Automation gets a bad rap because most people automate the wrong things — or automate with zero personality. "Dear Valued Customer, your payment is overdue." Thanks, robot. Very warm.
Automate the timing, not the relationship
What should be automatic: sending the invoice when work is done, reminding at day 3 and day 10, syncing to QuickBooks, logging payment when it lands. What should stay human: the first conversation, the apology when something goes wrong, the thank-you when someone pays early.
Write templates that sound like you
Start with your actual voice. "Hey [Name], hope the kitchen remodel is going great — here's the invoice for phase 2" beats generic corporate filler. Save it as a template, reuse it forever.
Let Lux handle the nudge
Plus's Automate business mode lets Lux draft follow-ups based on your real invoice data. You approve with one tap — or let her run routine reminders in the background. Clients get timely notes; you don't get notification fatigue.
The 48-hour rule
Automate invoice delivery within 48 hours of job completion. Every day of delay is lost momentum. If you're tracking time in Plus, converting hours to an invoice is a few taps.
When NOT to automate
Big accounts, disputed invoices, or clients going through something personal — pick up the phone. Automation is for the repetitive 80%, not the relationship-critical 20%.
Ready to automate the boring stuff? See Plus invoicing or start free.