Flag a retainer invoice that was due to start today
A retainer invoice reminder automation checks whether a subscription is still a draft on its start date, waits two days, then prompts you to start it or delete it.
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A retainer is meant to start on a date, but drafts can sit there until the client asks why nothing’s happening. This automation watches the subscription start date and steps in when the retainer was meant to start today but the subscription never got started.
The workflow runs in five steps: it checks whether the subscription is still a draft, confirms the start date is today, waits two days, checks again, then pushes a final decision: “Start it or delete it”. The logic is strict on purpose, so a subscription doesn’t drift into a half-started state where nobody knows what’s active.
- On Subscription start date The trigger fires when the subscription’s start date arrives, which is the moment this check matters.
- Still a draft? The first check looks for subscriptions that never moved out of draft, so started retainers don’t get pulled in.
- Wait 2 days The delay gives a short buffer before the automation checks again for the same draft status.
- Still a draft two days on? The second check confirms the subscription didn’t get started during the waiting period.
- Start it or delete it The final step prompts a clean decision so the draft doesn’t linger past the intended start.
Once the automation is in your workspace, you just need subscriptions with a start date set and an email address on the subscription. Every step runs inside Plutio, so there’s no third-party account to connect.
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Every step, in order
Plutio runs these 5 steps top to bottom, from the trigger through each action and condition. Every one arrives configured and stays editable. The automation is added as a draft, so it sends nothing until you turn it on.
Starts: On Subscription start date
- Still a draft?
- It was meant to start today (Still a draft? → Yes)
- Wait 2 days
- Still a draft two days on?
- Start it or delete it (Still a draft two days on? → Yes)
What happens when you install it
- This automation is copied into your workspace with all 5 steps already configured.
- It arrives as a draft, so nothing runs until you turn it on.
- Every step stays editable, so the wording, the timing and the conditions all change before or after you activate it.
Who it is for
Retainer-based freelancers and studios who run client work on subscriptions and want drafts caught when the start date hits.
Questions about this automation template
How do you remind yourself to start a retainer that’s still a draft?
A reminder automation can trigger on the subscription start date, check whether the subscription is still a draft, then follow up again after a short wait. This one waits two days and then prompts you to start it or delete it.
What does a subscription start date automation check for?
A start date automation checks the start date and then evaluates the subscription’s status. This workflow looks specifically for subscriptions that were meant to start today but are still drafts.
How long should you wait before following up on a draft retainer?
The wait depends on how quickly retainers usually get confirmed, but a short buffer stops you chasing the same day the start date arrives. This automation waits two days, then checks the draft status again.
What do you need to run a retainer reminder automation?
You need subscriptions with a start date set and an email address on the subscription. Every step runs inside Plutio, so you don’t need any third-party account.
What should happen if a retainer subscription is still a draft after the start date?
The safest options are to start it so billing and service match the agreed start, or delete it so it doesn’t get mistaken for something active. This automation ends by prompting that choice after the two-day check.
Does this kind of automation send anything to the client automatically?
The details here only cover the automation’s checks and timing, plus the subscription requirements it relies on. If you need client-facing emails or billing actions, that would depend on additional steps you add to the workflow.
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