Welcome email when a retainer starts
A retainer welcome email automation covers the trigger, the setup steps, a 7 day wait, and a reminder to follow up if setup hasn’t happened.
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A retainer kicks off, the subscription flips to active, and somebody has to make sure the recurring work gets set up and the client knows what happens next. The retainer welcome email automation starts at “When Subscription is active” and runs through the handoff so the first week doesn’t rely on memory.
The steps create the recurring work, send the welcome message, wait 7 days, then check whether setup happened and nudge the person who was meant to do it. The automation keeps the sequence in order, so the client gets the welcome at the right moment and the follow-up doesn’t disappear into a busy inbox.
- Trigger Starts when the subscription becomes active, so the workflow only runs when the retainer actually begins.
- Set up the recurring work Creates the ongoing work you’ll be delivering, so the retainer doesn’t start without the setup in place.
- Welcome them to the retainer Sends the welcome email, and you swap in your own wording before the automation goes live.
- Wait 7 days Holds the follow-up for a week, keeping the reminder tied to the start date without manual tracking.
- Remind whoever set it up Prompts the person responsible if setup still hasn’t been confirmed after the check step.
The automation needs an email address on the subscription, and every step runs inside Plutio, with no third-party account to connect. Once the trigger fires, the workflow runs through the five steps and leaves you with a clear follow-up point if setup is still sitting unfinished.
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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: When Subscription is active
- Set up the recurring work
- Welcome them to the retainer
- Wait 7 days
- Set up?
- Remind whoever set it up (Set up? → No)
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 start work from subscriptions and need a consistent onboarding message and follow-up.
Questions about this automation template
What triggers a welcome email when a retainer starts?
This automation triggers when the subscription is active. That timing ties the welcome sequence to the moment the retainer actually begins.
What do I need for a retainer welcome email automation to run?
The subscription needs an email address so the welcome message can send. Every step runs inside Plutio, so no third-party account is required.
Does the automation wait before sending a follow-up?
Yes, the workflow includes a 7 day wait step. The reminder happens after that delay, not immediately after the welcome email.
Can the automation remind a team member to finish the setup?
Yes, the final step is a reminder to whoever was meant to set things up. That follow-up only comes after the check step and the 7 day wait.
How many steps are in this retainer onboarding automation?
The automation runs through five steps from the subscription trigger through the reminder. The sequence includes setting up the recurring work, sending the welcome, waiting 7 days, a check step, and the reminder.
Do I need any external email tool to send the welcome email?
No, the automation doesn’t require a third-party account. The steps run inside Plutio as long as the subscription has an email address.
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