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What you can automate with Plutio + DocuSign
DocuSign completes its job the moment the last signature lands. Every action that follows (creating the project, logging the client, generating the invoice) happens in a separate tool by hand. Connecting DocuSign to Plutio through Zapier runs those actions automatically from the "Envelope Completed" trigger. Below are the workflows freelancers and agencies build most often with this integration.
Create contacts when contracts are signed
When an envelope completes in DocuSign, the integration creates a new person in Plutio using the signer's name, email, and company from the envelope data. The contact shows up in Plutio within seconds of the final signature, so follow-up doesn't wait for someone to manually log the client.
Kick off projects the moment work is authorized
A signed contract is the authorization to start work. When the envelope completes, Zapier can create a new project in Plutio named after the client or the document, with a start date set to the signing date. Your team sees a new project ready to work on without anyone opening a PM tool to set it up.
Generate deposit invoices automatically
For freelancers who collect a deposit when a contract is signed, the "Envelope Completed" trigger can fire a Plutio "Create Invoice" action with a preset amount. The invoice goes to Plutio instantly, ready to send to the client without a separate manual billing step.
Create onboarding tasks for every new client
When a contract closes, a consistent onboarding sequence should follow: send a welcome email, set up the client portal, schedule the kickoff call. With Plutio connected, each completed envelope can create a checklist of onboarding tasks assigned to you or a team member, with due dates calculated from the signing date.
Notify your team when a contract closes
If you work with a team, a signed contract is news everyone should see. The "Envelope Completed" trigger can create a task in Plutio to alert the project lead, so the right person picks up the client without anyone monitoring the DocuSign dashboard all day.
Track which contracts have generated projects
Because each completed envelope creates a contact and project in Plutio, you can see at a glance which contracts have turned into active engagements. Filtering Plutio by "source: DocuSign" in your contacts or using a tag on new projects gives you a way to measure how many signed contracts become active projects each month.
How do I create a project when a DocuSign contract is signed?
Set up a Zap with DocuSign's "Envelope Completed" trigger and Plutio's "Create Task Board" action. Every time an envelope reaches completed status in DocuSign, a new project appears in Plutio named after the document or the signer.
The "Envelope Completed" trigger fires when all recipients have signed. Zapier receives the envelope data: sender name, signer name, signer email, envelope subject, and signing timestamp. You map those fields to the Plutio project: the envelope subject becomes the project name, the signer's email becomes the client contact, and the signing date becomes the project start date.
If you use consistent envelope naming (for example, "Website Redesign - Client Name"), the project name in Plutio will match the contract without any editing. If your envelope names are less structured, you can use Zapier's built-in text formatter to clean up the name before it reaches Plutio.
You can chain a "Create Person" action before the "Create Task Board" action in a multi-step Zap. Step 1 creates the contact from the signer's details, step 2 creates the project. Both fire from a single completed envelope. Multi-step Zaps require Zapier's Starter plan or higher.
What envelope data flows into Plutio
- Signer name and email mapped to Plutio contact properties
- Envelope subject used as the project or task name
- Signing date mapped to the project start date
- Sender name stored in project notes so you know who sent the contract
- DocuSign envelope ID stored as a reference in the project or contact record
How do I create an invoice when a DocuSign contract is signed?
Use DocuSign's "Envelope Completed" trigger with Plutio's "Create Invoice" action. When a contract closes, Plutio creates a draft invoice with the client's details and the amount you set in Zapier.
DocuSign envelopes don't carry a payment amount in the trigger data, so you set the deposit amount directly in the Zap (as a fixed value) or pull it from a custom field if you've embedded one in the envelope. Plutio's "Create Invoice" action creates a draft invoice addressed to the signer with the amount you specified.
Once the invoice lands in Plutio, you can send it manually with one click or configure Plutio to send it automatically as part of an onboarding workflow. Either way, the invoice is ready without anyone having to create it from scratch.
Combine the invoice creation with a "Create Person" and "Create Task Board" action in a multi-step Zap. One completed envelope can create the contact, the project, and the invoice, all three from a single trigger. Multi-step Zaps require Zapier's Starter plan ($29.99/month) in addition to the Professional plan required for DocuSign.
Best practices for deposit invoices
- Set the invoice amount as a fixed value in Zapier (e.g., $500 deposit) so it's consistent across all new clients
- Set the due date to 7 days from the signing date so clients have a standard window to pay
- Leave the invoice as a draft so you can review before sending, especially for custom project amounts
- Add a note to the invoice referencing the DocuSign envelope ID so records match across both tools
How do I connect Plutio to DocuSign?
The connection runs through Zapier. You need a Zapier Professional account ($49/month) to access DocuSign, since DocuSign is a premium app on Zapier. Setup takes about 5 minutes once your accounts are connected.
Before you start, make sure you have a DocuSign Business Pro account ($40/user/month for instant triggers), a Zapier Professional account, and a Plutio account (free trial gives full access). DocuSign Connect also needs to be enabled in your DocuSign account settings for the trigger to fire instantly rather than checking every few minutes.
Step by step
- Step 1: Log into Zapier and click "Create a Zap"
- Step 2: Search for DocuSign and select the "Envelope Completed" trigger. Zapier will ask you to connect your DocuSign account and authorize access.
- Step 3: Configure the trigger filter if needed (for example, to only fire on envelopes with a specific template or subject line). Pull a test completion from a recent envelope to confirm the trigger works.
- Step 4: Add Plutio as the action app. Choose "Create Person" for a contact, "Create Task Board" for a project, or "Create Invoice" for an invoice.
- Step 5: Connect your Plutio account, map the envelope fields (signer name, email, subject) to the matching Plutio fields, test the Zap, and turn it on.
To enable instant triggers, go to DocuSign Admin > Connect and add a new integration. Select Zapier as the listener. Without this step, Zapier may check for completions every 5-15 minutes instead of firing the moment the envelope completes.
How much does Plutio + DocuSign + Zapier cost?
The minimum setup for instant post-signing automation costs around $108 per month. DocuSign Business Pro costs $40/user/month, Zapier Professional (required for DocuSign) costs $49/month, and Plutio Core costs $19/month.
DocuSign pricing
DocuSign's Personal plan starts at $10 per month and includes 5 envelopes per month. The Standard plan at $25 per month includes 100 envelopes per year. The Business Pro plan at $40 per month is required for DocuSign Connect, which enables instant Zapier triggers. Without Business Pro, the Zapier trigger polls every 5-15 minutes instead of firing instantly. All prices are per user, billed annually.
Zapier pricing
DocuSign is a premium app on Zapier, which means you need at least the Professional plan at $49 per month to use the DocuSign trigger. The free Zapier plan doesn't include premium apps. If you need multi-step Zaps (creating a contact, project, and invoice from one envelope), the Professional plan covers multi-step Zaps and up to 2,000 tasks per month at no additional cost.
Plutio pricing
Plutio's Core plan starts at $19 per month and includes CRM, projects, tasks, invoicing, contracts, and proposals. The Pro plan at $49 per month adds time tracking, client portals, and custom automations. Both plans support the Zapier integration. Plutio also offers a 14-day free trial with full access to every feature.
Bottom line: DocuSign Business Pro ($40/month) + Zapier Professional ($49/month) + Plutio Core ($19/month) = $108 per month. For a freelancer closing 2-3 new clients per month at $1,000+ each, the post-signing automation pays for itself by removing 30-60 minutes of manual admin per new client.
What if my DocuSign sync breaks?
Check Zapier's task history first. Every Zap run shows a status (success, error, or filtered). If a completed envelope didn't create a record in Plutio, the error message tells you which step failed.
DocuSign integrations fail for a specific set of reasons. Here are the most common and how to fix each one.
Common issues and fixes
- DocuSign Connect not enabled: If your Zap isn't firing instantly, DocuSign Connect may not be active. Go to DocuSign Admin > Connect, and make sure Zapier is listed as an active integration. Without Connect, Zapier checks for new completions every 5-15 minutes instead of firing instantly.
- Zapier account downgraded: If your Zapier account drops below Professional tier, DocuSign Zaps pause entirely since DocuSign is a premium app. Upgrade to Professional or switch to a non-premium alternative like PandaDoc.
- DocuSign authorization expired: DocuSign OAuth tokens can expire. Open the Zap, click the DocuSign step, and reconnect your account to restore the connection.
- Envelope filter too narrow: If you added a filter to only trigger on specific envelope subjects or templates, a typo in the filter can silently block all triggers. Review the filter logic in Zapier and test with a fresh envelope.
Disconnecting the Zap doesn't delete anything in Plutio. Contacts, projects, and invoices already created stay exactly where they are. You can reconnect anytime by turning the Zap back on.
