared infrastructure

GoHighLevel's email system (LC Email) runs on shared Mailgun infrastructure shared across thousands of GHL users. Agencies migrating from MARS with dedicated email sending infrastructure may see lower inbox placement rates out of the box. Deliverability improves with dedicated sending domain configuration, proper SPF/DKIM/DMARC setup, and warming. We include DNS configuration guidance for email authentication but cannot guarantee equivalent deliverability rates without a dedicated sending domain.
White-label sub-account migration requires agency account setup first

Agencies migrating from a white-label MARS arrangement must set up a direct GoHighLevel agency account before any data can be imported into the destination. The Reddit community discusses this explicitly: agencies on a white-label GHL sub-account need to either work with their current reseller to transfer the account directly to GoHighLevel or request a snapshot from the reseller, then sign up directly with GoHighLevel and apply the snapshot. We cannot begin data migration until the agency has a direct GHL account with sub-account permissions configured.
Custom field schema must be created before data import

GoHighLevel requires custom fields to exist before data can be imported into them via CSV or API. We design the full destination field schema during the schema design phase, pre-create every custom field in GoHighLevel (with correct field types: text, number, date, dropdown, checkbox, etc.), and validate that all MARS export fields have a corresponding GoHighLevel destination field before the migration run. Fields without a destination are flagged for the agency's admin to create or to decide on exclusion.
The learning curve is real; plan for 2-3 weeks of team adjustment

Multiple independent reviews describe GoHighLevel as requiring 2-3 weeks to become functional and 6-8 weeks before confident navigation for users unfamiliar with the platform. Settings are scattered across different menus, and the UI is functional but not intuitive for new users. While this is not a migration-specific gotcha, agencies should plan for a team adjustment period during and after the migration window, which may temporarily affect productivity.

Migration approach

Six steps for a successful MARS to HighLevel data migration

Discovery and sub-account architecture planning

We audit the source MARS account for all record types (Contacts, Companies, Deals, Custom Objects, Engagement history), custom field definitions, pipeline configurations, and active automation scope. We pair this with sub-account architecture planning: if the agency intends to maintain separate client sub-accounts in GoHighLevel, we determine the correct account hierarchy (Agency > Sub-accounts > Locations) and whether the migration data goes into a primary agency account or individual client sub-accounts. The discovery output is a written migration scope document covering record counts, schema map, and sub-account plan.
GoHighLevel agency account provisioning and schema design

We confirm the agency has a direct GoHighLevel account at the appropriate tier (Starter $97, Unlimited $297, or SaaS Pro $497) and that sub-account permissions are configured. We design the destination schema: pipeline and stage creation in GoHighLevel, custom field creation for any MARS custom properties not natively supported, and Custom Object schema if MARS has custom record types. Custom Objects are available on all GoHighLevel plans as of October 2025, removing previous tier restrictions.
Sandbox migration and reconciliation

We run a full migration into GoHighLevel using a test sub-account or the agency's development environment. The agency's lead reconciles record counts (Contacts in, Companies in, Deals in, Activities in), spot-checks 20-30 records against the MARS source, and validates that custom field data landed correctly. Pipeline stages, deal values, and engagement timestamps are verified at this stage. Any schema corrections (missing fields, incorrect field types, stage naming) happen here before production migration begins.
Data export from MARS and transformation

We export data from MARS in dependency order: Contacts, Companies, Deals, Custom Objects, then Engagement history. Custom fields are exported with their MARS data types noted for type-mapping to GoHighLevel field types. Tags, owner assignments, and timestamps are preserved in the export. If MARS exposes a CSV export, we use that with UTF-8 encoding and date format normalization (YYYY-MM-DD). If an API is available, we use paginated extraction with rate-limit handling.
Production migration in dependency order

We run production migration in record-dependency order: Companies first (for dedupe and reference resolution), then Contacts with CompanyId resolved, then Deals with ContactId and pipeline stage resolved, then Custom Objects with their lookup references satisfied, then Engagement history (Tasks/Activities) with parent record resolution. Each phase emits a row-count reconciliation report. We use GoHighLevel's REST API with batch chunking and rate-limit handling. Sub-account placement is confirmed before migration begins.
Cutover, validation, and automation rebuild handoff

We freeze writes to MARS during cutover, run a final delta migration of any records modified during the migration window, then confirm GoHighLevel as the system of record. We deliver the Automation Inventory document listing every MARS workflow or automation requiring rebuild in GoHighLevel's Workflow builder, with recommended GoHighLevel equivalents. We support a one-week hypercare window for reconciliation issues. We do not rebuild MARS workflows as GoHighLevel Workflows inside the migration scope; that is a separate engagement or internal admin task.

Platform deep dives

Context on both ends of the pair

MARS

Source

Strengths

Configurable to domain-specific workflows.
Direct vendor relationship for support and customization.
On-premise or private-cloud deployment options.
Tenant-specific schema flexibility.
Responsive support during onboarding (typical of smaller vendors).

Weaknesses

Limited public reviewer presence.
No publicly documented developer API.
Smaller integration ecosystem.
Mobile and cloud-native UX lags.
Sales-led pricing with limited transparency.

HighLevel

Destination

Strengths

Consolidates CRM, marketing automation, email, SMS, scheduling, and funnels into one platform at a predictable flat monthly rate.
Supports unlimited contacts and unlimited users on all paid tiers, removing per-record billing anxiety as databases grow.
Offers white-label and sub-account capabilities that let agencies resell access and manage multiple client environments under one billing relationship.
Includes built-in review management, reputation monitoring, and AI agents as native features rather than third-party add-ons.
Exports Contacts and Companies via a scalable async bulk CSV system that handles multi-million-row datasets without blocking the UI.

Weaknesses

The breadth of features creates a steep learning curve; advanced automations and Workflow configuration require significant time investment that smaller teams may not recover.
The platform charges usage-based fees for telecommunications and AI features that are not included in the base subscription, leading to bill surprises.
Recurring user reports on Reddit and G2 describe bugs, errors, and slow support response times that disrupt live marketing and sales operations.
Sub-account architecture, while powerful for agencies, adds migration complexity when identifying which client data lives in which isolated environment.
The platform is designed for agencies and SMBs; larger enterprises requiring deep reporting, custom objects at scale, or complex role-based access may outgrow its capabilities.

	MARS Source	HighLevel Destination
Strengths	Configurable to domain-specific workflows. Direct vendor relationship for support and customization. On-premise or private-cloud deployment options. Tenant-specific schema flexibility. Responsive support during onboarding (typical of smaller vendors).	Consolidates CRM, marketing automation, email, SMS, scheduling, and funnels into one platform at a predictable flat monthly rate. Supports unlimited contacts and unlimited users on all paid tiers, removing per-record billing anxiety as databases grow. Offers white-label and sub-account capabilities that let agencies resell access and manage multiple client environments under one billing relationship. Includes built-in review management, reputation monitoring, and AI agents as native features rather than third-party add-ons. Exports Contacts and Companies via a scalable async bulk CSV system that handles multi-million-row datasets without blocking the UI.
Weaknesses	Limited public reviewer presence. No publicly documented developer API. Smaller integration ecosystem. Mobile and cloud-native UX lags. Sales-led pricing with limited transparency.	The breadth of features creates a steep learning curve; advanced automations and Workflow configuration require significant time investment that smaller teams may not recover. The platform charges usage-based fees for telecommunications and AI features that are not included in the base subscription, leading to bill surprises. Recurring user reports on Reddit and G2 describe bugs, errors, and slow support response times that disrupt live marketing and sales operations. Sub-account architecture, while powerful for agencies, adds migration complexity when identifying which client data lives in which isolated environment. The platform is designed for agencies and SMBs; larger enterprises requiring deep reporting, custom objects at scale, or complex role-based access may outgrow its capabilities.

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Migrate from MARS to HighLevel

What this migration involves

Field-level fidelity

Schema-aware mapping

Relationships preserved

Full activity history

Attachments & notes

Two sides of the same decision

MARS

HighLevel

How MARS objects map to HighLevel

What specifically takes care here

Six steps for a successful MARS to HighLevel data migration

Context on both ends of the pair

How hard is this migration?

Estimate your MARS to HighLevel migration cost

What are you migrating?

Frequently asked questions about MARS to HighLevel data migrations

Can't find your answer?

Related migrations to explore

Move from MARS.
Land in HighLevel, intact.

Migrate from MARS to HighLevel

What this migration involves

Field-level fidelity

Schema-aware mapping

Relationships preserved

Full activity history

Attachments & notes

Two sides of the same decision

MARS

HighLevel

How MARS objects map to HighLevel

What specifically takes care here

Six steps for a successful MARS to HighLevel data migration

Context on both ends of the pair

How hard is this migration?

Estimate your MARS to HighLevel migration cost

Frequently asked questions about MARS to HighLevel data migrations

Can't find your answer?

How long does a MARS to GoHighLevel migration take?

Do MARS workflows and automations migrate to GoHighLevel?

What does a MARS to GoHighLevel migration typically cost?

We are on a white-label MARS arrangement. How does that affect the migration?

Will our historical engagement data (calls, emails, meetings, notes) transfer to GoHighLevel?

How do we handle MARS custom objects and custom fields in GoHighLevel?

What about email deliverability after migration to GoHighLevel?

Related migrations to explore

Move from MARS. Land in HighLevel, intact.

Move from MARS.
Land in HighLevel, intact.