Follow up after a proposal is declined
A follow-up after a proposal is declined automation waits, sends a thank-you email that asks for feedback, then checks back in a month later.
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A proposal gets declined, and then comes the awkward bit: reaching back out without firing off a rushed email in the moment or letting the lead disappear for good. The Follow up after a proposal is declined automation handles that timing for you, as long as the proposal has an email address on it.
The sequence gives the prospect a day of space, then sends a short thank-you that asks what tipped the decision. After that, it waits 30 days and sends a check-in, so the last touchpoint still happens even if nothing else gets logged. Every step runs inside Plutio, so nothing needs a third-party account... and the messages go out in an order that makes sense to the person receiving them.
- Trigger Starts when a proposal is declined, so the follow-up only runs for prospects who said no.
- Wait 1 day Builds in a pause before the first message goes out.
- Feedback email Thanks them and asks what tipped the decision, so you get a clear reason when they’re willing to share it.
- Wait 30 days Holds the second touchpoint back for a month instead of chasing immediately.
- Check-in Sends a final follow-up after the 30-day wait.
Once the automation is turned on, it starts when a proposal is declined and runs through the wait and follow-up steps on its own, leaving you to only adjust the wording to match how you want to ask for feedback and check back in.
We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.
Every step, in order
Plutio runs these 4 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: When Proposal is declined
- Wait a day
- Thank them and ask what tipped it
- Wait 30 days
- Check back in
What happens when you install it
- This automation is copied into your workspace with all 4 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
Sales teams, agencies, and freelancers who send proposals and still want a clean follow-up when a prospect declines.
Questions about this automation template
How do you follow up after a proposal is declined?
A follow-up after a proposal is declined usually waits a beat, thanks them for considering it, and asks what tipped the decision. A month later, a short check-in can reopen the conversation without pushing for an immediate yes.
How long should you wait to follow up after someone declines a proposal?
Waiting a day gives the prospect space and avoids a reactive reply. A second follow-up around 30 days later works as a check-in when circumstances might have changed.
What should you say in a declined proposal follow-up email?
A good message thanks them and asks what tipped the decision, because that question often gets a clearer answer than asking for “feedback” in general. Keeping the note short makes it easier to reply.
Do you need anything set up before this follow-up runs?
The proposal needs an email address, because the automation sends messages to that contact. No third-party account is required since the steps run inside Plutio.
Does the follow-up send immediately after the proposal is declined?
No, the first step waits one day before sending the thank-you and feedback email. That delay is part of the sequence.
How many steps are in this follow-up automation?
This automation has four steps: wait a day, send a thank-you and feedback request, wait 30 days, then check back in. The trigger is the proposal being declined.
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