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Tutorial · funnel builders · updated October 9, 2026
How to set up Kartra: from account to your first live funnel
Kartra bundles pages, funnels, email, checkout and memberships into one account. Setting it up means creating the account, choosing a funnel, building the steps, connecting your domain and payment, then testing the whole path before you send any traffic.
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TL;DR
- Create the account and pick the plan that matches your funnel count.
- Start from a funnel template rather than a blank page.
- Set up your email list and one follow-up sequence early.
- Connect a payment method before you publish a checkout.
- Test the funnel end to end before you advertise it.
On this page: Create your account · Build a funnel · Email and automations · Checkout and payments · Connect your domain · Test and launch
Step 1 — Create your account
Create a Kartra account and choose the plan by how many funnels and contacts you need, not by the largest advertised tier. We do not quote prices — check the current plans on Kartra’s own pricing page.
Set the account name and timezone correctly now. Timezone affects when automated emails send, and fixing it later means re-checking every campaign.
Step 2 — Choose and build a funnel
Start from a funnel template rather than an empty canvas. Pick the template closest to your goal — lead capture, a sales page, or a checkout and thank-you flow — then edit the copy.
- Choose a funnel type that matches your goal.
- Select the closest template and preview it.
- Replace the copy with your own offer.
- Swap in your logo, colours and images.
- Save each page and connect them in order.
Step 3 — Set up your list and automations
Create the list that funnel opt-ins will join, then build one short follow-up sequence: a welcome message and two or three useful emails.
Do not build twenty automations on day one. One sequence that runs reliably beats a complex map that half-works.
Step 4 — Connect checkout and payments
Connect a payment method and attach a product to your checkout page. Confirm currency, tax handling and any trial or subscription settings before you test.
Run a test purchase with a real card you can refund, and confirm the buyer receives the receipt and the access email. Almost every launch problem shows up here first.
Step 5 — Connect your domain
Add your own domain so funnel pages live at your brand address rather than a shared one. Follow the DNS records Kartra provides and re-publish the pages afterwards.
Check that the padlock appears on every step of the funnel; a single page still on the old address is enough to break trust at checkout.
Step 6 — Test end to end and launch
Walk the funnel as a stranger would: land, opt in, receive the email, reach the checkout, pay and confirm the thank-you page. Note every place you had to guess.
Only then send traffic. A funnel that leaks at step three costs real money once visitors arrive, and it is far cheaper to fix before launch than after.
Where this fits
Start from the independent Kartra review and the funnel builders hub. For the day-to-day side, see how to use Kartra for a small business. Compare the field with best funnel builders, and borrow page ideas from how to create a sales page.
Frequently asked
Do I need to build everything inside Kartra?
No. Start with one funnel and the tools that support it. You can layer on memberships, help desks and video later once the core path works.
Should I use a funnel template or a blank page?
Use a template first. It encodes a working page order, and editing a working structure is faster than assembling one from scratch.
When should I connect my domain?
Before you promote the funnel. Publishing on a shared address and switching later breaks links people have already shared.
How many automations do I need at launch?
One short follow-up sequence. Add complexity after the basic sequence runs reliably and people are converting.
Build your first funnel with Kartra
Pages, funnels, email and checkout in one account.
Some links on this page may be referral links — we may earn a reward if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. We are an independent publisher. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Related reading
- Kartra Review: All-in-One Marketing Software
- How to use Kartra for a small business
- What is Kartra?
- Kartra for agencies: is it worth it in 2026?
- Kartra for course creators: is it worth it in 2026?
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