When a lead capture form is submitted, Dubsado can automatically start a flow to handle your response. You can set a single default flow for every submission or let clients choose from a dropdown that triggers a specific flow based on their selection.
Overview of starting a flow from a lead capture form
Lead capture forms support two methods for starting a flow automatically on submission. The Default flow setting applies the same flow every time someone submits your form. The Flows form element lets clients pick from a dropdown, and each option maps to a different flow. Both methods require the Premier plan.
The Default flow setting and the Flows form element are available on the Premier plan. If you are on the Starter plan, these options are disabled.
Before you start
Before connecting a flow to your lead capture form, make sure you have the building blocks in place. See create a lead capture form for steps on building your form, and the using flows article for guidance on setting up your flow templates.
Test your flow before attaching it to a live lead capture form. If your flow has errors, submissions could trigger unexpected results.
Setting a default flow
The default flow setting is best when you offer one type of service or when you want every new lead to go through the same initial steps. Whatever flow you assign here starts automatically each time someone submits the form.
To set a default flow on a lead capture form:
Go to Forms ➔ Form templates and click on the lead capture form template to open the form builder.
In the form builder sidebar, click the Settings tab.
Under the Lead capture options heading, click the Default flow dropdown and select a flow template.
Click Save form to save your changes.
A default flow will activate as soon as the client completes the lead capture form.
You can also manage your flow templates at Flows ➔ Flow templates if you need to create or edit a flow before assigning it here.
Adding a flow form element
The flow form element is the right choice when you offer multiple services that each require different follow-up sequences. It adds a dropdown to your form so clients can select the service they are interested in, and Dubsado starts the corresponding flow when they submit.
To add a flow form element to a lead capture form:
Go to Forms ➔ Form templates and click on the lead capture form template to open the form builder.
In the form builder sidebar, click the Elements tab.
Drag or click Flows to add the element to the form.
Click on the newly added element to open its settings in the sidebar.
Toggle Required to Yes so clients must choose an option before submitting.
In the Question text area, customize the label clients will see (for example, "What service are you interested in?").
Under Options, configure each choice clients can select:
Type a label in the Add new option field.
Choose a flow from the Select flow to apply dropdown.
Click Add.
Repeat for each additional option.
Click Save form to save your changes.
To update the flow assigned to an existing option, click the Select flow dropdown next to that option and choose a different flow.
You cannot map smart fields to the flow element dropdown. Only Short answer and Date select elements support smart field mapping.
Only one flow element is allowed per form. If you attempt to add a second one, Dubsado will display the message "You can only have one flow element on your form."
How the two methods interact
If you set a default flow and add a flow element to the same form, the client's selection in the flow element takes priority. The default flow only activates when no flow element is present on the form.
Common mistakes
These are two of the most frequent issues when connecting a flow to a lead capture form.
A client submitted the form, but the flow did not start
The most common cause is using the wrong trigger as the first action in your flow. The first action should use the trigger After this workflow starts. Do not use the After form is completed trigger as the first action. Because you connected the flow within the lead capture form, the flow starts automatically on submission without needing a form completion trigger.
Emails are not sending with links to forms
If you want a flow action to send a form (such as a questionnaire) to a client, use the Send form action. To send a scheduler, use the Send scheduler action. The Send email action sends emails only — it does not attach forms or schedulers.
FAQ
Can a lead capture form start both a default flow and a flow from the flow element at the same time?
No. If both are configured, the client's selection in the flow element overrides the default flow. Only one flow starts per submission.
Can I add two flow elements to start two different flows?
No. Each lead capture form supports only one flow element. If you try to add a second one, the form builder will display the message "You can only have one flow element on your form." Each form submission starts one flow.
Do I need the Premier plan to use these features?
Yes. Both the Default flow setting and the Flows form element require the Premier plan. On the Starter plan, these options are disabled.