Start work when a client pays an invoice
An automation for starting work after an invoice gets paid, with a 3-day check-in and a reminder if nothing’s been marked as started.
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The invoice gets paid, and then the awkward part starts: work needs raising, somebody needs to actually begin, and the handoff gets lost in chat threads. This automation starts that chain at the moment payment lands, so the work gets created right away and the follow-up doesn’t rely on anyone remembering.
The steps move in a straight line: it raises the work, waits three days, checks “Started?”, and then reminds the person who raised the invoice if the work still hasn’t begun. The template keeps the client out of the chasing, because the reminder goes to your side, not theirs, and it all runs in Plutio.
- Trigger Starts when an invoice is paid, so payment becomes the handoff point.
- Raise the work Creates the work as the first step, so there’s something to start and track.
- Wait 3 days Adds a three-day pause before checking whether work has started.
- Started? Checks the started status before deciding what happens next.
- Reminder Reminds whoever raised the invoice if the work still hasn’t been marked as started.
To run it, the invoice needs an email address on it, and that’s it. After that, the trigger listens for a paid invoice and the automation carries the follow-up from there, all inside Plutio.
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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 Invoice is paid
- Raise the work
- Wait 3 days
- Started?
- Remind whoever raised the invoice (Started? → No)
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
Studios and freelancers who bill upfront and want work creation and internal follow-up to kick off automatically once payment clears.
Questions about this automation template
How do you start work automatically when an invoice is paid?
Set an automation trigger for when an invoice is paid, then add steps that raise the work and follow up if nothing starts. This template already includes the raise step, a three-day wait, a started check, and a reminder.
What information does the invoice need for this automation to run?
The invoice needs an email address on it. That’s the only requirement listed for this template.
Does this automation need any third-party accounts?
No. Every step in the automation runs inside Plutio, so nothing else needs connecting.
What happens if nobody starts the work after payment?
The automation waits three days, checks “Started?”, and then reminds whoever raised the invoice if the work still hasn’t begun. The reminder only happens after the check.
Can the reminder go to the person who raised the invoice, not the client?
Yes. The last step is “Remind whoever raised the invoice”, which targets the internal sender rather than the client.
How many steps are in the automation?
This automation has four steps: raise the work, wait three days, check whether it’s started, and send a reminder if it hasn’t.
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