The AI revolution isn't coming—it's here. While most businesses are still figuring out how to leverage artificial intelligence, savvy entrepreneurs are already building agencies that deliver AI solutions to local markets. Think of it like being the first internet service provider in a town that just discovered email—the opportunity is massive, and the timing is perfect.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through exactly how to set up your own AI agency and start selling voice AI assistants to local businesses. By the end, you'll have a complete system that can automatically call prospects, qualify leads, and book appointments—all without human intervention.

The Foundation: Two Essential Platforms

Building an AI agency is like constructing a house—you need a solid foundation before you can add the fancy features. For this business model, your foundation consists of two crucial platforms:

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Go High Level

Go High Level serves as your command center—think of it as the brain that coordinates all your business operations. This platform handles:

• Contact management

• Workflow automation

• Calendar scheduling

• Communication tracking

• Sub-account management for clients

2. AI Platform: Build Assistants

Build Assistants acts as the voice and intelligence of your operation. This platform was specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with Go High Level, creating a powerful combination that can:

• Make automated voice calls

• Qualify prospects intelligently

• Book appointments automatically

• Extract and store customer data

• Operate 24/7 without breaks

Setting Up Your AI Agency Infrastructure

Step 1: Platform Integration

Once you sign up for Build Assistants, you'll land on your Launchpad—a dashboard that guides you through the initial setup process. The integration with Go High Level works in two ways:

Agency Connection: Links to your top-level agency account and syncs all sub-accounts automatically Direct Connection: Connects to specific sub-accounts individually

The beauty of this system is its flexibility. Whether you're managing multiple clients under one agency roof or deploying solutions to businesses with their own Go High Level accounts, the platform adapts to your needs.

Step 2: Custom Menu Setup

Inside Go High Level, you'll add a custom menu link (I recommend calling it "AI Agents") that connects directly to your AI platform. This creates a seamless experience where you can jump between managing contacts and configuring AI assistants without missing a beat.

Building Your First AI Assistant

Creating an AI assistant is like training a new employee—you need to give them knowledge, personality, and specific tasks to complete. Here's how to build one that actually works:

Knowledge Base Creation

Before your AI can represent a business, it needs to understand that business inside and out. The knowledge base feature allows you to:

• Scrape and store website content

• Upload business documents

• Create custom information databases

• Ensure accurate, up-to-date responses

Think of this as giving your AI assistant a crash course in everything about the client's business—their services, pricing, policies, and unique selling points.

Prompt Engineering Made Simple

Rather than starting from scratch, Build Assistants includes an AI assistant generator that creates your initial prompt based on a simple description. For example, if you describe your assistant as "Sally, an appointment setter for a dental practice," the system generates a complete conversation framework including:

• Identity: Who the assistant is and represents

• Style: How it communicates (professional, friendly, etc.)

• Guard Rails: What it should and shouldn't do

• Response Guidelines: How to handle common scenarios

• Tasks: Specific objectives to accomplish

Essential Tools Integration

Your AI assistant needs tools to be effective—like giving a carpenter a hammer and saw. The most important tools include:

Update Details: Captures and stores prospect information Check Availability: Pulls real-time calendar data Book Appointment: Schedules meetings automatically Create Note: Records important conversation details Monthly Revenue Extraction: Captures business financial information

Setting Up Smart Automation Workflows

The real magic happens when you connect your AI assistant to automated workflows. Picture this scenario:

1. Trigger: A prospect fills out a contact form on your client's website

2. Action: System automatically adds them to the CRM with a "New Inquiry" tag

3. Response: AI assistant immediately calls the prospect while they're still interested

4. Outcome: Qualified leads get booked for appointments; unqualified leads get appropriate follow-up

This automation works like a 24/7 sales team that never sleeps, never has a bad day, and never forgets to follow up.

Real-World Example: A Live Demonstration

Let me show you how this works in practice. I set up a test assistant named Sally for "Morphic AI" with these specific tasks:

Primary Goal: Book clarity calls with prospects Qualifying Questions:

• Interest in using AI to free up time

• Reasons for not exploring AI yet

• Current monthly revenue

The Process: When I added the demo tag to my contact, the system immediately called me. Here's what happened:

The AI introduced itself professionally, asked qualifying questions naturally, handled objections smoothly, and successfully booked an appointment—all while extracting and storing valuable information in the CRM.

The Results:

• Monthly revenue ($23,000) automatically recorded

• Objection reason saved as a note

• Appointment scheduled for the requested time

• Complete call recording and summary generated

Advanced Customization Options

Voice and Personality Settings

You can fine-tune your assistant's voice characteristics:

• Talking Speed: Adjust pace for better comprehension

• Voice Emotion: Set the emotional tone

• Language Options: Support for multiple languages

• Voice Cloning: Create custom voices that sound like real team members

Custom Tools for Specialized Industries

The platform's real power lies in custom tool creation. For example, an e-commerce client might need:

• Shipping Calculator: Checks delivery zones and pricing

• Inventory Checker: Verifies product availability

• Order Status: Provides real-time order updates

These tools connect to live databases, ensuring your AI always has current information.

Industry Applications: Where This Thrives

This technology is particularly powerful for businesses that rely on high-volume outreach:

Dental Practices: Re-engaging lapsed patients, booking cleanings, following up on treatments Beauty Clinics: Appointment reminders, upselling services, managing cancellations Real Estate: Lead qualification, showing scheduling, follow-up calls Professional Services: Initial consultations, information gathering, appointment setting

Getting Started: Your Action Plan

1. Set Up Your Foundation: Register for Go High Level and Build Assistants

2. Practice on Your Own Business: Create your first assistant to handle your own leads

3. Perfect the Process: Test, refine, and optimize your workflows

4. Identify Target Markets: Focus on industries with high call volumes

5. Create Packages: Develop service offerings that solve real problems

6. Scale Systematically: Add clients gradually while maintaining quality

The Competitive Advantage

Most AI agencies are selling generic chatbots or basic automation. By offering sophisticated voice AI that can actually hold conversations, qualify leads, and book appointments, you're providing something genuinely transformative.

It's like the difference between handing someone a fishing pole versus teaching them to fish, cleaning their catch, and cooking dinner—you're delivering complete solutions, not just tools.

Final Thoughts: The Opportunity Ahead

The AI assistance market is at a tipping point. Businesses know they need these solutions, but most don't know how to implement them effectively. That's where you come in.

By mastering these platforms and understanding how to deploy voice AI effectively, you're positioning yourself at the forefront of a revolution. The businesses that embrace this technology early will have massive advantages over their competitors—and the agencies that provide these solutions will be the ones enabling that success.