HubSpot is one of the most user-friendly CRMs on the market—
but to get the most out of it, you need to choose the right onboarding path based on your team’s experience, goals, and capacity.
Whether you're evaluating a CRM for the first time, migrating from another system, or adding a new Hub to your existing portal—this page will help you make an informed decision about how to get started.
This guide walks you through the three main types of HubSpot onboarding—so you can make an informed choice based on your team, your goals, and your budget.
What Are Your Options?
When you buy HubSpot, you have three onboarding paths to choose from:
- Self-Guided Onboarding (Group Training Only)
- HubSpot’s Built-In Onboarding (Advisory Support)
- Partner-Led Onboarding (Hands-On + Strategy)
Let’s walk through each option and when it makes the most sense.
Self-Guided Onboarding
Best for: Teams with experienced HubSpot Admins or CRM experts in-house
Support Level: Minimal
Estimated Cost: ~$400 (HubSpot group webinars)
- You attend live or recorded training sessions hosted by HubSpot
- No 1-on-1 support or help with implementation
- You’ll need to configure workflows, import data, and integrate tools on your own
When it works:
You’ve used HubSpot before
You have a CRM specialist in-house
You have low complexity and no custom integrations
HubSpot’s Built-In Onboarding
Best for: DIY teams who want light guidance
Support Level: Advisory
Estimated Cost: $1,500–$7,000 per Hub
- Weekly 30-minute check-ins with a HubSpot Onboarding Specialist (60–90 days)
- You implement the work based on their advice
- No workflow building or technical setup done for you
When it works:
You have someone dedicated to learning the system
You’re using HubSpot out-of-the-box
You’re comfortable watching training videos between calls
Certified Partner Onboarding (Like SonaMation)
Best for: Companies who want to get up and running quickly, with full configuration, strategy, and training included
Support Level: High-touch / Done-with-you or Done-for-you
Estimated Cost: $600–$4,500 depending on scope and Hub count
If your team:
- Has never used HubSpot before
- Doesn’t have internal CRM ownership
- Needs help aligning Marketing, Sales, and/or Service
- Struggles to learn new software in a self led capacity
- → Then Partner onboarding is your best option.
At SonaMation, we’ve completed 1,000+ successful implementations and built an efficient, proven onboarding process that helps clients:
- Define lifecycle stages and lead scoring
- Build forms, workflows, and reporting dashboards
- Train their Marketing, Sales, and Service teams to own HubSpot confidently
- Launch faster and with less confusion
Bonus: Working with a certified HubSpot Partner often waives HubSpot’s onboarding fee.
Not Sure Which Path is Right for You?
Here are a few key questions to help narrow it down:
|
Question
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If YES →
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Do you have an experienced HubSpot Admin?
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Self-Guided may be enough
|
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Do you have time to learn by trial and error?
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HubSpot Advisory may work
|
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Do you need help building workflows, lead scoring, or reports?
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Go with a Partner
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Do you want to integrate HubSpot with other tools?
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Partner or Custom Only
|
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Are you rolling out HubSpot to multiple teams?
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Partner strongly recommended
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If you're not sure whats the best option, reach out to us here and we can help you decide.
Compare Your Onboarding Options
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Option
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Support Type
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Hands-On Build
|
Avg. Cost
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Time to Value
|
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Self-Guided
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Low
|
❌
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~$400
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Slow (3–6 months)
|
|
HubSpot Advisory
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Medium
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❌
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$1.5k–$7k / Hub
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Moderate (2–3 months)
|
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Partner-Led
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High
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✅
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$600–$4.5k
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Fast (6–14 weeks)
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What We Recommend
If you:
- Have never used HubSpot before
- Are onboarding more than one Hub (e.g., Marketing + Sales)
- Want to move fast and get it right the first time
- → Working with a Partner is the best path forward.
We’ve helped 100+ companies go live in under 90 days—and we can help you too.
Still Unsure? Let’s Talk About It.
Schedule a free 15-minute onboarding planning call. We’ll walk through your use case, timeline, and goals—and recommend the path that fits your team best.
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